Intensive retreats provide a creative environment of stimulating workshops and discussions designed to help you progress your writing to the next level. Before the retreat, you'll be invited to submit up to 50,000 words of your work-in-progress, which both the tutor and your fellow participants will read and provide feedback on. During your stay, your work and the work of your peers will be the focus of tailored writing workshops, discussions and feedback sessions.
Each day also includes dedicated quiet time for participants to retreat to the privacy of their room, or a quiet spot in the grounds, to write, read, think and reflect on the day's session before coming back together with the group.
Outings
While your time at Olvar is time to concentrate on your writing, we'd also love to show you some of the delights of living on the Sunshine Coast. On Friday afternoon the group will be invited to come on an excursion with your mentor. The outing will include lunch. If there's somewhere you'd particularly like to visit, let us know beforehand and we'll do our best to get you there.
Some examples might be:
- a rainforest walk
- shopping in Montville
- surfing/swimming at Maroochydore
- kayaking on the Maroochydore river
- a walk and a swim in Noosa's beautiful national park
- lunch in the rainforest at Buderim and a walk to view the falls
rates
Intensive retreats include a manuscript assessment, daily writing workshops and feedback sessions, accommodation, breakfast and lunches, and two dinners.
Week-long intensive: $1500.00
Weekend intensive $550.00
Friends of Olvar receive a 20% discount
QWC members, card-holding pensioners and fulltime students receive a 10% discount.
Links
Before the retreat
A month before the retreat you'll be invited to send in a draft of your work (up to 5,000 words for weekenders, or up to 50,000 words for week-long retreaters).
Your writing will be read by the mentor in preparation for your visit. Your writing will also be sent out to the other retreat participants. You will be asked to read your fellow writers' work in preparation for the peer critique sessions.
Group Workshops
Each day there's a group workshop. These workshops focus on particular aspects of writing and are designed by the mentor in response to reading the work you provided beforehand. Workshops are, however, flexible: please talk to your mentor about what you would like included in each day's session.
Peer Critique
Most days there is also a peer critique session, during which you will receive feedback on your work from the other workshop participants, and be given the opportunity to provide feedback on their work. In the information pack you receive once your booking is confirmed, you will receive guidelines about how to critique.
If you've never done it before, peer critiquing can sound like a terrifying prospect. Nevertheless, hearing what your readers think is always valuable, as is being asked to act as an editor and provide constructive feedback on another writer's work. While we value honesty, we encourage you to be constructive and supportive of your fellow writers.
One-on-one Meetings
During the course of the retreat, you will be invited to participate in feedback sessions with the mentor. The mentor will have read your work prior to the weekend, and prepared some detailed, personal feedback for you. This is your time: you can ask questions, seek feedback or use this time with the mentor to seek whatever advice it is you need.
Dedicated Writing Time
Each day at Olvar there is dedicated writing time. During these periods there is no stereo, phone or convivial chatter allowed. You may, of course, use your headset if you bring one, or quietly make yourself a cup of tea to take back to your room. While you do not have to write, we strongly encourage you to use this time for planning, reading, thinking and reflecting on your writing and your writing process.
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Perilous Adventures in Olvar Wood. Queensland, Australia