Just Write: Making Time for the Love of Words

British playwright, Brian Clark has said that the secret to developing a writing practice is, well, to write.  Simple enough.  But writers talk about the tension between their desire to write and finding time.  This retreat is a dramatic decision to immerse oneself in the lovely, complex , frustrating, and exhilarating practice of writing.  We provide a hospitable space at St. Paul’s Monastery with comfortable, quiet, private rooms.  We offer support and encouragement with one-on-one conversations with an experienced writer to explore why you write, what you write, and ways to strengthen your writing.  We also use a simple sitting meditation process to help clear your mind so you can focus your attention.

The retreat is for a maximum  of nine writers working in any form.  You can bring a current project or use the retreat to move ideas from your head to text.

We begin on Friday evening and end at 1p on Sunday.  Participants are welcome to participate in the liturgies of the monastic community if they so choose.

Friday

7:00p Welcome and introductions

7:30 Overview of the retreat

7:45-10  Initial Individual Conversations

Saturday

7:30a  Meditation

8:00  Breakfast

9:00  Private Writing

9-Noon Individual Conversations

Noon Lunch

1:00.  Private writing

1-5:00 Individual Conversations

5:30  Supper

7:00  Group Discussion

Sunday

7:30a Meditation

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 Private Writing

10:00 Group Summary Session

11:00  Continue writing

Participation in Sunday Eucharist (optional)

12:15  Brunch and Departure

Victor Klimoski has a long association with the Benedictine Center, offering a variety of workshops.  In the past few years he has devoted his attention to convening and supporting those who love to write and want to develop and deepen their practice of writing.  While he has written in his professional field (adult education), his primary literary focus is poetry.  To date, he has produced five collections: Lamentation for the Written Word, Margin Notes, Matters of Life and Death, What It Might Mean, and A Month in Kilcar & Poems from Other Places.