Pack your bags and retreat with us!
The Power of words March 29th-April 1st
The power of words
A workshop exclusively for writers living in and around Guanajuato March 29 – April 1, 2023
Led by Bonnie Wolkenstein
Florecer Casitas, Guanajuato, MX.
Two common challenges face seasoned writers: how to write more powerfully and how to approach what we’ve been unable to write. Seasoned writers need to hone our craft differently than we’ve done in the past, and to break out of ruts. In this writing-intensive workshop, we will explore both challenges. Participants can use current work, or allow new writing to emerge. The final event is an Open Mic, preceded by a catered dinner, giving our work its debut in the larger community.
This is a 21⁄2 day non-residential workshop for those who write fiction, non-fiction, memoir, plays and/or poetry. All activities will take place at the Florecer Casitas. Each full day includes lunch, and the final evening’s open mic will be preceded by a buffet dinner. It is designed for those who live in and around Guanajuato, who may be looking to deepen connections within the creative community of Guanajuato.
Workshop themes:
Day 1: Tightening and refining – The power of saying less
This workshop offers playful, creative opportunities to experiment with saying more through the paradox of fewer words. We will explore ways to use more evocative language, identify the message, hone our writer’s voice, craft a unique conversation between author and reader, and experiment with techniques to pare down until we reach the visceral sensation that we have said exactly what we meant to say.
Day 2: Writing what we’ve been afraid to write
Many of us have a sense that we shy away from certain topics, messages, voices, styles, and/or language. Sometimes we've told parts of something important to us, but we've held back, leaving other parts of our story, our truth, unwritten or unfinished. We may sense we are protecting others or ourselves. By leaning into “risky” topics, we will evoke the myriad feelings of dancing (on the page) as if no one were watching.
About Bonnie:
Bonnie is a writer, photographer and psychologist based in Seattle, WA, USA. Her poetry, essays and photography explore what lies below the surface of everyday moments. Published work: Penumbra, Poetica Magazine, New Note Poetry, The Good Life, Kansas City Voices, Drash; Northwest Mosaic, 56 Days of August, (Re) An Ideas Journal and La Presa. She has been a featured reader in the greater Seattle area, at Easy Speak Seattle, Rainier Valley Lit Crawl, PoetryBridge, and Duvall Poetry. She has participated in international poetry readings in Guanajuato, MX and Seville, SP and is the host of the 2021 and upcoming 2023 residential Guanajuato Writing Retreat.
Her first book of poetry, Dreaming in Cantera/Sueños en Cantera will be released in February, 2023 (WordTech Editions). It’s a bilingual collection of poems written and inspired by her sabbatical year living in GTO.
Location:
The Florecer Casitas, Calzada de Guadalupe 641, Las Huertas, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, MX 36015 Please contact Liz Mapelli/Florecer Casitas if you’re interested in overnight lodging.
Pricing
Full Workshop:
Attend 2 and a half days of workshop, Saturday night dinner and open mic
Wed, March 29, 2023 Thursday, March 30 Friday, March 31 Saturday, April 1
$3950 MXN ($197 USD)
Early bird discount
Mini Workshop:
Half-day opening workshop
Full day workshop (lunch included) Full day workshop (lunch included) Dinner buffet and Open mic
1-6 pm 10am–6pm 10am–6pm 6pm–10pm
Registration and payment due Feb 14, 2023
Save 15% with registration/payment in full by Jan 25, 2023 $3417 MXN ($173 USD)
Attend 1 and a half days of workshop plus the Saturday night dinner and open mic
Wed, March 29, 2023 Saturday, April 1
+
PLUS Choose ONE full day only
Full day workshop (lunch included) Full day workshop (lunch included)
1-6 pm 6pm–10pm
10am–6pm 10am–6pm
Registration and payment due Feb 14, 2023
Early bird discount Save 10% with registration/payment in full by Jan 25, 2023 $1990 MXN ($96.50 USD)
For more information/details, or to register, please visit: Guanajuato Writing Retreat: The Power of Words. Or email Bonnie at guanajuatowritingretreat@gmail.com.
A workshop exclusively for writers living in and around Guanajuato March 29 – April 1, 2023
Led by Bonnie Wolkenstein
Florecer Casitas, Guanajuato, MX.
Two common challenges face seasoned writers: how to write more powerfully and how to approach what we’ve been unable to write. Seasoned writers need to hone our craft differently than we’ve done in the past, and to break out of ruts. In this writing-intensive workshop, we will explore both challenges. Participants can use current work, or allow new writing to emerge. The final event is an Open Mic, preceded by a catered dinner, giving our work its debut in the larger community.
