Composed is a transformative writing retreat for any scholar who wants to stop writing in fear, and create a
calm, confident, productive writing practice.
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Leave all your worries behind and spend an entire week focused just on you and your writing. Steal away to lush, beautiful environments, where you'll connect with a group of amazing scholars and together, learn to overcome the thoughts and feelings that undermine your productivity, steal your peace of mind, and rob you of the pleasures of your work.
We work with pre-tenure as well as senior scholars, to help you face your fears and transform your writing time into a haven that motivates and nourishes you. So you can write more. And worry less. |
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"The retreat was incredibly helpful--breaking down decades old logjams and allowing me to access help, advice, and support that I had, but couldn't see."
Kim F. Hall, PhD
Lucyle Hook Professor of English
Barnard College
Kim F. Hall, PhD
Lucyle Hook Professor of English
Barnard College
How Does Composed Work?
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InkWell's unique writing retreats weave together four key elements that do more than give you time to write: they teach you to make the most of that time by identifying, facing, and freeing yourself from writing anxiety.
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Results
Whether you are trying to develop a sustainable writing routine or
let go of unhelpful habits, Composed will teach you to:
let go of unhelpful habits, Composed will teach you to:
- Get Clear: Finally understand what makes writing so damn hard (I promise, it ain't you).
- Get Unstuck: Uncover your unique writing process to make writing easier, faster, and way more fun.
- Focus In: Resist the rabbit holes that steal your attention no matter what else is going on.
- Relax Without Guilt: Work hard. Make progress. And then let the work go.
- Know. Your. Worth. Actually feel good about yourself and your writing. Like you used to.
- Finally feel supported. And seen. And in sync with academia's most loving writing community.
- Make Progress. Oh yeah. While you're learning all that? Make serious headway on your manuscript.
How Well Does Composed Work?
Among past Composed participants:
96%Learned strategies that strongly increased productivity.
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94%Felt significantly more motivated to write.
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96%Felt more confident about their
writing ability. |
"Composed helped me find ways to build writing into my daily life in a way that is pleasurable and rewarding. I won't have to bully or coerce myself into the chair anymore."
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Who Can Attend the Composed Writing Retreat?
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The Composed writing retreat is for any scholar who wants to transform their experience of writing from one of fear, to one of trust and power. Our ideal participants fall into one of these categories:
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Junior Scholars Who Want to Start Out RightJunior faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students who want to begin their academic career with a healthy, sustainable approach to writing are ideal for Composed.
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Senior Academics Seeking
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Administrators Looking to Maximize Their TimeComposed is an excellent fit for administrators who want to get the most progress and satisfaction from the small windows of writing time they have available.
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Details About Your Five-Day Retreat
Bellwether Farm Retreat Center
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Registration is Opening Soon!
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About Bellwether FarmOur retreat center is situated on a gorgeous 137 acre working farm that offers scholars the perfect combination of tranquility and activity. It’s surrounded on three sides by the Vermilion River and includes sustainable and organic farmland, woodlands, meadows, hiking trails and a five-acre pond. Aside from the desk in your retreat room, our workshop and writing spaces include airy, light-filled meeting rooms, porches, pavilions, and an open air barn. When you’re not writing, you’ll enjoy 3.5 miles of hiking trails, daily yoga, and wandering the grounds to peep the goats, chickens, ponies, cows, and bees. All a mere 45 minutes away from Cleveland International Airport, in Wakeman, OH.
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The Composed Writing Retreat Includes:
Intensive Writing Training
Pre- and Post-Retreat Support
Room, Board, and Lodging
- Five days of evidence-based writing training
- (First Time Retreaters). Each day of the retreat you'll attend a morning writing workshop and an evening group coaching session. They include evidence-based trainings, interactive exercises that help you apply what you learned, Q&A, and small group discussions.
- (Alums) Connect with colleagues and get the structure and support you need by participating in the opening intention-setting session, the final day's closing session, and two one-hour spotlight coaching sessions, and two peer coaching sessions.
- Five days of dedicated writing time. In between workshops and coaching sessions, you'll have hours of writing time, so you can sink into your work and master the tools you've learned.
