PRING 
IME 
RITERS
SPRING TIME WRITERS
Writing Workshops
Words for the Mind & Spirit
Workshop Calendar – 2008
including Writing Tips and Exercises
Attend a workshop in the Colorado Rocky Mt. Region to improve your writing skills while relaxing in a mountainside retreat, with endless sunshine and deep-blue skies, breathing in fresh mountain air, and enjoying fresh foods. Be nurtured with warm, professional tutoring on how to get your book or memoirs started or refined, or write short stories and essays. Classes restricted to only one to four people to enable private attention (special arrangements for groups up to eight). Most workshops are especially designed for women. (see below "Home" page for more details.) Includes creative writing in everything you do: fiction, self-help non-fiction, and journalings.
Birthing of Creative Writing, and
Capturing Random Memories ©
Writers Tips and Anthology available.
Our compilation book of our finest writing tips and exercises, and samples of works published on our web site over the past three years. Clear, exciting, simple and fun! Visit "Writers: Birthing Creative Writing..." for more details on this anthology. Only $11.95 plus $2 postage.
For Full Description, click the Link:
Our Most Popular Workshops for 2008
Dates are subject to Change
See our Calendar page for an easy view of what's happening this month.
Click on the Individual Workshop page to see which Sessions are Full.
We are closed for the season.
Please return in spring 2009 for a new Calendar.
Over the winter months, we will continue to publish our bi-monthly writing tips
below, and our free quarterly newsletter. We also can issue Gift Certificates
for workshops later this year. You can read the material below, which will
probably not change in 2009, except for the dates of the workshops. Thanks.
Holistic Wellness (with Journaling)
4 day weekend workshops; offered May to September Therapy for the Heart
Attune your chi energy with nature, begin self-healing, change your life style through knowledge of nutrition, and enjoy benefits of spa treatments. Journaling guidance for self-healing and self-discovery, and meditations.
Creative Writing
4 day weekend workshops, offered twice monthly, May to September. Creative Writing Creative Writing: May 29 (or 30) to June 2 (or 1st); June 6 to 9, June 21 (Sat) to 24 *Tues); July 3 (Thur) to July 6 (Sun) or Monday; July 18 to 21; August 1 to 4; August 15 to 18; and August 29 to Sept. 1 (Labor Day weekend) FULL, and September 5 to 8 (or begin Sept 4 Thurs), 2008. NEW Sept. 26 to 29.
Creative writing workshop: exercises, discussions, critiques; warm atmosphere and serene surroundings to meditate in and be inspired. For fiction and non-fiction writers and novelists. Goal of the class is to break down traditional writing barriers and produce heart-felt fresh material. Small classes for individual attention. Limited to 1 to 3 people for personal attention.
Journaling, Memoirs
4 day weekend workshops, offered twice monthly, May to September. Journaling only
In-Depth Journaling: June 13 to 16, July 11 to 14, August 8 to 11, 2008 (See also "Visual Journaling" below)
In-depth journaling could change your life! Find out what's been keeping you back. Uncover hidden motivations. Discover your true thoughts and aspirations.
New Workshops for 2008
Dates are subject to Change
Watch this web page, or subscribe to our free Newsletter to stay informed about these and other new workshops.
See our Calendar page for an easy view of what's happening this month.
"Blooming Poets," Poetry for Beginners
4 day weekend workshops, offered twice during summer. Creative Writing
July 25 to 28, and September 19 to 22, 2008
Have you always enjoyed poetry and wished you could get a grasp on how to write it, or improve on your pieces? This workshop involves learning the basics of the different types of poetry, and then soaring ahead into the beauty, joy and pleasure of writing poems that have great meaning and depth to you and your readers.
Try out Being a Journalist for the Day
4 day weekend workshops, offered twice during the summer. Journalist
June 27 to 30, 2008; NEW! Added due to popularity: Sept. 5 to 8
Be a reporter for the weekend! Your choice: Either try out at our retreat different styles of newspaper/magazine writing, like features, reviews, interviews and more --or-- Come and attend the June local down-home Good Old Days festival, parade and carnival. Enjoy the local Artist Studio tour. Learn how to take notes, interview participants, and put them all into a resume-quality article.
"Express Yourself," Visual Journaling
4 day weekend workshops, offered twice during summer Journaling
June 27 to 30; September 12 to 15, 2008. (See also Self-Help Journaling above)
Using art to help bring out "your story." (no artistic experience required) It's fun and revealing! This also involves journaling (writing), in order to understand better your discoveries. Learn the meaning of colors and how they affect your life. Make a mandala (circle medallion for meditation). An easy art project each day!
Book Consultation
4 day weekend workshops, offered during the summer. Creative Writing
We have had clients come to us with their unpublished books for critical analysis. We can check the content, consistencies, outlines, proposals and more. You will go home with a fresh look at your work and lists to use in continuing the editing or submission process. We will have discussions with you while you are here and give you immediate satisfaction through interaction and improvements in your material. This is the one workshop where you can bring your computer with you. Ask us for more details and see our recommendations.
"Throughout history, artistic expression has been recognized as a catalyst for healing. Art is an expression of mind and spirit, and cannot be left out of our equation of healing...Modern art therapy is being employed as a potent healthcare intervention." Larry Dossey, MD. Author, "Prayer is Good Medicine and Healing Words."
Tentative Workshops: Aimed at bringing more "springtime" into our lives, year round.
These tours are usually one week long, include unique beautiful lodging and somel meals, all Tour transportation and guides or teachers, and run approximately $1,500.00. (We can arrange to take your small group on their own exclusive trip.) Go to our Creative Writing page for more information.
