Name: Wellspring Fall Literary Escape: The Porches Edition
Start: 2024-09-26
End: 2024-09-29
Location: Norwood, VA, USA

Wellspring Writing Collective

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6 reviews

Sep 26 - 29, 2024

Group size: 4 - 4

Wellspring Fall Literary Escape: The Porches Edition

Norwood, VA, USA

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Wellspring Writing Collective

Email address verified

6 reviews

$NaN

Sep 26 - 29, 2024

Group size: 4 - 4

Lodging for 3 Nights
Private room with writing desk and seating area.
Welcome Dinner
Provided by Cindy--Vegetarian and Nonvegetarian options
Manuscript or Coaching
Cindy will review and comment on up to 25 pages of writing (sent in advance) and/or meet with you for a private coaching session on any writing-related topic--your choice!
Coffee/Tea
All weekend long--Keurig and drip coffee; a variety of teas, sweeteners, and creamer.
Community Writing
Community Writing Sessions kick off each day to get you in the frame of mind to create, generate, then revise. All genres and levels of writing welcome.
Individual Writing Space
Hours of Individual Writing Time each day. Each room has a lovely and sturdy writing desk, desk chair, as well as a comfy reading spot. Other serene areas exist both indoors and out.

Full Manuscript Review

$550

Deposit: $0

Poetry Chapbook or Book Edit

$250

Deposit: $0

Cindy's: Wild Woman: Memoir in Pieces

$15

Day 1: Thursday Evening
Day 1: Thursday Evening
Arrival and Introductions
Arrive at The Porches between 4:00 and 5:30; Settle in and get your bearings (perhaps take a few minutes to reflect on your surroundings in your journal.)
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome Dinner (provided)

Meet the other attendees.

Enjoy a welcome dinner while getting to know one another.

Participants receive a welcome package, including a schedule and writing resources.
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Opening Session - Setting Goals and Accountability

Introduction to the retreat's goals and schedule.

Set personal intentions for the retreat.

Setting realistic and attainable writing goals.
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. a time to socialize or write on your own (or sleep or eat etc.)
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Day 2: Friday
Day 2: Friday
Revitalize, Rejuvenate, Revise!
Sunrise to 10:00 AM: Breakfast and Time On Your Own

Eat breakfast on your own (or make a plan to join others.)

Quiet, uninterrupted time for personal writing.

Write on the porches, in the main room, at your personal writing desk.

Take an early walk.

Explore the optional writing prompts in your welcome packet for inspiration.
10:00 AM - 11:45 AM: Community Writing--Prompts and Strengths-Based Feedback by Cindy

Bring a coffee, water, or snack and let's discover new writing strategies/techniques.

Share any thoughts from the night before or the morning.

After a short group writing session, each participant sets daily writing goals.
12:15 Gather for lunch (each attendee will provide one meal for five people--4 attendees and me.)

1:00-6:00 Individual Time--Write, Read, Walk, Write, Daydream, Nap, Write

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: One-on-One Coaching/Manuscript Reviews

Pre-scheduled private sessions with Cindy for personalized writing advice.

Feedback and guidance on writing challenges.

Make a plan for moving forward.
6:30 Gather for dinner-- prepared by one of the attendees. (These meals can range from soup and salad to lasagna or other dishes bought or made.)

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Evening Social - Bonfire Stories

Relax around a bonfire (or indoors if weather or group determines) with storytelling and coffee, wine, or another favorite beverage--or snack!

Share your work or a favorite piece of literature that inspires you.

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Day 3: Saturday
Day 3: Saturday
Diving Deep
Sunrise to 10:00 AM: Breakfast and Morning Time On Your Own

Eat breakfast on your own (or make a plan to join others.)

Quiet, uninterrupted time for personal writing.

Write on the porches, in the main room, at your personal writing desk.

Take an early walk.

Explore writing prompts in your welcome packet for inspiration.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Crafting Longer Pieces Workshop

Discuss techniques for turning ideas into longer narratives.

Techniques for expanding and structuring your writing.

Brainstorming and outlining strategies.

Set Daily Goals
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM: Lunch

Break for lunch (prepared by attendee).
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Free Time for Writing
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: One-on-One Coaching/Manuscript Reviews

Prescheduled meeting with Cindy.

Tailored guidance on longer pieces.
6:30 Dinner (prepared by attendee)

7:30 PM - 9:00-ish PM: Open Mic Night

Bring your favorite beverage and maybe a snack as we share our work or favorite, short published pieces during this informal and supportive session.
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Day 4: Sunday
Day 4: Sunday
Closure
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Individual time to reflect on the weekend. Breakfast on your own. Pack up for checkout.

Perhaps dedicate this last morning to putting finishing touches on your pieces.
9:00-10:00 CLOSING SESSION

CHECK OUT IS 11:00 AM

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Day 1: Thursday Evening

Arrival and Introductions

Wellspring Writing Collective

6 reviews

Cindy is a writing coach, retreat leader, and author of memoir and poetry. In her studies of Psychology (BA), creative writing (MFA), and literature (PhD), she explored myriad ways that writing can rejuvenate a person’s core identity. She realized that the only narrative about our life that matters is our own. She loves nothing more than bringing a diverse group together to share stories of joy, sorrow, loss, celebration, and life in all of its glorious chaos.

I absolutely loved the serene retreat with Wellspring. Cindy if a gifted curator of insightful experiences designed to lift up writers of all sorts. We loved the beautiful house, the delicious, and the stimulating workshops - still with ample time to recharge and work on our writing individually. I’m always at my best at these retreats!

By Lisa L for Outer Banks: Writers at the Beach Winter 2025 on Mar 11, 2025

A Writer’s Retreat. I was there to work on my book. It seems that most of the people were writing whatever they wrote while they were there, but Cindy and her excepting attitude made it possible for everybody to do what they wanted even if it was different from the other people. I would’ve liked to participated with Cindy’s activities, but I had a goal in mind and I wanted to stick to it.

By Donna C for Seaside Retreat: Writers at the Beach Fall 2024 on Nov 20, 2024

I got so much writing done at the retreat! Surrounded by the beautiful ocean view, a personal chef, fellow writers, and plenty of writing tables/rooms/nooks, I made tremendous progress toward completing my manuscript!

By Pat M for Seaside Retreat: Writers at the Beach Fall 2024 on Nov 13, 2024

Porches is my favorite place to be and being there for this retreat was wonderful. Good group of writers. Cindy is a fantastic instructor and facilitator.

By Claudia B for Wellspring Fall Literary Escape: The Porches Edition on Oct 08, 2024

We all enjoyed a restorative 4 days in a magnificent beach house whose panoramic view of the ocean was dazzling, especially in the morning. The lack of pressure from Cindy, who offered us our choice of level of involvement, encouraged my desire not only to edit but to rest! I did both, and actually finished four sections of my book. Cindy also offered a number of group sessions, including group writing periods… very helpful and encouraging. I look forward to any other retreats Cindy puts together, and I would gladly return to this site. I do think, however, that the owners should install a proper handrail going into the pool. Without one, i wasn't able to use the pool for fear I’d end up having to yell for rescue in the middle of the night… please correct this!