Writing program recommendations?

April 30, 2009 10:20 AM

Tell me about accessible and awesome writing programs/workshops/retreats!

I'd like to hear what writing programs you know of in the U.S. I'm not interested in formal, multi-year MFA programs and the like, but in shorter-term formats (a weekend, a week, a couple months, etc.). So maybe "writing retreats" is more what I'm looking for. Googling gets me plenty of results, but I want recommendations! Any favorites? I'm not looking for workshops focused on networking and getting published. I'm more interested in building a regular writing practice and writing just for the sake of writing. I'm especially interested in approaches that incorporate meditation, if there's anything like that out there. Bonus points for recommendations of programs that aren't super expensive.

posted by aka burlap to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Best answer: Lynda Barry, the cartoonist and writer extraordinaire, gives an incredible writing workshop at various locations around the U.S. She's absolutely the greatest on writing habits and just writing every day. This is someone who has had to turn out a strip most days of the week for most of her adult life, so she knows what creative discipline is all about. And, of course, she is so funny, so warm, the whole experience is a joy.
posted by Elsie at 10:32 AM on April 30, 2009

Best answer: I've heard good things about the Tin House workshop in Portland, OR (a week in mid-July.) A friend went and highly recommends it. And here's a link for Lynda Barry's workshops.
posted by msalt at 1:15 PM on April 30, 2009

Best answer: I've attended workshops at the following places and really enjoyed all of them:

-Palm Beach Poetry Festival

-Florida Center for the Literary Arts (I believe this is currently the least expensive of the three.)

-Key West Literary Seminar (disclosure: I've worked for them in the past.)

As for approaches that might incorporate meditation, it appears that Naropa has a summer writing program.

A low-residency MFA might be another option.
posted by 6and12 at 10:43 AM on May 2, 2009