The annual StoryStudio Writers Retreat happens again this year with a full weekend of writing, classes, socializing, and communing with nature at the famous Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Join us July 20-22 for this writing retreat in this spectacular setting that offers the best of nature and architecture. The famous Ragdale House has been refurbished and will its historic rooms and sleeping porches will be open to us.

For over 100 years, Ragdale has provided the time and space for artists and writers to delve deeply into creative endeavors, and today it has a tangible energy that feeds your work from the moment you arrive. We’re very excited to combine StoryStudio’s dynamic writing workshops with Ragdale’s inspirational setting: the creative possibilities are limitless!

“One of the unique features of Ragdale is its unbroken continuity as a center for art and creativity. It has been, without interruption, the home of artists.” - Arthur Miller, in the Introduction to Ragdale: A History and Guide by Alice Hayes and Susan Moon.

Treat yourself to an intensive and fun writing immersion weekend and enjoy the gorgeous open prairies of the Ragdale Foundation.

This retreat includes four class sessions, each one filled with writing prompts to help you find new stories AND develop your understanding of story craft. Writers will choose a fiction or creative non-fiction track to focus on, but we’ll have opportunities to “mix and match” genres.

Special Guest Instructor
Poet and Memorist Laura Ramos Hegwer will be leading generative class sessions on Saturday using poetry to move you, create new settings, develop characters, and have fun doing it! We’ll have one session for fiction writers and one for creative non-fiction writers.

In addition to our classes and programming, we’ll take advantage of the winding paths, secluded benches, and Ragdale’s five acres of pristine prairie. The history of Ragdale, the unique setting, and the spirit of so many writers who have come before are sure to inspire you.

Schedule (subject to change)

Writers arrive Friday afternoon to spend some time on the grounds writing, reading, or relaxing. We’ll enjoy dinner together and then meet for our first class session.

On Saturday, writers arrive back at Ragdale early in the morning for a buffet breakfast, then we’ll start the day with a morning class session, each group meeting in a different location. It’s lunch together, then an afternoon class session with plenty of time left over for more writing and connecting.

After our dinner, we’ll gather as one group for the evening’s program featuring a celebrated author who will share tips for getting your work read.

Sunday will feature a morning writing session, lunch and then all afternoon to focus on your words.

Immerse yourself in this famous classic writing setting.

All meals and materials will be provided. You just need to bring your notebook or laptop and a hungry imagination. (We do have a very small number of overnight accommodations available. Please call us for details: 773.477.7710)

The Retreat Fee Includes:

Friday-Sunday activities
Session materials
All writing sessions and classes
Optional peer review
Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner
Sunday breakfast and lunch
Access to Ragdale and its grounds
Surprise Welcome bag

Call us at 773.477.7710 with any questions.

Free yourself and your pen in a guided, interactive writing weekend – get away and get results — your writing is worth it!

About the Instructors

Jill Pollack is the founder and director of StoryStudio Chicago. Since founding the studio in 2003, Jill has focused her attention on teaching both fiction and creative non-fiction courses, and providing a wide variety of experiences in writing and publishing for StoryStudio writers. She is the author of three books for young adults: Shirley Chisholm, named a Best Book by Science and Film Magazine; Lesbian and Gay Families: Redefining Parenting in America; and Women on the Hill, a history of women in Congress. Jill also leads the Chicago Literary Alliance to connect our city’s great literary organizations. She was recently named #23 in the Newcity Lit Top 50 list of literary leaders in Chicago.

Ellen Blum Barish has a masters degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Her feature articles have appeared in Newsweek, Self and The Chicago Tribune. She is author of a collection of award-winning essays based on her syndicated newspaper columns on women’s issues and family life. Many of her personal essays have aired as radio commentaries on WBEZ-Chicago Public Radio’s Eight-Forty-Eight program. She has taught writing at many Chicago-area universities including Northwestern.

Laura Ramos Hegwer is a former magazine editor and has been a full-time freelance writer since 1998. Her specialty is writing about “sex, drugs, and health” for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she won a national magazine writing award from the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. For her creative work, she has been awarded three Ragdale residencies for creative nonfiction and poetry, and was a Glimmer Train finalist for short fiction. She is currently working on a poetry manuscript exploring intimacy, identity, and science.

Date/Time: Friday, July 20 - Sunday, July 22, 2012

Course Fee: Registration for the 2012 Writers Retreat will open on March 10, 2012! Send us an email and we'll let you know when registration opens.