PRING 
IME 
RITERS
Writing, like cooking, has certain "recipes" you can follow.
But, for the best results, you must use "fresh ingredients," and "variety."
In our creative writing workshop, we help you get into your creative side (right-brain),...
First, you are taken away from your duties and lists at home and work...
Second, you relax in a mountainside retreat, with endless sunshine and deep-blue skies..
Then, you are guided into personal, in-depth writing exercises...
All of this gets you writing deeper than you ever have before by reaching into yourself. Only you know yourself, your deepest stories. By, seeing how it can be done in your life, you can then transfer that technique into writing deeper fiction and non-fiction material. This workshop will help you learn more about yourself, which will, in turn, help you find your true voice. They say all stories have already been told, but the manner in which it is told can be fresh.
Fiction and Non-fiction
The weekend is like a "writing camp;" you will be writing the entire weekend. First, we guide you with information and exercises, which you do in class, and then another set that you do away from class. Then, we discuss what you have written, make suggestions, and then continue the lessons again. Novices and intermediate students thrive on this schedule, and discover noticeable changes in their work, and a new clarity and exciting inspiration when they leave. Even if you feel you only have "one book" in you, you will benefit from the structure and techniques offered. (See more below, "Workshop Outline")
Some of our students have only done journaling, and not story writing such as memoirs, or biographies. We assist them in first defining what their objective is. Students then receive instructions, do writing exercises in and out of class, and go home with an outline of how to continue their life stories that they began at the workshop. (See more below, "Workshop Outline")
Journaling, Memoirs and Biographies
What is the difference between memoirs and biographies? See our page on Journaling workshops.
"It is a most mortifying reflection
for a man to consider what he has done,
compared to what he might have done."...Samuel Johnson
Remember, each workshop will give you tools to continue your quest when you return home!
Contact us to check availability, and to see if dates have changed before you send in your Reservation Form.
CREATIVE WRITING May 29 (or 30) to June 2 (or 1st); June 6 to 9, June 20 to 23; July 3 (Thur) to July 6 (Sun) or Monday; July 18 to 2; August 1 to 4; August 15 to 18; and August 29 to Sept. 1 (Labor Day weekend), and September 5 to 8 (or begin Sept 4 Thurs), 2008.
NOTE: Inquire about Holiday weekend workshops, as we probably can change it to meet your vacation schedule (eg, you leave on Sunday or Monday). These 4-day weekend workshops include lessons, lodging and meals. These dates are subject to change.
IN DEPTH JOURNALING --or-- VISUAL (art) JOURNALING Four workshops 2008.
In-depth journaling is offered June 13 to 16; July 11 to 14; August 8 to 11, 2008. It's fun and revealing! You will be shown how to use a variety of "tools" to continue your inner search at home. Plus an optional visit to Lilly Lake. You will leave the workshop with new insights into yourself. Go to our JOURNALING page for more details. Our NEW Visual Journaling workshop involves a daily art project, which is interpreted in your journaling: June 27 to 30; September 12 to 15. These 4-day weekend workshops include lessons, lodging and meals. Plus an optional trip to the local art festival.
"Blooming Poets," POETRY for (non-published poets or) Beginners This workshop will follow the basic outline of the creative writing workshop and can include some writing outdoors in the majestic mountain scenery. It can also include some optional multi-media presentations of other poets, such as a group of underprivileged women who used poetry to become their true powerful selves. Dates subject to change.
Try Out being a Journalist 
Biography/Memoir CREATING A NEW WORLD (NEW ORLEANS AND LOCAL PLANTATIONS) Tentatively scheduled for late fall; approx. one week.
We will be doing some journaling, and staying at luxurious old-fashioned lodging on a couple of plantations, with daily half-day tours, including New Orleans. See the JOURNALING workshop page for more details.
SOUTHWEST ARCHITECTURE Tentatively scheduled for early spring next year; approx. one week.
See our page on Journaling workshops.
Our tour centers around the delightfully hot spot of Phoenix, Arizona. You will find numerous spectacular examples of southwest architecture and art in this area, and you are guaranteed a sunny sky! (during the bleak winter days elsewhere). The (light) journaling on this trip will involve some "visual" journaling and analysis. Frank Lloyd Wright's name is all over the area. See the JOURNALING workshop page for more details.
On the first day, we begin on the first day with the basics. You may have learned in elementary and high school the basics of paragraphs, and storytelling, but if a skill isn't used regularly, the lessons get blurred. If you want to share your work or get it published, you should know the basics, so that you will look professional, and increase your chances of getting published. Once you have them done pat, you can play with the rules, just like an ice skater learning the figure-8 routine. The remainder of the weekend is spent delving deeper into ourselves, becoming more creative, and finally putting this knowledge into writing (or revising) a piece that is of particular interest to you. A predesigned schedule is followed, but can be altered to fit the needs of the students.
By going over the "basics" of writing in our workshop, you will always have a place to start. If you have a "block", refer to the list we give you. It's as easy as filling in the blanks. Then, once your pen starts rolling, your creativity will kick in.
If you still are having problems, it may not be what we traditionally think of as "writer's block". It might be your inner self saying that you have strayed off the path. Stop and study your work and see if you have lost your direction or your enthusiasm or your character's true drive. By spotting and defining the error or problem, you can then use tools you learn in the workshop to put yourself back on track.