- Five days of daily yoga, open to and suitable for all levels and designed to keep you refreshed and energized for writing.
- Mid Week Brain Break to connect with your colleagues and maintain your energy throughout the week.
- Warm, encouraging community, from a small, supportive group of scholars and a gifted facilitator who nurtures just the right amount of connection.
- Gorgeous writing environments, with multiple nooks for writing in silence and solitude or quiet companionship, whichever you need.
Pre- and Post-Retreat Support
- Get-Ready Minicourse: a week of brief, actionable guidance to address your pre-retreat questions and get your home set up as your personal retreat center.
- Go-Home Minicourse: filled with practices and reminders to help you quickly and easily integrate what you learned into your regular writing life.
- Resource lists, scripts, and worksheets to help you quickly remember the tools and techniques you learned at the retreat and easily implement them at home.
Room, Board, and Lodging
- Six nights in serene sleeping quarters that restore your energy for work and play. Includes all facilities and grounds fees, resort fees, state and local lodging taxes, and gratuities.
- Six nights of healthy, delicious food including all meals from Sunday evening through Saturday morning, freshly prepared, in accordance with your dietary restrictions.
- Optional restorative amenities and activities such as massage, body work, and hiking. All within beautiful, natural environments. Check your retreat for specifics.
Frequently Asked Questions (+ Lovingly Offered Answers)
(How)
What is the structure of this retreat?
Each day of the retreat includes a morning workshop, long, interrupted blocks of writing time, and an evening group coaching session. We share all our meals together and have access to a daily yoga class.
Is there a lot of...sharing?
Composed is neither therapy nor confession. So there is no requirement that you reveal yourself in any way that feels uncomfortable. However, reflecting on your writing process is a central activity of the workshops. Michelle deliberately designs all our group activities so that they build trust over time, and offer the opportunity for sharing without requiring it.
How big are the retreats?
Depending on the size of our retreat space, we'll have up to 30 first-timers and up to 15 alumni.
Each day of the retreat includes a morning workshop, long, interrupted blocks of writing time, and an evening group coaching session. We share all our meals together and have access to a daily yoga class.
Is there a lot of...sharing?
Composed is neither therapy nor confession. So there is no requirement that you reveal yourself in any way that feels uncomfortable. However, reflecting on your writing process is a central activity of the workshops. Michelle deliberately designs all our group activities so that they build trust over time, and offer the opportunity for sharing without requiring it.
How big are the retreats?
Depending on the size of our retreat space, we'll have up to 30 first-timers and up to 15 alumni.
(Where)
How do I get to the retreat?
That depends on which retreat you are attending. You will find addresses, directions, as well as other helpful transportation information in our site-specific profile and multi-week Get Ready Guide several weeks before your start date to help you navigate the trip.
Do you provide ground transportation?
We do not provide airfare, ground transportation, or travel insurance. However, we do help you connect with other scholars prior to the retreat so you can coordinate ridesharing.
That depends on which retreat you are attending. You will find addresses, directions, as well as other helpful transportation information in our site-specific profile and multi-week Get Ready Guide several weeks before your start date to help you navigate the trip.
Do you provide ground transportation?
We do not provide airfare, ground transportation, or travel insurance. However, we do help you connect with other scholars prior to the retreat so you can coordinate ridesharing.
(Who)
Is this retreat only for women? Or maybe just black women? You keep using the phrase "sister scholars." And there are a lot of black women in your pictures.
This retreat is for anyone who is interested in connecting with others to free themselves from their emotional and psychological writing blocks. If you want (and already know how) to do that as part of a community that actively loves and holds space for black women and every single, solitary woman, womxn, womyn on the planet, regardless of the body they were born into or what that body looks like, then this retreat is for you. If that sounds scary or confusing, then you should not attend Composed.
Can I bring my family?
Not unless your family member is a scholar working on a manuscript.
This retreat is for anyone who is interested in connecting with others to free themselves from their emotional and psychological writing blocks. If you want (and already know how) to do that as part of a community that actively loves and holds space for black women and every single, solitary woman, womxn, womyn on the planet, regardless of the body they were born into or what that body looks like, then this retreat is for you. If that sounds scary or confusing, then you should not attend Composed.
