Each year, Maine Writers' & Publishers' Alliance hosts a retreat for writers at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts on Deer Isle on the coast of Maine. Built on a slope overlooking a chain of islands, Haystack was designed by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and was called "a marina . . . that floats over land rather than water" by Robert Campbell of the Boston Globe. The views of the ocean are tremendous, as is the rocky shore, and the meals are phenomenal (and inspiring!).

The cabins at Haystack are rustic and the energy level is high. We've got a terrific roster of instructors:

Elise Juska:  The Whole Story - Exploring the Possibilities of Voice in Short Fiction

Monica Wood:  Nuts and Bolts (and Drills) from the Writer's Tool Chest

Meredith Hall:  Crafting Our Stories Into Memoir
Suzanne Strempek Shea:  Longer Fiction/Prose (Advanced)

Elizabeth Peavey:  The Idiosyncratic "I" or the Pleasures, Perils and Pitfalls of the Personal Essay

Christian Barter:  Finding New Territory - Discovering and Uncovering the Unexpected

Workshops meet three times throughout the weekend in three-hour blocks. In the workshops, instructors focus on manuscript critique, practical tips, and exercises for writers of every genre and experience level. They will do this, as always, with a gentle spirit of support and guidance. We also include a panel discussion and readings from both instructors and participants. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits will be available to educators.

"It exceeded my expectations by far . . . It was as if I'd been dawdlin along for months, and all of a sudden I was taking gigantic leaps!" - Sybil Baker

For full information and to download an application form, visit our website:  http://www.mainewriters.org/calendar.html.

See you in Maine!