Watch this web page, or subscribe to our free Newsletter to stay informed about these and other new workshops. Get on an email list for more information.
CREATING A NEW WORLD (NEW ORLEANS AND LOCAL PLANTATIONS) Tentatively scheduled during the fall; approx. one week.
We are bringing back our workshop to Louisiana. It was cancelled the last couple of years due to Katrina. We will be doing some journaling, and staying at luxurious lodging on a couple of plantations, with daily half-day tours.
-
SOUTHWEST ARCHITECTURE Tentatively scheduled during late winter (February/March); approx. one week.
Our tour centers around the delightfully hot spot of Phoenix, Arizona. You will find numerous spectacular examples of southwest architecture and art in this area, and you are guaranteed a sunny day!
-
"FINDING YOUR MISSION IN LIFE" We have brought back our highly popular workshop this year. It is tentatively scheduled for 4th of July week, so participants can take the holiday week to travel here; and during the first full week of August, depending on the number of people interested in participating. Write us for more details on this intense inner-search into "who you are and what is your mission in life." === Most of our workshops involve self-analysis and clarification of goals, particularly the journaling ones.
ATTENTION GROUPS!
Do you have a small "Writers Group" or a "Single Women Travellers" group or such? and might be interested in attending a WORKSHOP TOGETHER? Our regular workshops are limited to three people, but we can work with you to accommodate larger groups. Contact us! We would love to offer you a once-in-lifetime experience of going to any of our above workshop on a date mutually agreed to. We can offer single bedroom lodging or shared rooms for a lower price. Don't wait; our calendar fills up fast, as the Rocky Mountains are a very popular destination.
NOTES:
==Watch this web page, or subscribe to our free Newsletter
to stay informed about these and other new workshops.==
==See our Calendar page for an easy view of what's happening this month.==
==You can extend your stay to enjoy the Colorado Rocky Mts. sights at very reasonable prices.==
==Workshops are conducted over 4-day weekends May to September. Contact us for availability.==
==The Retreat was "refreshed" in the fall of 2005/6, and photos are displayed on this page.==
Subscribe to our free Newsletter to be informed on these dates.
Writing Tips
(December 2008/January 2009) "Studying your favorite book"
The more your read, the better your writing will become. The more you consider yourself a professional, the more you will find yourself "reading a book twice." What do I mean? You will be reading for pleasure, and then stop for a minute and notice something about the writing. == Does the lead stand out? Is the main theme lost? Is the dialogue authentic? Are you noticing difficulties in writing in the first person?
Another thing that you can do is develop a list of questions that you look for in a book. Or, you can pull out an old favorite and review it this time, instead of reading it for pleasure. Why did you love it so much? What intrigued you? What lingered in your memory? Use these answers in improving your own writing.
All "tips" and "exercises" are copyrighted
by Kathleen Spring, Spring Times, 1998-2008
Writing Exercise.
(December 2008/January 2009) "Starting Your 2009 Writing Regimen"
January is a good time of year to set up a Writing Regimen. Make a list: (1) What is the time of day that you feel most creative? Is it early morning at 6 a.m. / Is it late at night at midnight? (2) Pick the day that you do not schedule work on: Is it Saturday? Or do you have Wednesdays off? (3) Now combine the two -- write Saturday at 6 a.m.? (4) Next decide how long you write for (number of hours) before you start to get distracted or tired. Is it one hour? Is it four hours? Remember, there is no preset number of hours that you must write. If you peak at one hour, then that is fine. (5) Mark this on your calendar: "Write for 1 hr. Saturday at 6 a.m."
This is a good start. Now try it out for a month. (You will need to decide if you want to do this every week or once a month, depending on how determined you are to produce a body of work.) At the end of that time, see if it needs adjusting. Marking it on your calendar makes it seem like it is more important or professional, and you are more likely to keep to the schedule.
If you are still hungry for more tips and exercises,
sign up for our quarterly newsletter and
have three more delivered to your email box.
Click Here for Details on:
1,000 personalized creations
Workshops make a Great Life-long Gift!
Quick jump to Home Page
As seen in ARTICLES in: the N Y Times Travel Section, " Writing retreats" -and- "Travel and Leisure" writers retreats -and- in "Journaling" magazine
Know a friend without a computer -
we'll send a brochure.
Spring Times
P. O. Box 512
Lyons, CO 80540-0512
(303) 823-0997
10am to 7pm Mountain Time MST, only please
Check this web site for the latest information.
Thanks for visiting; see you soon!
Date last modified: December 12, 2008 9:00 AM
Both FAT COW and DREAMHOST have Cheap web sites/domains/email !
Please return the favor of us informing you
about this great deal, by telling them
you found them on Rocky Mt. Retreats.com
Disclaimer – Copyright 1998-2008: All logos, photos, and original and html text are Copyright © by Kathleen Spring. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use is prohibited without written permission from owner. – All prices, dates and itineraries are subject to change at the discretion of the owner. Travellers are advised to ask their doctor about their tolerance of higher elevations (5,000 to 10,000 feet approximately). See reservation page for other advice/warnings. Owner may cancel or alter trips if unusual conditions come up; and reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any participant, at any time, as a member of the workshop or trip, without refund. This would be a rare circumstance, mainly to keep the integrity of the program and privacy and respect for the other individuals attending or instructing. The program content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Participants should be and will be made aware that they should always seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health provider with any questions they may have regarding a
medical condition. All notification of cancellations must be received in writing; penalties will apply. Prices are in USA dollars. See Form Contract for full disclosure.