Can I bring my family?
Not unless your family member is a scholar working on a manuscript.
(Pay)
What form of payment does InkWell accept?
We accept all major credit cards. We do not accept paper checks.
How does the payment plan work?
If you opt for the payment plan, the full cost of your retreat will be split into 3 even payments. The 1st payment will confirm your place at the retreat. You'll receive reminders to make the remaining payments each monthly.
Do you provide invoices for my university?
We don't recommend invoices, as your spot is not confirmed until we have received notification of payment and updated our records.
However, if you prefer this option, we're happy to provide invoices, as long as your institution is willing to pay them in full by credit card through our online portal. We do not submit W-9s to your university, become university vendors, or accept paper checks. To request an invoice, contact us at [email protected].
We accept all major credit cards. We do not accept paper checks.
How does the payment plan work?
If you opt for the payment plan, the full cost of your retreat will be split into 3 even payments. The 1st payment will confirm your place at the retreat. You'll receive reminders to make the remaining payments each monthly.
Do you provide invoices for my university?
We don't recommend invoices, as your spot is not confirmed until we have received notification of payment and updated our records.
However, if you prefer this option, we're happy to provide invoices, as long as your institution is willing to pay them in full by credit card through our online portal. We do not submit W-9s to your university, become university vendors, or accept paper checks. To request an invoice, contact us at [email protected].
I have more questions!
We have more answers! Send an email to us [email protected] and we'll do all we can to help.
Cancellation Policies
Cancellation Policy
Our policy is designed to let you change your mind without requiring Michelle to lose the opportunity to work with another scholar. Specifically:
If InkWell cancels or postpones a retreat, you may do one of the following:
- transfer your retreat payment to a future online or in-person retreat.
- receive a full refund to the original form of payment.
If you cancel your registration:
- 90 days or more prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 100% credit of the cost of the retreat toward another writing retreat within 12 months.
- 89-45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 50% credit of the cost of the retreat toward another writing retreat within 12 months, and will forfeit the remainder.
- Fewer than 45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: no refunds or credits.
To Cancel Your Registration
Please email us at [email protected]. Your cancellation is complete when you receive a confirmation email.
Travel Delay Policy
We do not give refunds or discounts for late arrival, early departure, flight cancellations, travel delays, or illness. We wish we could provide compensation for these unforeseen circumstances, but unfortunately we can't afford to cover the extra costs incurred by these predicaments.
Health & Safety Policies
Vaccination: All in-person retreat participants must provide proof of full vaccination within one week of registration. No exceptions.
Masking: Masks are not required, but we love up on anyone who wants to wear them (from afar of course). Most of our retreats have outdoor eating and writing spaces as well as single rooms - check your specific retreat to confirm.
Social Distancing: We typically have several measures in place for participants who want to practice social distancing. Check your specific retreat to confirm:
Masking: Masks are not required, but we love up on anyone who wants to wear them (from afar of course). Most of our retreats have outdoor eating and writing spaces as well as single rooms - check your specific retreat to confirm.
Social Distancing: We typically have several measures in place for participants who want to practice social distancing. Check your specific retreat to confirm:
- The reservation of our retreat center is often exclusive to our group, meaning no one outside of our group will be present, except the retreat center staff.
- Housekeeping service is not typically supplied during your stay, so only those you invite in will visit your room.
- Our retreat center includes indoor and outdoor seating for dining, as well as multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for writing.
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Michelle Boyd, PhDMichelle Boyd, PhD is an award-winning writer, former tenured professor, and the founder of InkWell Academic Writing Retreats. She spent the first part of her career studying the political significance of black racial identity, and won a Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association for her first book Jim Crow Nostalgia: Reconstructing Race in Bronzeville.
Since leaving faculty life, she's helped hundreds of scholars move past their anxieties, reconnect with their writing, and develop a calmer, more confident, more productive writing practice. Her second book, Becoming the Writer You Already Are, was featured in Inside Higher Ed. |
