Hello!

Phillip and I were both very busy last year working on various writing projects, but we're planning on hosting three retreats this year. Topics have not been decided yet, but if you're interested in receiving information on upcoming retreats, please let me know.
NOTE: A major computer crash last year wiped out my hard drive. Unfortunately, my list of prospective participants disappeared and was not recoverable. So if you've attended a retreat or have  at some time given me your email information, please email me again so I can put you on our list.

My Mother's Daughter

Have you missed me? It's been a long time since I posted. I've been busy revising a textbook which was published in 2007--but now that task is almost done, and I'm soon to be FREE! to seriously work on my fiction again.

I just finished a revision of my as-of-yet unpublished novel My Mother's Daughter, which is set in 19th Century Natchez. When I visited Natchez several years ago, I was intrigued to learn about all the "mail order brides" who traveled from places like Philadelphia all the way down the Mississippi to marry men they had never met. I couldn't stop wondering what would cause a 19th Century woman to do such a thing, and from that wondering came my character Eugenia Meier. My Mother's Daughter follows Eugenia's and her children's stories to the end of the Civil War.

I'm hoping to see My Mother's Daughter published by fall. Once I can realistically expect publication, I'll post the first three chapters. I think you'll like it!

The labyrinth is almost finished. Nothing like a bit of walking meditation to spark a writer's creativity!

Interested in attending our Narrative Structure retreat June 10-11, but missed the registration deadline? You're still in luck! We have a couple of places left. Call or email, and I will be happy to send you the information you need.

Our rustic labyrinth in progress. . on schedule to be ready by June 10!

A message from Phillip:

Our focus for the June Retreat will be both instructive and challenging.  As with our prior workshops on characterization, point of view, and mechanics, we will initially focus on one fictional technique—in this case, how the overall organization of the story or essay can help to advance its message.  We’ll review traditional plot structures (chronological, framed, cinematic) in both short forms and novel-length works and then experiment with other possibilities (weaving, narrative leaps, juxtaposition, omission).  In other words, we’ll test the boundries of narrative structure.   As with our other retreats, we intend our exercises to be generative, our critiques to be helpful (and comprehensive, not limited to the retreat’s focus), the camaraderie amiable, and the food delicious.          

 

All writers and writer wanna-bees--only four more days to take advantage of the 10% discount for our June retreat on Narrative Structure. Hope to see you here!

Whether your genre is the short story, the memoir or the novel, a well-designed narrative structure will keep your readers reading! Hope you can join us at Three Ponds Farm for our June retreat.

10% off our next writers' retreat!

Sign up for our June 10-11 retreat on Narrative Structure by May 10 and save 10% on the workshop.

Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

June 10-11, 2016

threepondsfarmwritersretreats.blogspot.com

Narrative Structure

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   Novelist, author of One Amber Bead  &

       Phillip Sterling     Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told

Tentative schedule:             

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique workshop with Sterling/Stolarek                                  

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals)

@ Three Ponds Farm

     18741 Milton Road

                                                Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants.

To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Three Ponds Farm address, or use PayPal through our blog. Limited overnight accommodations available at Three Ponds Farm. Registration Deadline is 5/11/16.

Coming to Three Ponds Farm: A Meditation Labyrinth!

The writers who come to our retreats work very hard at their writing--and they deserve some respite! That's why we're busy designing a meditation labyrinth for the property. We've always given our retreat attendees the option to wander through our wooded areas and gardens, but a labyrinth will give them an even more enjoyable outdoor experience. Anyone who's experienced walking meditation will know how much it refreshes the mind and opens the door to imagination.

Please check out the information on our upcoming June retreat. We hope to see you here!

Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

June 10-11, 2016

threepondsfarmwritersretreats.blogspot.com

Narrative Structure

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   Novelist, author of One Amber Bead  

                              &

     Phillip Sterling     Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told

Tentative schedule:   

           

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique workshop with Sterling/Stolarek

                                   

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals)

@ Three Ponds Farm

     18741 Milton Road

                                        Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants

To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Three Ponds Farm address, or use PayPal through our blog. Limited overnight accommodations available at Three Ponds Farm. Registration Deadline is 5/11/16.

                 Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

September 11-12, 2015

threepondsfarmwritersretreats.blogspot.com

Setting/Description

Examines the ways authors use language to establish context, focusing particularly on using description and setting to develop characterization and set a tone.

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   (Novelist, author of One Amber Bead)  

                             &

      Phillip Sterling     (Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told)

Tentative schedule:   

           

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and light dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique with Sterling/Stolarek                                   

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals**)

@ Three Ponds Farm

    18741 Milton Road

                                                  Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants

**Some overnight accommodations available. Check our blog for details.

***To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Milton Road address, or use PayPal (available through our blog.) 10% discount if deposit is received by 9/1/15. 

Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

July 24-25

threepondsfarmwritersretreats.blogspot.com

Setting/Description

Examines the ways authors use language to establish context, focusing particularly on using description and setting to develop characterization and set a tone.

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   (Novelist, author of One Amber Bead)  

                              &

      Phillip Sterling     (Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told)

Tentative schedule:   

           

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and light dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique with Sterling/Stolarek                                   

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals**)

@ Three Ponds Farm

    18741 Milton Road

                                                  Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants

**Some overnight accommodations available. Check our blog for details.

***To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Milton Road address, or use PayPal (available through our blog.) 10% discount if deposit is received by 7/10. 

We still have a couple of places left for next week's retreat. Come join us!

Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

May 8-9, 2015

Mechanics of Revision

Examines the characteristic ways authors use language to create literature. Looks at elements of sentence structure and complexity, word choice and placement, voice, tone and symbolism.

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   (Novelist, author of One Amber Bead)  

                              &

      Phillip Sterling     (Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told)

Tentative schedule:   

           

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and light dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique workshop with Sterling/Stolarek

                                   

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals**)

@ Three Ponds Farm

    18741 Milton Road

                                           Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants

To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Milton Road address, or use PayPal (available through our blog.) 10% discount if received by 4/8/15.

May 2015 Retreat: Mechanics of Revision

Three Ponds Farm Writing Retreat

May 8-9, 2015

Mechanics of Revision

Examines the characteristic ways authors use language to create literature. Looks at elements of sentence structure and complexity, word choice and placement, voice, tone and symbolism.

(tips, prompts, and critiques)

led by

     Betty Stolarek   (Novelist, author of One Amber Bead)  

                              &

      Phillip Sterling     (Poet/short fiction, author of

                                                            In Which Brief Stories Are Told)

Tentative schedule:   

           

            Friday:             1-2 p.m registration, meet and greet

                                    2-5 p.m. workshop with Phillip Sterling

                                    5-7 p.m. social hour and light dinner

                                    7 p.m. reading by faculty, participants/ guests invited

            Saturday:        8-9 a.m. breakfast

                                   9-12 workshop with Betty Stolarek

                                   12-1 lunch

                                   1-4 p.m. critique workshop with Sterling/Stolarek

                                   

$200 per writer*

(includes all workshop fees & meals**)

@ Three Ponds Farm

    18741 Milton Road

                                           Big Rapids, MI 49307

For more information, writing sample submission requirements, or registration, contact:

Betty Stolarek

stolaree@ferris.edu

231-796-2707

*Limited to 10 participants

To register, send check for $100.00 made out to Three Ponds Farm Retreats to Betty Stolarek at Milton Road address, or use PayPal (available through our blog.) 10% discount if received by 4/8/15.