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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During this week-long, residential writing retreat you'll learn how to overcome your internal writing barriers--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
Composed is for You if:
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How Does Composed Work?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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Composed Daily Schedule*
Sunday
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3:00 - 5:45 p.m.
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Arrival & Check In
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6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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Welcome Meal
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7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
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Orientation & Opening Workshop
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Monday - Friday
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8:00 a.m.
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Breakfast
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8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
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Morning Writing Workshop
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10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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Writing Time
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12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
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Lunch
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1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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Writing Time / Private Coaching Meetings
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4:00 -5:15 p.m.
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Yoga/Massage/Swim
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5:15 - 6:00 p.m.
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Idle Time
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6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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Dinner
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7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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Coaching Meeting
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Saturday
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7:30 - 11:00 a.m.
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Breakfast & Goodbyes
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11:00 a.m.
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Departure
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*Schedule is approximate and varies slightly by date & location.
All participants receive a finalized schedule upon registration.
All participants receive a finalized schedule upon registration.
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:
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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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The Composed Curriculum
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See What Scares YouBefore you can overcome your internal writing barriers, you have to understand what they are. Even before the retreat begins, you'll begin a simple but revealing set of reflective exercises that clarify what's getting in your way. You'll also start to explore your most significant resource, and one you already have at your disposal--your unique writing process. And you'll learn how habits you may have regarded as strange or inefficient are actually the key to your writing success.
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Create a Writing RefugeYou cannot get your writing done--much less address your fears and anxieties--if you're fixated on what other people think about or want from you while you're trying to write. Learn how to shield yourself from external demands and distractions by creating a protected time and place for your writing. You'll find it much easier to start and stay focused during your writing sessions.
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Structure Your Writing TimeBreak the binge writing cycle by learning how to safely engage the parts of your writing that scare you. You'll learn the key challenges of every writing session and gain awareness of what those challenges look like for you. Most importantly, you'll learn the essential steps you must take to transform those challenges into manageable moments. With this structure in place, you'll be able to face and overcome the parts of writing that used to leave you feeling defeated, panicked, and helpless.
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Practice Making ProgressAs you gain instight into your writing barriers and how to overcome them, you'll translate those insights into meaningful, measurable progress on your manuscript. You'll learn the most effective way to practice what you've learned and you'll implement it every time you write. So, you'll not only move your manuscript forward--you'll also build your tolerance for the unpredictable nature of writing. And even better, learn to recover from the failures, frustrations and setbacks that are an inevitable part of a strong writing practice.
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Reconnect with Your Scholar SelfImagine how unstoppable you'd be if you felt as confident on the inside as you appear from the outside. Changes to our writing practice are on shaky ground when they're not matched by shifts in our writing identity. We'll examine how narratives of self-doubt sneak into your writing session and hold you back. And you'll learn practical ways to let go of those old, outdated, inaccurate visions of yourself. So you can remember who you truly are as a scholar-writer and trust yourself and your process.
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Where Are the Retreats Held?
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Elohee Retreat Center (May 17-23, 2020) in Sautee Nagochee, GA has beautiful views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Amenities include a stone fire ring; natural reflection pond; spa, gift shop; hiking trails; and a 100-foot waterfall. While Elohee has wheelchair accessible rooms, it is not easy to navigate if you have mobility issues. It does, however offer rooms with shared bath at a slightly reduced rate. Elohee is a 1-½ to 2 hour drive from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and we connect retreaters who want to rideshare. Elohee has no Wi-Fi, although it has excellent cell phone reception depending on the carrier.
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Lied Lodge (July 26-August 1, 2020) is located on 260 wooded acres that provide a tranquil space for rest and relaxation. The lodge offers spa services, an olympic-sized indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and miles of orchards and walking trails. All rooms have a private bath, some of which are wheelchair accessible. Many of the trails on its relatively flat grounds are paved. Lied Lodge runs a convenient airport shuttle service to Omaha's Eppley Airport, which is less than an hour north of the lodge.
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What's Included in Composed?
- Five days of intensive writing training. Each day of the retreat you'll attend a morning writing workshop and an evening coaching session. They include evidence-based trainings, interactive exercises that help you apply the training to your writing practice, Q&A and small group discussions.
- Five days of dedicated writing time. In between meals and writing workshops, you'll have hours and hours of writing time, so you can sink into your work without fear of distraction or disruption. Each writing center includes multiple spaces for writing in silence and solitude or quiet companionship, whichever best suits your writing style.
- 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.
- Get-Ready minicourse: including a profile of your retreat center; 5 weeks of brief, actionable guidance to address your pre-retreat questions; and advice to help you make the most of your training and writing time.
- Go-Home minicourse: filled with practices and reminders to help you quickly and easily integrate what you learned into your regular writing life.
- Six nights in a comfortable, private room (with your choice of private or shared bathrooms depending on location), that restore your energy for work and play.
- All meals, snacks, and beverages, freshly prepared, in accordance with your dietary restrictions.
- Daily yoga classes suitable for all-levels.
- All additional fees, including facilities and grounds fees, resort fees, state and local lodging taxes, as well as gratuities.
How Much is Tuition for Composed 2020?
Premium |
Full |
Alumni |
$4,900 For scholars who want additional targeted, confidential writing support. |
$4,400 For scholars who thrive in safe, structured, small-group learning communities |
$2,500 For Composed alums who want to reconnect with their writing. |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
Daily yoga class |
Daily yoga class |
Daily yoga class |
2x/day small group writing workshops |
2x/day small group writing workshops |
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Two 30-minute private coaching sessions |
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Premium |
Full |
Alumni |
$4,475 For scholars who want additional targeted, confidential writing support. |
$3,975 For scholars who thrive in safe, structured, small-group learning communities |
$2,075 For Composed alums who want to reconnect with their writing. |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Uninterrupted writing time |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
Pre- & post-retreat support |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
All food, lodging, and fees for 5-days, 6-nights |
Daily yoga class |
Daily yoga class |
Daily yoga class |
2x/day small group writing workshops |
2x/day small group writing workshops |
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Two 30-minute private coaching sessions |
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**Shared baths are available only during the May session of Composed.
They are arranged suite-style in a short, semi-private hallway approximately 3 steps from your room, and shared with one other writer. |
"If you have dreams about getting past your fears and truly enjoying a life of writing, you must go to this retreat at all costs. It reaches deep inside to the psychology of writing and will allow you to make unexpected breakthroughs."
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