A rare opportunity to have your own mentor/instructor. Only four to six students with each teacher. Personal attention and free consultations. Critiquing and rewriting of your manuscript. Learn how to think like an editor.

A hands-on writing experience. Ideal for the struggling writer

Schedule

Friday
Registration and bookstore is open at 8 AM
Retreat officially begins at 9 AM
Lunch is served at 12:30 PM
Dinner is served at 6 PM
The day concludes around 9:30 PM

Saturday
Bookstore opens at 8 AM
First meeting is at 9 AM
Lunch is served at 12:30 PM
Private consultations begin around 3 PM
Retreat concludes around 5 PM

Discounted retreat fee You pay a lower fee if you register 30 days prior to the event. The retreat fee includes all sessions, coffee breaks, Friday and Saturday lunch, Friday night dinner and private consultations.

Cancellations We refund the full tuition except $50 administration fee if we are notified up to seven days prior to the conference. After that point no refunds are given.

Meals The retreat fee also includes coffee at breaks, lunch both days and the Friday dinner. Other meals are at your own expense. You may bring a spouse or friend to the Friday dinner ($25) and/or to lunches ($15 each day).

For serious writers only Because of the intense nature of the event we offer no scholarships, single-day participation, or discount for skipping meals. The tuition does not include transportation, accommodation or breakfast.

Book sales Books of interest to writers will be on sale. You may bring your books to sell in the bookstore for a 20% fee.

Bring a manuscript Bring seven copies of the first five pages of a manuscript. You will need a laptop computer to complete the assignments. Also bring a printer for your laptop if you have one.

Procedure When you registration indicate the genre (e.g. fiction, nonfiction, poetry, article) of your manuscript. That will help us select the best mentor/instructor for you. Four to six weeks before the event we will inform you who your mentor will be. Please arrange your travel only after you have been assigned. If you are in a group too small (three or less) your payment will be returned.

Conference locations

Nashville: Radisson Hotel at Opryland
(615) 889-0800
2401 Music Valley Valley Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
$89 Single or Double

San Diego: Kings Inn
(619) 297-2231
1333 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108
$65 Single or Double

Qualified instructors

Lin Johnson (Chicago) 60 books, editor of three periodicals

Dr. Dennis Hensley (Indiana) 35 books, university professor

Jack Cavanaugh (California) 30 books, novelist, editor

And others as needed.

$349 includes instruction, Friday dinner & lunch both days.

Register today as there is limited space. Register one of three ways: