Tour 2: 10-Day Writers Retreat in Nepal with Beth Yahp & Sacred Journeys Nepal 25 Oct - 4 Nov 2011

Spend 10 days in the Himalayas working intensively on your fiction, memoir or travel writing project with acclaimed writer and highly experienced creative writing teacher and editor, Beth Yahp.

Pristine mountain air and breath-taking views to Mount Everest in the traditional luxury of Newari-style Fort Resort of Nagarkot, 30 kms from Kathmandu, provide the perfect surroundings for intensive writing and editing of your work. Just about every room has a view.

Built in the traditional Nepali architectural style and set on 14 acres of land boasting forest and organic gardens, the ambience and facilities at The Fort provide a peaceful and creative space in which to breathe and be productive. "A space to let go of the addiction of pulling and pushing," as the owners say.

The Writers Retreat offers the combination of mentorship by a prize-winning author, in-depth creative and structural editing and discussion of your work, as well as small group workshops and masterclasses with writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing.

Beth’s clear, encouraging and open-hearted workshops guide participants to deepen their writing and narrative skills, as well as learn to give and receive useful and supportive feedback. Each participant also receives detailed comments and edits of their writing from Beth, as well as a Course Reader of useful readings and notes for further study.

There will also be spare time in order to enjoy the facilities of the resort, to read, write and reflect. There will be free days and afternoons for participants to hike or join optional guided tours to surrounding nature, sporting or cultural activities (at extra cost). Included in the retreat are daily yoga classes and Ayurvedic massage.

We may also visit Bhaktapur, a World Heritage-listed Newari town that is famous for its culture, temples and traditional artworks as part of the retreat.

In the evenings we will gather to discuss everything and anything, and read from our work if we like. On our final night at Nagarkot there will be a party with a formal reading of participants’ work.

The group is strictly limited to ten participants to ensure that everyone has ample time for discussion and detailed feedback. Participants would contribute five pieces of writing (up to 2000 words each, submitted in advance of the writing retreat) to be workshopped over the 10 days.

Please note that this is NOT a backpacker experience but for the traveller/ writer who delights in that little extra comfort after a day of challenge and creativity.

The following ITINERARY and CLASS SCHEDULE may vary  depending on the number of participants:

Day 1: Arrival in Nagarkot, orientation and introduction to course; getting to know each other and your projects.

Day 2: 9.00–1.00 PM: Masterclass 1: Intent, Critiquing and Workshopping
Afternoon free for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.

Day 3: 9.00–1.00 PM: Masterclass 2: Editing, Description, Scenes
Afternoon free for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.

Day 4: Free day for writing, reading, editing, or exploring. Optional full day hike/ tours available—see list below (extra cost).

Day 5: 9.00–1.00 PM: Masterclass 3: Transitions in Place & Time, Show & Tell
Afternoon free for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.

Day 6: Morning free for own writing, reading, editing, exploring.
2.00–6.00PM: Masterclass 4: Structure: Plot Shapes and Sequences

Day 7: Free day for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.

Day 8: 9.00–1.30 PM: Masterclass 5: Foregrounding, Flashbacks and Subtext
Afternoon free for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.

Day 9: Free day for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring. Optional full day hike/ tours available—see list below (extra cost).

Day 10: 10.00–12.00 PM: Masterclass 6: Polishing, Publishing and Sustaining Your Writing Project; Reading Techniques. Afternoon free for own writing, reading, editing, or exploring.
6.00 PM: Dinner reading/ party.

Day 11: Departure for Kathmandu; optional extended stay in Kathmandu or 3 day tour of Nepalese village (extra cost).

This is NOT a backpacker experience but for the traveller/ writer who delights in that little extra comfort after a day of challenge and creativity. Please note that Nepal is a developing country.

CONTACT AND BOOKINGS:
To secure your place, a non- refundable deposit of US$500 per traveler is required.

“When we reconnect who we are
with what we do,
we approach our lives and our work
with renewed passion, commitment, and integrity.”
P. Palmer

We look forward to welcoming you on this special expedition.

Sanjaya Tripathee
Managing Director,
Sacred Journeys Nepal Treks P. Ltd.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: sjnepal@wlink.com.np
Web: http://www.sacredjourneysnepal.com.np/
Mob: (0011) 977-9851112953

For Information: Beth Yahp at bywritingworks@gmail.com or Susanne Rix at susanne@superworking.com

For Bookings: Sanjaya Tripathee at Sacred Journeys Nepal sjnepal@wlink.com.np