Algonquin Fall Colours Writing
Retreat
Friday – Sunday
September 16 – 18,
2016
Arowhon Pines Resort, Arowhon Pines
Rd, Little Joe Lake, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada
Give yourself three days of writing
time. Three days of instruction,
inspiration and creativity. Award yourself with time away from distractions,
with no dishes to do and wonderful food at every meal, as you sit with
your feet up and write in the most beautiful wilderness setting in Ontario.
This is where the Group of Seven got its inspiration (Tom Thompson is buried
just a couple of lakes over); it’s a wonderful place for you to find your
inspiration, too.
The retreat will feature both
instruction and guided writing exercises, plus one-on-one critiquing and
coaching from Brian. You’ll also have lots of time to relax, rejuvenate,
and reconnect with your creativity.
All writing levels welcome. Whether
you are just beginning or have a novel in progress, please join us.
The setting: Arowhon Pines is a peaceful, quiet resort nestled in the woods on Little Joe Lake inside Algonquin Park. There are no motorboats on the lake, except for the resort’s own pontoon boat which takes guests on occasional wildlife tours.
The setting: Arowhon Pines is a peaceful, quiet resort nestled in the woods on Little Joe Lake inside Algonquin Park. There are no motorboats on the lake, except for the resort’s own pontoon boat which takes guests on occasional wildlife tours.
The resort is without TV and is far
from the roar of traffic. The cry of a loon is the loudest noise you’re likely
to hear all day.
Rates include charming accommodation (cabins have a mix of queen beds for one person or
couples or twin beds for two people rooming together; rooms also have private
bathrooms and each cabin has a lounge with fireplace to share with your fellow
writers).
Three all-you-can-eat gourmet meals per
day are provided, featuring an abundance of fresh food prepared by master
chefs and an inspired kitchen staff. (Bring your own wine or beer!)
All activities included. When you’re not writing or for spouses who
accompany you, there is plenty to do: canoe or kayak a series of lakes or hike
trails to see wildlife (moose, loons, beaver, turtles, fox, deer), swim in the
lake, sail, stand up paddleboard, play tennis, relax. For indoor activities
there is a games room with table tennis, shuffleboard, books, board games. Your
stay also includes access to all Algonquin Park programs and activities
including a car pass for you to fully enjoy the park.
Check-in isn’t until 3 p.m., but
guests can arrive in the morning to fully take advantage of the facilities
(though the meals included in your package don’t begin until after check-in
time, so lunch on Friday is extra if you arrive early). Each guest can
borrow a day pass for Algonquin Park. The formal retreat
will begin late Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning, we’ll have our last formal
get-together ending at 12 noon. Check out time is at 1 p.m. Most guests
have lunch while the bellhops load the car. But once you’ve had lunch, don’t
feel you have to rush off!
Participants are welcome to bring
spouses, partners or friends, as there will be plenty to do while you’re
writing – canoeing, kayaking or sailing, swimming if warm enough, tennis,
reading and just plain resting and unwinding, enjoying the wilderness.
Read more about Arowhon Pines here.
Read more about Arowhon Pines here.
Instructor Brian Henry has
been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He
publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for
writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops
everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. But his
proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first
book published and launch their careers as authors.
Read two reviews of
our fall writing retreat at Arowhon Pines here.
To see more reviews of Brian’s weekly courses and Saturday workshops, see here.
To see more reviews of Brian’s weekly courses and Saturday workshops, see here.
Accommodation fee: 540 per person either single- or double-
occupancy for the two nights. (Arowhon has kept their 2015 rates for us – about
5% off the new rate, and there is no single supplement!) Plus 15% service
charge (in lieu of tipping, no extra tipping allowed), then 13% hst added to
these rates.
Seminar fee (special
June 2016 price): 123.89 plus hst = 140
Full receipts issued. Space is
very limited.
For more information or to register,
email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Who can attend the retreat?
Everyone interested in developing
their writing skills is welcome to attend, whether you're aspiring writer or an
accomplished author or simply enjoy writing as a hobby. There is no
requirement for you to have been previously published or even to have an intention
to publish.
I'm a poet / playwright / other
writer. Is this retreat for me?
The retreat is open to anyone who
enjoys writing. Instruction will focus on narrative writing; i.e., stories,
whether fiction or memoir. But if you’re an essayist or poet or whatever,
you’re entirely welcome.
Should I bring my work in progress?
Yes, if you have an on-going writing
project, bring it with you! If you’re not currently working on anything, don’t
worry, we’ll get you writing.
Should I bring my laptop?
Should I bring my laptop?
Yes, if you prefer to work on your
laptop. During the day, we’ll have use of tables by power outlets in the dining
room for writing. If you prefer to work on paper bring that.
Can you cater to specific dietary
requirements?
Yes, just let the staff at Arowhon
Pines know beforehand about your needs.
I want to stay longer or arrive
early. Is it possible to do that?
If you want to arrive early and stay
longer, that is fine. Just arrange it with the resort. There is plenty to see
and do in the park, and Arowhon Pines is a lovely place to base from.
Arowhon will keep the same rate throughout your stay.
Is there cell phone reception and
WIFI?
Arowhon Pines is an
island of luxury, but in the midst of wilderness, so no cell phone reception
and no WIFI, though there are landlines and there’s access to the resort’s
Internet connection. (Contact the resort for details.) But be sure to have your
writing projects on your laptop when you come, not stored in the Cloud.
How about alcohol?
Arowhon doesn’t serve
alcohol, but guests are welcome to bring their own wine, beer or whatever to
have with meals or back at your cabin or wherever. (Though do note that
Hemingway’s advice to write drunk, mostly produces drivel.)
Can I bring my spouse (or partner or
friend)?
Certainly. Just let them know you’ll
be spending most of your time writing, (though you will have some free time
every day), and make sure they enjoy superb food, the beauty of the fall woods,
and relaxing on the deck or the dock or out on a canoe as they glide past a
moose munching on water lilies….
For more information or to register,
email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
To book your accommodation at Arowhon
Pines, phone toll free: 1-866-633-5661
Or you can book on-line here. ~ But be sure to also phone and tell them you're with the writing retreat!
See Brian’s full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Halton, Ingersoll, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
See Brian’s full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Halton, Ingersoll, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
