BIPOC Stay At Home Writing Retreat
A weekend-long Stay At Home Retreat run for and by people of colour.
A stack of books by writers of colour on the studio table.
Hello Firefly community!
We are thrilled to offer a “Stay At Home" retreat by and for Black, Indigenous and other people of colour (BIPOC)1 to come together, write, connect, exhale, explore, and lovingly witness each other’s words.
Our goal is to create space for and with people of colour to lean into our writing voices. There will be room to wade into the themes that don’t get a lot of attention in predominantly white circles such as white supremacy, microaggressions, immigration, colourism, racism, colonialism, intersectionality, and the complexity and contours of our identities as we define them. But you can also decide not to dive into these topics and just enjoy writing for the sake of it.
This will be a weekend of writing in the moment, sharing, and getting full-hearted, supportive feedback from one another. We’ll use guided visualizations, silent writing time, and discussion to invite our creativity to play. We’ll also have plenty of screen breaks and chances to share in small groups.
Beginner and seasoned writers are very welcome!
Here’s how it works:
All of our sessions will be on Zoom. We’ll gather on a Friday evening for 2-hours to get to know one another, set some ground rules, and sink into the shared journey of reflection and creativity ahead. We’ll do some writing, sharing, and then head off for a good night’s sleep.
On Saturday morning we’ll return for a mix of creativity-waking exercises designed to get new thoughts flowing, and energies swirling and then to gently land into the big question — what wants to be written now? What new project or idea is ready to emerge?
In the afternoon we’ll move into longer writes, ending with a 90-minute silent period in the late afternoon to sit in the shared thrum of creativity, and to sink into the creative direction that you’ve settled into. We’ll take plenty of screen breaks throughout the day, and then in the evening we’ll fully step back, continuing to write offline in our own spaces.
We’ll meet again on Sunday to share what we created for deep and thoughtful feedback. From there we’ll create writing prompts and plans for forward creative motion, and we’ll end the retreat with some reflective writing about the road ahead.
There will be 10 participants and 2 facilitators, so sharing will happen in cozy groups of 5.
You’ll also receive a thick, padded envelope in your mailbox full of little treats to create a cozy, creative sanctuary to hold your writing.
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Are excited by the idea of extended stretches of writing time, heart connection, and creative self-reflection from home.
Are motivated by the idea of sharing their writing in a small, supportive group with other people of colour.
Feel generous and motivated to witness others folks writing
Are longing for a sanctuary away from the news, buzzing phones and worldly responsibilities.
Are looking for a break from racial battle fatigue.
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Are working on a writing project they’re not motivated by, like something for work. This experience is built on the love of words, and tapping into the heart of our writing processes.
Can’t get away from distractions for the length of the retreat. We want — for you and for the other participants — an uninterrupted container of time for focus and connection, so we’ll ask you to carve out these hours without human or technological interruptions.
Believe that their writing can only thrive in a critical writing environment. We believe that writing flourishes with heavy doses of kindness and support.
Don’t want to share their work with others. There will be lots of opportunities to share, and while it’s totally fine to pass from time to time, we’re looking for participants who are excited by sharing, even when it’s a little squirmy.
Honestly can’t go an hour without checking Twitter or their phone.
Details:
Kim & Mary
This workshop isn’t running this season but it will be back soon! Join our early bird mailing list for early access to registration or sign up for our newsletter.
Cost:
The fee for this retreat is $545. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $136.25. Tax will be added for Canadians in your local provincial rate. See our financial policies.
Two spots will be reduced to half-price, first come first served. Let us know before you sign up if you’d like one of those and we’ll let you know if they’re still available. If the price is a barrier, don't hesitate to apply for financial aid.
If you don’t have a credit card, let us know and we’ll gladly find a way to make it work.
Sign up here:
Join our early bird mailing list for early access to future registration or sign up for our newsletter.
Questions?
Your answer is probably on this page.
Looking for more options?
Take a peek at our small group writing workshops, our large group writing programs, our retreats, our coaching services, and our monthly care package for writers.
What people are saying:
The BIPOC Stay At Home Writing Retreat left me with a strong feeling of calm and fulfilment - the type that one expects from a wellness retreat. Thanks to their caring facilitation and empowering community I was able to spend a whole weekend writing, and sharing. Plus, it has an incredible value: I came in empty-handed and left with 40 pages of new work and a new creative community.
Suma (Susana Meza)
Artist and activist, Founder of Reclaimed Arts
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We use the contemporary term BIPOC to refer to Black, Indigenous and all other People of Colour, including mixed-race people. We recognize that language is always evolving and that there is no perfect term to hold something this vast, complex and nuanced. We're always open to new words as we follow the journey of the English language. ↩