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 You:
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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.
What Will You Learn?
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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92%Felt significantly more motivated to write.
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96%Felt more confident about their
writing ability. |
"Michelle sequenced our learning so that each lesson built on the other and we got time to practice until we got comfortable with the steps. It never felt disconnected from my writing but enhanced and built my writing confidence."
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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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Composed is an especially good fit for:
- are looking to make a significant shift in how you approach writing, whether you want to stop avoiding it or stop working yourself to the bone.
- are longing to reconnect with the excitement that brought you to the academy--that feeling you used to have when playing with ideas, but have somehow have lost in the push to move ahead in your field.
- are reflective, introspective and want to be more intentional about the decisions you make related to writing and your work.
- want the support that comes from the presence and encouragement of fellow scholars and are willing to offer the same to others.
- are ready to look honestly at your writing struggles and face your fears.
Composed is not for you if:
- are pretty satisfied with your current approach to writing. You just need a place to write and aren't looking to experiment with new techniques.
- are in a crunch, need to push something out by the end of the week, and don't have the bandwidth to experiment with a more holistic approach.
- just want to be left alone to write--you work best in near isolation or the anonymity that comes from a large group.
- can't stand all that touchy-feely stuff, and have no desire to discuss your experience around writing.
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-Composed Participant, July 2018 |
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. They'll 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.
- A private online forum where you can get to know other retreaters before meeting and person, make rideshare arrangements, and ask questions prior to the retreat.
- 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, and gratuities.
How Much is Tuition for Composed 2020?
Premium |
Full |
Alumni |
$4,900 For scholars who want additional targeted, confidential writing support. |
$4,450 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 |
Daily yoga class |
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. |
"I wondered: would this be worth the time and money? By the end of the second day, I fully realized the value of this retreat. I experienced life-changing breakthroughs
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