This is a 21⁄2 day non-residential workshop for those who write fiction, non-fiction, memoir, plays and/or poetry. All activities will take place at the Florecer Casitas. Each full day includes lunch, and the final evening’s open mic will be preceded by a buffet dinner. It is designed for those who live in and around Guanajuato, who may be looking to deepen connections within the creative community of Guanajuato.
Workshop themes:
Day 1: Tightening and refining – The power of saying less
This workshop offers playful, creative opportunities to experiment with saying more through the paradox of fewer words. We will explore ways to use more evocative language, identify the message, hone our writer’s voice, craft a unique conversation between author and reader, and experiment with techniques to pare down until we reach the visceral sensation that we have said exactly what we meant to say.
Day 2: Writing what we’ve been afraid to write
Many of us have a sense that we shy away from certain topics, messages, voices, styles, and/or language. Sometimes we've told parts of something important to us, but we've held back, leaving other parts of our story, our truth, unwritten or unfinished. We may sense we are protecting others or ourselves. By leaning into “risky” topics, we will evoke the myriad feelings of dancing (on the page) as if no one were watching.
About Bonnie:
Bonnie is a writer, photographer and psychologist based in Seattle, WA, USA. Her poetry, essays and photography explore what lies below the surface of everyday moments. Published work: Penumbra, Poetica Magazine, New Note Poetry, The Good Life, Kansas City Voices, Drash; Northwest Mosaic, 56 Days of August, (Re) An Ideas Journal and La Presa. She has been a featured reader in the greater Seattle area, at Easy Speak Seattle, Rainier Valley Lit Crawl, PoetryBridge, and Duvall Poetry. She has participated in international poetry readings in Guanajuato, MX and Seville, SP and is the host of the 2021 and upcoming 2023 residential Guanajuato Writing Retreat.
Her first book of poetry, Dreaming in Cantera/Sueños en Cantera will be released in February, 2023 (WordTech Editions). It’s a bilingual collection of poems written and inspired by her sabbatical year living in GTO.
Location:
The Florecer Casitas, Calzada de Guadalupe 641, Las Huertas, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, MX 36015 Please contact Liz Mapelli/Florecer Casitas if you’re interested in overnight lodging.
Pricing
Full Workshop:
Attend 2 and a half days of workshop, Saturday night dinner and open mic
Wed, March 29, 2023 Thursday, March 30 Friday, March 31 Saturday, April 1
$3950 MXN ($197 USD)
Early bird discount
Mini Workshop:
Half-day opening workshop
Full day workshop (lunch included) Full day workshop (lunch included) Dinner buffet and Open mic
1-6 pm 10am–6pm 10am–6pm 6pm–10pm
Registration and payment due Feb 14, 2023
Save 15% with registration/payment in full by Jan 25, 2023 $3417 MXN ($173 USD)
Attend 1 and a half days of workshop plus the Saturday night dinner and open mic
Wed, March 29, 2023 Saturday, April 1
+
PLUS Choose ONE full day only
- Thursday, March 30
- Friday, March 31
Cost: $2100 MXN ($107 USD)
Full day workshop (lunch included) Full day workshop (lunch included)
1-6 pm 6pm–10pm
10am–6pm 10am–6pm
Registration and payment due Feb 14, 2023
Early bird discount Save 10% with registration/payment in full by Jan 25, 2023 $1990 MXN ($96.50 USD)
For more information/details, or to register, please visit: Guanajuato Writing Retreat: The Power of Words. Or email Bonnie at guanajuatowritingretreat@gmail.com.
Writing – and living – boldly Nov 5th-12th
Fall 2023 Writing – and living – boldly. A week-long residential retreat in Guanajuato, MX. November 5-12, 2023 at Florecer Casitas. Register Here
2024 Retreat Details coming Soon
self discovery through art and photography
lead by Catherine Just
2024
"Dancing with Death"
Hosted by Kay Haferkamp & sylvia Wienand
A retreat for Palliative and Hospice care professionals
Including: Día de los Muertos (Day of the dead) celebrations
And a community gathering of doctors and caretakers in Mexico
Presented in German & English
More details to come. To be on the early bird wait list contact us HERE, Limited to 10 total participants.
Join Kay for a Zoom retreat in March 2022 as away to meet and prepare for the in person retreat in October of 2023
Join Kay for a Zoom retreat in March 2022 as away to meet and prepare for the in person retreat in October of 2023