For those of you who like to plan ahead, here’s a very rough break-down of how your waking hours might be spent:

30% Group Time
We’ll have group time set aside for writing activities to inspire your creativity and time to answer those questions you’ve long wondered about. And then, what could be better than having somebody else cook for the weekend? Well, while you’re dining, how about having the chance to hear the leaders’ “insider anecdotes” about what’s it’s really like to live as working writers? We also want to give you a chance to get to know the writers around you during these communal mealtimes.

25% Feedback and Sharing Time
Ann Rider, editor at Houghton Mifflin, will conduct a "first pages critique" session on Friday evening. Lisa and Laura will provide brief on-the-spot feedback of your writing as part of critique group time, and we’ll also set time aside for you to share your writing more casually with fellow participants.

30% Individual Writing Time
Time to respond to all the inspiration, feedback, and helpful hints you’ll have received and actually apply them to your own writing.

15% Social Time
Take on a fellow Bananagrams addict while you hang out in the Retreat Room. Share some wine, a soda, or a cocktail in the bar with somebody who loves young adult novels or picture books as much as you do. WiFi is available everywhere at the Flat Creek Inn, but we really hope you’ll think of this as a weekend away from being plugged in—other than, of course, carrying along your trusty laptop. We’ll provide the printer.

Details of Tentative Schedule