2015 Retreat Program Sampler |

2015 Retreat & Waves Discussion Series: Writing Against the Current

Following is a sample of the 2015 Retreat Program, still a work in progress. In abundance but unlisted are the echoing canyons, laughter, inspiration, and galaxies of fearless words and stories. The application deadline is January 15, so apply today! Learn more about AROHO Retreats here.

Our intention is to make room for women’s creative, unguarded responses to each other’s voices and concerns. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of AROHO’s 2015 Fellow of Distinction, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Virginia Woolf, The Waves Discussion Series will facilitate a “letting go” of preconceived notions of public sharing. Not only those listed below, but every woman at the retreat will have a variety of opportunities to freely express what they think in a genre or medium that best suits the way they think. Not only will The Waves explore issues of vital importance to women writers today, the discussion will also lead to new work and new perspective.

FEATURING MAXINE HONG KINGSTON, ELLEN MCLAUGHLIN, LAUREN RUSK,
MODERATOR, KATE GALE

A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO WRITE, BRIDGET BIRDSALL

BENDING NARRATIVE: MATTER-OF-FACT TRANSFORMATIONS, LUKE DANI BLUE

BELOVED-WAR WOMEN: WHY GHIGAU SPEAKS TO US AS WRITERS, SUNNY COOPER

AN EXERCISE IN OSTRANENIE/DEFAMILIARIZATION, KATIE FARRIS

CO-CREATIVITY: VISION, PRACTICE, POWER, MARNI GAUTHIER

AND/OR/AGAINST/FOR, VERO GONZALEZ

UNMAKING THE FORM, MARYA HORNBACHER

AM I EXPERIMENTAL (OR JUST PSYCHOTIC)? BRIANNA JOHNSON

WHAT TO HOLD ON TO IN CASE OF TSUNAMIS AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS, SUSAN KANGA

IDENTITY AS AN ACT OF IMAGINATION, JILLIAN LAUREN

A WOMAN IS A WARRIOR MOVING BODY AND BREATH, ALEXA MERGEN

RE-INTERPRETING THE CARVED REVENGE ON YOUR BACK, SHAUNA OSBORN

KEEPING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER: WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY? AIMEE PERKINS

THE MOST ORDINARY MOVEMENT IN THE WORLD, DEBORAH POLIKOFF

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS: SECRET CATHARSIS IN WOMAN WARRIOR, TANIA PRYPUTNIEWICZ

IF YOU WERE A TREE…, MARGUERITE MARIA RIVAS

KEEP THE DRAMA IN THE DRAMA: SOBRIETY AND THE WRITING LIFE, JAMIE ROSE

A HOMELESS ‘OUTSIDER’ IN AMERICA: IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, LISE ST. AMANT

I DIDN’T REALIZE I’D GET HATE MAIL: PREPARING TO PUBLISH A MEMOIR, JENNIFER STEIL

GOING TO DARK PLACES: WRITING ABOUT ABUSE, KELLY SUNDBERG

WOMEN WARRIORS: WRITING OUR NEW MYTHS, AIMEE SUZARA

EXPLORING PASTS UNWRITTEN, DARLENE TAYLOR

A PLACE AT THE TABLE, MICHELLE WING

CONTRIBUTIONS ALSO ANTICIPATED FROM: JOY CASTRO, ESTHER COHEN, JANET FITCH, DIANE GILLIAM, SUSAN GOLOMB, DIPIKA GUHA, TAYARI JONES, BHANU KAPIL, CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH, KUMKUM PAREEK MALIK, AND ELISA KAY SPARKS

Led by seasoned writers and industry gurus, these small group sessions bring the same group of nine women together each day, providing an opportunity to gain a richer understanding of genre, craft, or project, while deepening connections among participants.

