Heroines: Writing Intensive & Bali Retreat
with Dr Sarah Nicholson
October - December 2022 (online) & January 2023 (Ubud, Bali)
This writing intensive program is for women who write women’s stories, and particularly those who are interested in writing about women in history, and rewriting or reimagining women in mythology, fairytale and folklore. During this program, we will work intimately as a group to provide feedback and assist in the progression of each other’s creative work, both online and then together on retreat in Bali.
About: This is a writing program in two parts: it begins online and runs from October to December, and then retreat together as a group in Bali in January.
Online Intensive: The intensive will begin online with a one-on-one creative consultation with the group leader. Over the months of November & December, the group will meet via Zoom & the Wet.Ink platform to meet, discuss and give feedback on each others’ writing projects. The group will complete the Writing The Heroine online course together and give peer feedback on each other’s work.
Retreat reading: The group will be supported by a selection of readings. Dr Nicholson will also assign two novels (rewritings or reuse of women in mythology), and readings on the topic of creative practice, for the group to read and then discuss in Bali.
Retreat: In January 2023 the group will spend five days together in Ubud, Bali. The retreat will be focused on providing time for individual writing practice, group discussion of the selected novels and readings on creative practice, and reflections on the development of creative projects.
Consultation: Dr Nicholson will conduct a one-on-one creative consultation intake meeting with each participant. She will give written feedback on each participant’s creative project and will lead all group activities.
Program leader: SARAH NICHOLSON is a writing prize judge, literary editor and literary festival director. She is the Creative Director of The Heroines Festival, Editor of the Heroines Anthology, and Director of both the South Coast Writers Centre, and the South Coast Writers Festival. She has been a director of the National Young Writers’ Festival, an awardee of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust for Literature, a recipient of a Writer’s and Translator’s Centre of Rhodes fellowship, and an Emerging Writer in Residence for the Katherine Susannah Pritchard Writers’ Centre. She has a PhD in feminist philosophy and previously led student learning as an academic in the field of creative arts, religion, philosophy and literature. She is also the author of The Evolutionary Journey of Woman and an editor of Integral Voices on Sex, Gender and Sexuality.
Sarah has led two previous women’s retreats at Honeymoon Guesthouse in Bali.
PROGRAM DATES
Week beginning October 17th: one-on-one creative consultations with program leader
Tuesday 1st November: 1-hour group introduction discussion by Zoom.
Submission: Submit and receive peer feedback on one piece of writing (to 5,000 words or 5 poems)
Weeks beginning 6th November - 5th December:
Completion of Writing The Heroines Journey online course (Wet.ink)
Peer & leader feedback on each creative writing each week
Week beginning 12th December : 1-hour group discussion session on readings & retreat preparation by Zoom
Set readings: the group will read two novels prior to the retreat in Bali that will be discussed in our “book club”
Bali retreat: January 9 - 14
Online course: The Writing the Heroine’s Journey course explores classic models of the hero and heroine, the missing voices of women in literature and history, and introduces some alternative maps of the heroine’s journey. Through readings, writing exercises and resources, this course also explores ways in which authors have responded to the dilemma of the heroine via a range of models, and what might be the future for the heroine. The course offers six topic sessions, exploring elements of the heroine as archetype, narrative form, and character. Each session includes informative written text relating to the topic along with several (optional) exercises, requiring a combination of research, creative writing, and self-reflection to answer.
The online course is self-paced course over six weeks. Each group member will submit one piece of work for peer feedback (other group members are asked to read and comment) during this period. Minimum time commitment: 2 hours/week.
BALI RETREAT SCHEDULE
January 9 - 14
Day one: Welcome drinks & group dinner at Indus Restaurant
Day two - six: Retreat Breakfast
Day two - five: Group Writing practice
Day two: Writing project check-in
Day three: Book club discussion #1 & Creativity discussion
Day four: Book club discussion #2 & Creativity discussion
Day five: Writing project check-in & farewell dinner.
Retreat participants can also spend time reading and relaxing by the pool, walking in rice paddy fields, getting a spa treatment, or attending a performance (* schedule is subject to change)
RETREAT VENUE
The beautiful Honeymoon Guesthouse in Ubud is perfect for relaxation, with elegant palatial Balinese style guest rooms with private balconies set amidst a lush tropical garden complete with beautifully carved stone statues, carp ponds and a grand salt water pool for relaxing. Honeymoon Guesthouse is situated only a five-minute walk away from the heart of Ubud's shopping, eating, art and performance hub. Massage, yoga classes and beauty therapy is available onsite.
Daily breakfast includes fresh tropical fruit, homemade yoghurt, and freshly baked pastries and bread from The Honeymoon Bakery.
PROGRAM COSTS
$AU 2000 per person (single room)
$AU 1750 per person (shared room with a friend. Must book together.)
$500 deposit is required to secure your spot once application is accepted.
Payments can be made in instalments. All payments must be completed by December 2022.
Inclusions:One-on-one consultation with program leader
2 x 1 hour group preparation Zoom calls
6 week Writing the Heroine online course
Program leader and peer online feedback on one piece of creative writing
5 nights accommodation at Honeymoon Guesthouse
All retreat activities including 5 breakfasts & 2 group dinners at local restaurant
Excludes: flights and insurance. Transfers to and from airport available - incurs additional fee.
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Dates:
Enrolments: open 6 July. Enrolment is by application only. Applicants are approved upon receipt & places are assigned as first in, first served.
Online intensive: This intensive will begin online with one-on-one consultations in the week of 17th October. The online course will run from the 1st November 2022 - 13th December.
Retreat: The retreat will take place from 9 - 14 January 2023.
Participants: This intensive retreat program is limited to 10 participants.
Covid policy: We will follow the most up-to-date health advice and follow guidance from health authorities in Bali and the hotel. This may mean that you are required to show your vaccination status or to adhere to vaccination protocols. We recommend you take out travel insurance that will cover you in the event that you can not travel. In the event that the physical retreat in Bali needs to be cancelled for any reason, you will receive a full refund for that portion of the retreat.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations, minus $500 deposit, are available until the 10th October. No refunds are available from November 2022 (unless due to cancellation due to Covid, or similar, as above). If the Bali retreat needs to be cancelled due to travel restrictions a full refund, minus the deposit, will be made to participants.
Pre-registration : Places are strictly limited and only available by application, register your interest in the program via this form.