Join Us in the Big Easy!
It's all about the vibes...and NOLA has them!
Where better to learn about atmospheric writing than in the heart of New Orleans?
Join us February 21-25 for a workshop writing retreat that will include lessons on adding voice and atmosphere to your writing, one-on-one critiques with both Beth and Cristin, and a field trip day into the Big Easy, where you'll have a chance to put some of your new skills to the test in one of the most atmospheric cities in America.
We tested out the field trip style workshop last month in Asheville with a group trip to the Biltmore House and lessons focused on world builidng. (As a reminder, our retreats are all-inclusive! Once you get to the retreat house, all meals, lodging, and extras, such as these field trips, are included!)
Beth has long said:
“When you have to choice to sit and write or go out and experience something new, choose the new thing. Stories come from experiences!”
We know people come to our retreats for the mix of learning—that’s why they’re workshop retreats!—and critiques (we’ve perfected the mix of prose and outlining crits so everyone walks away with feedback on both their sample pages and their story overall). But it’s also important to apply what we learn in real life as well—and you never know where inspiration will come from.
Although we do inevtiably find more books no matter where we go, ha! (Video description: A roving shot of the library at Biltmore, starting at the ceiling painting of aurora and sweeping over the various bookshelves.)
You never know what new thing is going to really inspire your work. Cristin’s novel Here Lies Daniel Tate was inspired by a random documentary she saw one day, and she spun the ideo out into a twisty thriller with an unguessable ending. Beth found a random article on Trier, Germany’s witch hunts and shared it with her friend, Sara, and together they ended up writing Night of the Witch. Discovering new places, seeing new sights, and—of course—meeting new people all add up to stories.
New Orleans: It’s All About the Vibes
That’s why we’re so excited to debut our first workshop retreat in beautiful NOLA! We have a serene writing house on the Gulf Coast, with views of the water—seriously, can’t you image writing gorgeous words at this table, beside Beth and Cristin?
During this 5-day retreat, you’ll get workshops from both Beth and Cristin, discussions on publishing and writing, and we’ve built in a day excursion into the beautiful, jazzy city of New Orleans. Walk down Bourbon Street, open up your lapton beside a plate of beignets at Cafe du Monde, or marvel at the beauty of Jackson Square in the Crescent City.
While we are definitely focusing on writing and this is very much a working trip, having time to process all you learn and explore New Orleans is an experience we think you’re going to love!
Space is very limited, so don’t wait—you can reserve your spot today! We are also happy to help you develop a custom payment plan that works with your budget—and tell your friends and family that you want gift cards for the holidays, which can be applied to retreats, critiques, video workshops, and anything else we offer!
New Video Lesson: Grammar!
After decades of critiques and a professorship in the MFA program at SNHU, Beth can say without a doubt that the most common grammatical error she sees is incorrect punctuation on dependent and independent clauses. She’s developed this quick and easy guide in where to use commas, semi-colons, and when not to in this video lesson!
As always, you can view video lessons a la carte or subscribe and get access to them all at Beth’s Patreon.
Night of the Witch is a New York Times bestseller!
Join us in congratulating our very own Beth and her co-author, Sara Raasch, as they celebrate hitting the New York Times bestseller list with Night of the Witch!
You can get signed copies of Night of the Witch from Malaprops, Novel Neighbor, and Joseph-Beth Cincinnati. (Be sure to confirm with the bookstore that you want a signed copy). If you’re on a budget, Amazon is also offering a limited time deal for the book at nearly half off.