2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat

Aug. 22-25, 2024 • In person, socially distanced, and all-inclusive!

At beautiful Tipi Village Retreat Center, along Oregon’s scenic McKenzie River.

Registration open now.

Only three private tickets and three shared-lodging tickets left.

Tipi Village Retreat Center is a unique resort with meadow, forest, and river areas. It’s very special to me because I was married here, and people come from all over the world to relax in this beautiful, welcoming, natural space. Tipi Village is glamping at its most luxurious, with cozy bedding, gourmet meals, and gorgeous scenery.

You’ll love it.

Your all-inclusive Writer Craft registration fee includes…

• All lodging

• All meals

• Writing instruction

• Inspiration

• Networking

• Retreat space…

PLUS TWO 30-minute free writing strategy/coaching sessions (before and after the retreat), and optional yoga instruction from the venue host, Janet (suggested $10 donation per class).

DATES & LOCATION: August 22-25, 2024, Marcola, Oregon—along the MacKenzie River.

“I have attended writers retreats at Tipi Village for five years now, and each year I fall more in love with the setting and the experience. Sometimes I write beside Mill Creek, sometimes on a picnic table off in the native forest. I always bring too much to work on and too much to read, but I love recreating my writing life out there, and I always get work done. Of course, I enjoy the visits with other writers too, over meals and around the fire at night. I don’t get nearly enough quiet time and space for writing IRL, and this is as lovely a writing retreat as I could possibly create for myself if I waved a magic wand. And I don’t have to cook! The food is delicious, healthy and plentiful. The accommodations are the perfect mix of rustic-cozy and tastefully appointed, and I’ve stayed in nearly every space they offer. We had no problem being safely socially distanced in 2020 while still enjoying our communal time with each other. I cherish returning every year.”

Jenny Root, poet, Eugene

AGENDA

Thursday, August 22, 2024

• 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Check-in (don’t forget to pick up your swag!)

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

Friday, August 23, 2023

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table.

• 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Breakfast Workshop: Transforming Your Limiting Beliefs and Fears to Address Writers Block

  • Writers block often is a product of mindset. Fears that it won’t be good enough, that writing is too hard, uncertainty about word choice, character development and motivation, etc. We’ll examine beliefs and fears by writing them down, reframing them (both with words and perspective), and creating an affirmation to use during the retreat and when you get home to protect your heart, your progress, and your motivation.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 1:30 p.m. Luncheon

• 2:15 p.m. Optional Scene Analysis Circle (bring 14 copies of a scene you’ve written, double-spaced, that you’d like feedback on)

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

• Optional fire and wine

Saturday, August 26, 2024

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table.

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.Breakfast Workshop: Aligned Action in Your Business and Marketing

  • Using a coaching technique called the Wheel of Life, we’ll examine our values and prioritize them. We’ll look for any surprises, and then talk about how can you use your value list to create your perfect-for-you marketing plan.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Luncheon Workshop: Using Imagery in Creative Nonfiction

  • Summary coming soon.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 5:30 p.m. Open Mic (Optional): Bring up to five minutes worth of your work for reading aloud in a supportive and non-critiquing space.

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

• Optional fire and wine

Sunday, August 27, 2024

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Breakfast Workshop: Character Lab

  • Arguably, characterization is a vital part of your manuscript. If a reader can’t resonate with, believe in, or root for the protagonist, they won’t continue reading. So, who is your character and what do they want? I’ve got some super fun techniques to dive deeper into your character’s backstory and motivation.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• Check-out 1:00 p.m.(ish)

Valerie Ihsan, Story Analyst and Life and Business Coach for Creatives, is the author of You Can’t Dance a Lie: A Memoir of Stepping Into My Truth; The Scent of Apple Tea; and Smell the Blue Sky: Young, Pregnant, and Widowed, winner of a B.R.A.G. Medallion for Top Indie-Published Books. She co-chaired the Eugene Chapter of Willamette Writers for over eight years, diagnoses manuscripts as a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and helps authors write memoirs. She podcasts at the Writer Craft Podcast, loves dogs, and aims to live in Costa Rica and run more writing retreats. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three dogs.

Amenities

Lodging choices

• Multiple tipis to choose from (do you want to be closer to the center of things, or less so?)

• One Garden Cottage, with mini deck, near river (can be a shared lodging option)

• One luxury Master Bedroom (with AC) with private bathroom, wheelchair accessible

• One studio apartment (with AC) with private bathroom and balcony (stairs)

All lodging has electricity and is furnished with standard-sized beds (twin, double, queen, or king), complete with bedding. (Please let me know if you have mobility issues, special assistance needs, or any concerns. The owner is very accommodating.)
* Shared lodging options available for a reduced cost. ($719 each for writers sharing a dwelling.)

Two shared full bathrooms with showers. Cleaned daily.
* I’ve been to three major functions here (aside from the writing retreats) and never had to wait for a bathroom longer than a minute.

Lodging includes access to:

• Guest refrigerator

• Firepit

• Jacuzzi

• Smoking areas

• River frontage for swimming

• Little Free Library

• Many places to meditate, write, eat, and relax

• Hand sanitizing stations

• Device charging stations

What to bring:

• Laptop or other writing tools

• Headlamp or flashlight

• Any wine or beer you’d like to drink at dinner

Also consider bringing:

• Snacks for between meals

• Swimming suit

• Shower shoes

• Yoga gear

• Money for yoga classes (optional)

• Books/journals

• Sweater/jacket for chilly evenings/mornings

• A personal towel (though towels are offered)

• Bug repellent for the evening

• Sunscreen

• Water bottle

• Charging cords

Note about cell phone service:

Depending on your carrier, you may not have cell service here. I use T-Mobile and have service in some places on the property. There is WiFi in the breakfast area on the deck.

All-Inclusive Ticket Price

Includes 3 nights lodging, 8 meals, 3 days workshop/retreat tuition, socially-distanced in-person networking with other writers, two 30-minute coaching sessions.

Only 10-13 tickets available, depending on whether writers share lodging or not.

PRIVATE LODGING:

RETURNING ALUMNI $835 Registration open now. Email at valerie@valerieihsan.com.

EARLY BIRD $899 0r $128.45/mo for seven months. (Early Bird Registration is open from November 1-December 31, 2023. Monthly payment option ends December 31, 2023.)

REGULAR $999 or $166.50/mo for six months. (Regular Registration starts January 1, 2024.Monthly payment option ends January 31, 2024, but if this is a barrier, please email me.)

SHARED LODGING:

RETURNING ALUMNI $555 pp Email at valerie@valerieihsan.com.

EARLY BIRD $619 pp or $88.45/mo pp for seven months. (Early Bird Registration is open from November 1-December 31, 2023. Monthly payment option ends December 31, 2023.)

REGULAR $719 pp or $120/mo pp for six months. (Regular Registration starts January 1, 2024.Monthly payment option ends January 31, 2024.)

Refunds not available after April 1st.

Reserve your spot at the Writer Craft Retreat today.