About this Event
“A self is not something static, tied up in a pretty parcel and handed to the child, finished and complete. A self is always becoming.” -Madeleine L'Engle
In the tradition of confessional poets such as Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, the Red Tent Confessional focuses on telling the stories of our personal lives through the craft of writing. The confessional writers gave us the gift of engaging their lives and emotions nonjudgmentally, courageously addressing topics that were taboo at the time. They didn’t hide their experiences or pretend to be anything other than themselves, and their work invites us to do the same.
In this one-time Writing Confessional event, we will welcome and examine the archetypes we've embodied through our stories, taking time to honor the many voices and roles we have adopted to shape our own sense of self. Looking at the scenes of our stories, we will identify some of the places where we have lived as heroines, villians, maidens, sages, and rebels.
As writers, we get to decide which moments of our lives to share and explore the best way to share them, engaging in the sacred task of turning our personal experiences into well crafted forms of art. The hope of this retreat is that we will learn to share those moments in an integrated and authentic way, refusing to shy away from scenes where we carry regret, fear, confusion, or loss because of how we behaved. In so doing, we will come face to face with our courage, our darkness, and the divine love of God.
For those who attended the first Red Tent Confessional, this retreat will explore different themes, particularly those of character and voice, inviting writers to engage new ground as we consider the ways that fiction and nonfiction both uniquely empower us to share the truths of our stories.
Content*During this weekend retreat, we will look at writing as therapy, writing as craft, and writing as a spiritual practice, answering questions like:
How is the writing process linked to your relationship with God and with yourself?
How do we write honestly about the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of womanhood, and how do these themes connect to our own personal identity?
Which themes continually surface in your individual writing, and what do they say about who God made you to be?
How can writing our stories be part of our collective and individual healing?
How can the practice of writing lead us back to our truest self?
Whether you’ve published a book or are just beginning the journey, whether you prefer fiction versus nonficiton, whether you’re well-acquainted with your personal story or just starting to look at it, this retreat will help you further your journey as a female writer.
Ticket includes 5 teachings with professional writers, 5 prompts for individual working sessions, 2 working group sessions with professional counselors, a private concert and dessert with Nichole Nordeman, as well as in depth feedback on your personal writing voice, style, and content. Lodging and additional meals are not included.
*Thursday evening story sharing session with the facilitators is included but optional, teaching content begins Friday morning at 8:30am
*A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact [email protected] Instructors
Counselors
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Riverbend Church, 4214 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, United States
USD 700.00 to USD 900.00