Writer’s Retreat Celebrates 10 Years in Calistoga

 Writer’s Retreat Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Calistoga

Writers find soothing experience in the beauty of the region

[Berkley, California]—[October 15, 2009] Twice a year for the last ten years, a small group of writers from all over the country begin a weekend writing experience on a Friday evening at the conference center at Hideaway Cottages in the heart of Calistoga.  They spend the rest of weekend writing, learning how to shape their stories, and soaking up the relaxing yet energizing ambiance that defines Calistoga.

Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D., MFT, President and Founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers leads the biannual retreat, and has continued to bring the retreat back to Calistoga rather than selecting another location.  “Calistoga is the perfect location to spend focused energy on writing.  The town invites busy urban souls to relax into healing waters, to find silence in nature, to spend time with the self that is often forgotten. This is truly a bounteous place for a writing retreat.”

This 10^th annual autumn retreat in Calistoga entitled, “Harvesting Our Wisdom,” takes place November 6th through 8th, 2009 from 6:30 PM Friday through 12:30 PM Sunday. The retreat is open to first time attendees and returning attendees, from beginning to experienced writers.

Writers work on their style of preference, whether memoir, fiction, or poetry.   A strong focus is placed on peer feedback that is supportive and accepting.

“There is an intensity to devoting a weekend to this [writing] work. Maybe it’s the act of designating a time and place for it…that people take big risks. I was moved to tears and blown away by people’s courage and stories,” commented Lily Endlich, past retreat attendee. 

The writers are lead by Myers using visualization, memory exercises, drawing, and group sharing to open up each individual’s well of stories to draw from. At the end of a weekend that goes all too quickly, the writers leave the retreat with several new stories, a timeline, and a writing plan to take home.

And, a plan to return to Calistoga to continue to hone their craft.

About The National Association of Memoir Writers
The National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW) invites memoir writers from all over the world to connect, learn, and become inspired about writing their stories. The goal of the organization is to help memoir writers feel empowered with purpose and energy to begin and develop their life stories into a publishable memoir, whether in essay form, a book, a family legacy, or to create a blog.  NAMW offers a unique package of memoir writing resources including the NAMW welcome kit and a collection of online and hard copy resources that help memoir writers within all phases of the exciting journey of memoir writing.  NAMW also offers teleseminars, workshops, retreats and other learning opportunities and materials to both their membership and the public. 

To learn more about NAMW, contact us at info@namw.org or visit our website at http://www.namw.org

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