Program Pricing
Two-night (arriving Thursday 8/17)
$480/person - Shared Bathroom
$530/person - Private Bathroom (tub only)
$580/person - Private Bathroom (w/ shower)
Three-night (arriving Thursday 8/18)
$720/person - Shared Bathroom
$795/person - Private Bathroom (tub only)
$870/person - Private Bathroom (w/shower)
* All Inclusive
Experience a weekend of exploring your inner and outer landscapes, finding your sense of place stories and honing your craft. This weekend will help you uncover the stories you feel called to tell and give you a deeper connection to yourself and your life path.
It is for all levels of experience, from the perpetually curious to the seasoned pro. It’s also for all kinds of writers. No matter where you are on your writing path, you’ll see yourself and your life from a fresh perspective.
There are many ways to enter into writing. For this workshop, we will enter the world of our creative mind through the door of place. Through exploring places from the past and present that hold power and meaning for you, you will unearth a well of creative imagery and ideas. Through drawing your own connections between nature, history, self and place, you will generate fresh writings and/or bring a depth and context to any writing project you are currently working on.
There will be sessions for generating writing, support for revision, sharing, guided in-the-field walks and practices, and a visual /symbolic exploration of living your best creative writing life.
Instructor
Erica Wheeler
Erica Wheeler is an interpretive trainer, creative writing mentor and the owner of Sense of Place Consulting..
Originally attending college to become a wildlife field biologist, she went on to become a touring songwriter, with songs deeply rooted in a sense of place.
She has released 6 CDs and her music has charted in the top ten on Billboard’s Gavin’s Americana Chart. Her 2008 CD “Good Summer Rain” was sponsored in part by the Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization.
Erica has decades of experience leading creative writing workshops and retreats. Her Sense of Place and Story Framework centers around using a “sense of place” as the gateway to creativity, curiosity, belonging and identity, and can be used for all genera of writing.
She also created and runs a Sense of Place and Story interpretive training for museums, parks, and historic sites, boosting their skills to develop and deliver outstanding visitor programs and tours. Erica has worked extensively with the National Park Service, including training for 45+ sites to date.
Erica’s work is dedicated to helping people helping people and places thrive. Throughout her career, she has inspired people find stories of place and belonging inside them to forge a deeper connection with themselves and the places that matter to them.
She is based in Colrain, MA, in the hills of western Massachusetts. For more information visit www.senseofplaceconsulting.com.
Schedule Overview
Thursday, August 17
Check in begins at 4pm for those that choose the three-night option. After dinner, we will settle in around the campfire for introductions and sharing of a story or song to kick-off the weekend.
Friday, August 18
After breakfast, take some time to explore the woods and waters around Sagamore, take a hike, read a book or join one of our daily historic tours.
Check-in begins at 4pm for those that choose the 2-night option.
Formal instruction begins Friday evening after dinner with introductions, weekend overview and warm up writing prompts.
Saturday, August 19
Morning Session
Today you will be given two short lessons followed by prompts for generating fresh writings or adding depth and context to your current project. You’ll have ample time to explore, write and play. And an optional creative project that will help you nurture your inner writer. Erica will also be available for writing support and feedback.
Find your Story. Explore connections between your inner and outer landscape from the past and present. In this session you will be lead through a series of prompts to generate a “Touchstone Story.” We’ll also boost our descriptive skills with stepping out for an in-the field sensory practice.
Erica will demonstrate how to use these fresh writings to find the nuggets that can lead to a finished piece. Time for sharing and supportive feedback.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Unlock the key to entering your creative mind. The key to meaningful writing is not only describing not only literal observations, but the symbolic meaning of what you see, notice and perceive. You’ll get a series of prompts that help you explore the story you want to tell using the classic Hero’s/Shero’s Journey format. You’ll also be guided through a symbolic walking activity that will help you find something that represents where you are on your creative life path right now.
Optional Afternoon activities: Hike, write, play, create! Erica will be offering Your Creative Vision Map to help you tap into another side of yourself. What do your writing and your writing self to feel like? Explore through making a collage of images that inspire and support your practice and craft. Or the afternoon can be time to work on your writing and get support from Erica.
Evening:
Readings, sharing, discoveries
Prompts to consider
Sunday, August 20
Morning Session
Next Steps: Map your creative next steps
Closing Reflections