FINDING THE MEMOIR YOU’RE HERE TO WRITE, JOY CASTRO

GOOD STORIES, ESTHER COHEN

ALL THAT IS BOLD, JANET FITCH

HERE ALL DWELL FREE: THE POWER OF FAIRY TALES, DIANE GILLIAM

THE BOOK DEAL, SUSAN GOLOMB

IT’S BIGGER THAN YOU, IT’S BIGGER THAN YOUR STORY – CRAFTING YOUR WRITING TO AFFECT
SOCIAL CHANGE, TAYARI JONES

WRITE YOURSELF OUT OF ONE LIFE AND INTO ANOTHER, BHANU KAPIL

EMERGING HEROES: DIVERSITY IN YOUNG ADULT FICTION, CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH

WRITING THE OTHER, ELLEN MCLAUGHLIN

BEYOND THE TYRANNY OF CARING: FREEING A WOMAN’S CREATIVE SELF, KUMKUM PAREEK MALIK

WRITING POEMS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WORLD, LAUREN RUSK

“IMAGINARY GARDENS WITH REAL TOADS IN THEM”: FANTASY, HISTORY, AND LIFE-WRITING IN WOOLF AND KINGSTON, ELISA KAY SPARKS

Artists in residence have an interest and talent for writing and are inspired to use women in community as a medium for their art. AIR projects integrate, explore, and engage the Retreat theme as well as the community of women that gathers.

CARVED SKIN, SHAUNA OSBORN

TRANSMEDIA INSTALLATION: STREAMS OF RESISTANCE, THENMOZHI SOUNDARARAJAN

Art, Literary Craft, Writing Life/Career, and Performance Studios take place each morning, providing focused and cumulative opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration within a smaller group setting. Each studio’s goal will be to produce something by the end of the hour: artwork, writing, reading performance, etc.

WOMENTORSHIP, LI YUN ALVARDO

TONE YOUR CREATIVE CORE: FIVE SECRETS FOR ARTISTS, MICHELE BERGER

“SIT WITH YOUR BACK TO THE WALL IF YOU WANT TO!” SHARI CRANE, PH.D.

CURRENTS, KRISTI CRUTCHFIELD COX

7 STEPS TO FINDING YOUR VOICE, SAMANTHA DUNN

GIVING SHAPE TO FEAR: MONSTROSITY AS FORMAL EXAGGERATION/INNOVATION, KATIE FARRIS

CO-CREATIVE REVISION, MARNI GAUTHIER

LITERARY CIRCUIT TRAINING, LISA GLUSKIN STONESTREET

A MIRROR OF MY OWN: FEMALE SELF-PORTRAIT IN COMICS, NORA HICKEY

EDITING, THE BEST STRIPTEASE, BRIANNA JOHNSON

SERIOUS RANTING AND RAVING: RISING ABOVE POLITE COMPLAINT AND PROTEST, SUSAN KANGA

GROUP DAY POEM: A RECORD OF MOMENTS, ALEXA MERGEN

CARVED SKIN, SHAUNA OSBORN

THE POWER OF TABLEAUX, ALICIA PAYNE

WORDS AS SOUNDS, DEBORAH POLIKOFF

WRITING THROUGH FEAR: FREE YOUR BUTTERFLY, TANIA PRYPUTNIEWICZ

IN THIS SKIN, AIMEE SUZARA

ERASURES: UNDOING ORLANDO OR WOMAN WARRIOR TO CREATE NEW POEMS, NANCY WHITE

Writers may elect to take part in round tables led by agents, publishers, editors, and seasoned writers for an additional fee. Functioning as a group consultation, half-hour sessions will accommodate six participants, combining the benefits of both one-on-one and group dynamics.

NICELLE DAVIS, BOOK EVENTS

KATE GALE, PUBLISHING

SUSAN GOLOMB, LITERARY AGENTS

MARY JOHNSON, SOCIAL MEDIA

LEIGH HABER, BOOKS & MAGAZINE EDITING

PEGGY SHUMAKER, PUBLICITY