Writing Retreat Blog
Spotlight on our Mexican Creative Writing Retreat Destination: Luz en Yucatan, Merida!
A Creative Writing Retreat in Mexico requires a very special location. It must be somewhere relaxing, inspiring, with a wonderful ambience. It should be somewhere with ample nooks and crannies for writers to relax and write. It should have great food, appealing cocktails (!!) and staff who know how to make you feel at home. It should be quiet enough that creative writing workshops can take place in the right atmosphere, yet close enough to [...]
Our Creative Writing Retreats – The Delights of Merida!
Our next Mexico Creative Writing Retreat in 2024 will once again be held in the beautiful Yucatecan city of Merida. In addition to the morning creative writing workshops (which are appropriate to writers of poetry, memoir, short fiction and novels), participants will have the opportunity to sightsee in and around this glorious city. Sightseeing in Merida This vibrant city is full of great sights: museums, plazas, gorgeous colonial mansions and art galleries. There are [...]
Creative Writing Retreats: Magical Moments in Merida!
Just about every day on our creative writing retreats is special – after all, retreats are not only a chance to learn, they are also full of new experiences and great memories. Writing retreats are holidays, too! But there are some days so magnificent that they take your breath away and feed your soul. Yesterday on our Mexico Creative Writing Retreat was one of those days. Writing Workshop We began in the morning with [...]
Elmore Leonard: 10 Rules Of Writing
In July 2001, the crime fiction writer Elmore Leonard wrote a short piece for The New York Times on his ten rules for writing. This was eventually adapted into a book. I’ve shared his rules many times with writers on our retreats, so I thought it might be useful to outline them here. In the preface to his book, Leonard says: These are rules I’ve picked up along the way to help me remain invisible [...]
An MFA in Creative Writing: Is It Worth It?
Read the bios of a dozen new fiction writers, and the chances are good that at least half will list among their credentials an MFA in Creative Writing. I completed my own MFA in Creative Writing through the University of British Columbia, and I’m often asked by my writing students: is a Masters in Creative Writing essential, if you want to see your work in print? Arguments Against an MFA in Creative Writing A Masters [...]
Historical Fiction Prompts for Writers
In our last blog, we looked at how online resources have transformed a writer's research process. So let's explore this idea with a creative writing prompt. Writing Prompt: Historical Fiction Write down a daily task or hobby that interests you. Now, choose a specific historic period and location. Come up with a close approximation of your interest that may fit with the period and location. Write down what you already think you know about that [...]
