August 26, 2014

Writing Your Way Home Poetry Retreat Celebrates 22 Years



Poets Laura Boss and Maria Mazziotti Gillan celebrate 22 years of their Poetry Weekends this year. The "Writing Your Way Home Poetry Weekend Intensive" is held twice a year at the St. Marguerite's Retreat House in Mendham, NJ.

The 2014 winter retreat will be held Friday evening through Sunday, December 12, 13, and 14.



This is an excellent opportunity to make space and time to focus totally on your writing in a serene and setting away from the pressures and distractions of daily life. You will find support and encouragement with workshop leaders who are actively engaged in the writing life and from fellow workshop poets.

This writing intensive is open to all writers over the age of 18. Fifteen professional development credit hours are available for teachers.

St. Marguerite's Retreat House (located at the convent of Saint John the Baptist, 82 West Main Street in Mendham, NJ)  is set away from the pressures and distractions of daily life on 93 acres of wooded land with pathways (including a labyrinth) that lend themselves to the serene contemplation of nature and nurturing of your creative spirit.

The workshops will concentrate on "writing your way home" and the way writing can save our stories and our lives. 

Maria and Laura view this weekend as a retreat from the noise and bustle of daily life and see this retreat as both a spiritual and creative break from our usual lives.

The setting certainly allows us to take some time to look at life in a new light, to listen for our own voices, create a stillness, in a quiet community of contemplation that welcomes the muse.

Participants arrive before 6 PM on Friday evening, have dinner and settle into their own rooms. That evening, participants will be led into creating new work and after each of the weekend workshop sessions, participants have the opportunity to read their work in the group.

After Saturday breakfast, participants will move into two groups for morning workshops and writing session. There will be free time for socializing and exploring the grounds before lunch. In the afternoon, a third round of writing workshops will take place, followed by time to write.

Each participant will have a chance to sign up in advance with Maria or Laura for one-on-one help with revision.

After dinner on Saturday evening, participants will be invited to read their poems to the group, and the faculty will lead another workshop session on how to get published.

After Sunday breakfast, a fifth and final workshop will be followed by a concluding reading by all participants. The weekend will close with a lunch and last opportunity for socializing and networking.


Participants should bring papers, pens, and the willingness to take some risks. You may also bring previously-written work for one-on-one sessions and for the readings.

The retreat is from Friday evening through Sunday – December 12, 13, and 14, 2014.
St. Marguerite’s is one hour from NYC and accessible by public transportation.
Cost: $425 for room, meals and all workshops.

Late registration will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Enrollment is limited and we already have registrants, so please sign up as soon as possible.
For additional information, call 973-684-6555 or email mariagillan@verizon.net
Mail check payable to Maria Mazziotti Gillan to: 40 Post Ave., Hawthorne, NJ 07506 along with your name, address, a day and night phone number and your email.


Maria's Official Site is at MariaGillan.com.  Her latest publication is the poetry and art collection, The Girls in the Chartreuse Jackets.
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