(or a tool you learned in a how-to-write book). Some of our students want to publish a self-help or non-fiction book. Once again, we can guide them in how to develop the chapters, and how to develop a vision of the book as a whole. We can help them define their "voice," so that the book reflects their personality. Do you want it to contain humor? Do you want extensive research? Do you need visuals? Etc. We've had writers work on material based on life stories of a courageous family member; better health through specific diet plans; an epic tale of several generations of a European family; a collection of stories about a female detective; short stories for personal enrichment; and more.
What is Writer's Block?
Have you ever sat down to write, and ended up staring at the blank page for an extended period of time? Or, you couldn't gather up your usual enthusiasm about writing? That's Writer's Block.
Take Your Book Chapter by Chapter
Many of our students come to us because they feel they have a book they must write; a story they want to share with the world. For these students, we will guide them in chapter outlines and content; and, how to develop characters. Karl Jung established the first criteria for "archetype" characters: what all stories contain. EG: matriarch, hero, etc.
Individualized Guidance
Discuss or bring material of your own area of interest, and get advice on how to piece it together into a coherent, memorable article. Or, bring a short story or poem you have worked on. Or, just bring an idea.
"Between the great things we cannot do
and the small things we will not do,
the danger is that we shall do nothing."
...Adolph Monod
This book is periodically updated to reflect the latest in foreign affairs, punctuation, new libel cases, and more.
It has approximately 200,000 frequently used terms, such as consumer products, sports, religion, and finance.
Examples: "nationwide" is one word.
"Nautical mile" equals one minute of arch of a great circle...to convert to approximate statute miles (5,280 feet) multiply the number of nautical miles by 1.15. See "knot""Near East": There is no longer a substantial distinction between this term and "Middle East." See Middle East entry.
"National Guardsman": Note spelling. Capitalize as a proper noun when referring to an individual in a federal or state National Guard unit: "he is a National Guardsman." Lowercase "guardsman" when it stands alone. See military titles.
Journalists! Want to know more about how the Society of Professional Journalists can help you in your job. Click here to learn about their new goals.
Student Recommendations: "Got in touch with reasons for wanting to write. I know it is very helpful for me when I want to look more deeply into my life." Carol Higgle, August 2001. (Carol has since been published for the first time, in a local new age/spiritual magazine)
"The retreat gave me time to write. It was good to have someone positive commenting and critiquing my writing. Great organization suggestions and easy to follow." Gail Saunders (Gail has since been published for the first time, in Colorado's AAA Travel magazine.)
"I truly believe my main problems were shown to me here, and the skills taught to me that I will need to improve. I won't forget all of your help and look foward to putting all of your tips into ACTION!" Shiela DeVore 9/05
"The small group and the personal aspect help the hearing impaired (versus big groups). Easy going, yet really strictly structured guidelines very helpful." Jim Swanson, July 2002.
"The kind of storytelling that one sees at (a storytelling) Festival is general: to please and entertain, though of course other meanings and purpose may also be present. From the point of view of the ("purposeful") storyteller (who wants to influence people with his/her story), the value of the story may vary. If the storytelling is purposeful, the value may lie in achieving that purpose. The value may also lie in less explicit values, like helping the storyteller understand him/herself and his/her life, resolve internal conflicts, connect with other people, and so on. The range is unlimited. "
Steve Denning "The Leader's Guide to Storytelling"
Workshop Details: You will attend a workshop in the Rocky Mt. Region improve your writing skills while relaxing in a mountainside retreat, with endless sunshine and deep-blue skies, breathing in fresh mountain air, and enjoying fresh foods. Be nurtured with warm, professional tutoring. Classes are usually restricted to maximum of three students (larger groups should notify our director and discuss the possibilities).
Instructor.
Taught by Kathleen Spring, who has written for a number of regional, daily and local newspapers and magazines. She has been teaching writing classes since 1992; in addition to publishing two books (three more coming out in the next three years). Plus, a B.A. in Communications (Journalism/Film/Media), with local and national honors and awards, and numerous scholarships.
The workshops take place over 4-day weekends in May to September. Only one to three students attend, so they fill up fast.
See our RSVP page for the most up to date details, including deposits and refunds.
During our creative writing workshops, we do not allow computers. It is part of the "creative process," to write with a pen on paper. We request that you bring a journal (book). Or, we also have some blank journals at our retreat for purchase at a reasonable price ($6 to $20).
"There is magic in storytelling.
You tap into another world.
I don't invent anything.
The stories are already there,
and my job is to find them and
bring them to the page."
--Isabel Allende
BOOKS:
"Small Towns, a Perspective of the 20th Century" -- full page black-and-white images of structures found in the MidWest/Michigan. Includes short real-life stories of why people love to live in their small town. Read more about it here.
Short stories from the past three years have been put into an Anthology PLUS Writing Tips: "Writers: Birthing of Creative Writing, and Capturing Random Memories, Volume 1", published 2003. Only $11.95 plus $2.00 postage. CPW award. Read more about it here.
E-mail questions or reservations to: Writers @SpringTimeWriters. .com
Know a friend without a computer ?
We'll send a brochure. –
Use this Address to send your reservation and check to:
Spring Times
P. O. Box 512
Lyons, CO 80540-8108
(303) 823-0997 MST 10am-7pm only please
Date last modified: May 23, 2008 9:00 AM