Facilitated by Carolyn Dawn Flynn, the Story Catalyst, and writer and poet Jona Kottler

Let the soul-stirring beauty of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way be your inspiration for this generative and restorative retreat for writers of fiction and creative nonfiction.

Whether you’re writing essays or a book-length memoir, whether you’re writing short stories or a novel, this retreat is designed to help you deepen and refine your work-in-progress, emerging with clarity and vision.

Acclaimed writer and TEDx speaker Carolyn Dawn Flynn and award-winning American writer and educator Jona Kottler are your facilitators.

We will provide a mentored critique, individual consultations and group talks on story architecture, narrative flow and craft points such as dialogue and scene-building—all in a soul-stirring setting in the Connemara mountains of County Galway, Ireland, along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Every day will launch with a series of prompts for writing with intent, building pivotal and memorable scenes that are the vital underpinning of story.

Situated on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, this retreat is in the Connemara region along Ireland’s only fjord, close to the City of Galway, a short distance away from Ireland’s adventure travel city, Westport.

The retreat offers time to generate new, focused pieces and a strategic plan for your work-in-progress.

ABOUT DELPHI RESORT

From warm Irish hospitality to exquisite food, outdoor adventure to ultimate relaxation, Delphi Resort is the place to escape to, to enlighten your lust for life, awaken your senses and truly embrace Ireland’s magnificent landscape and scenery, all from the comfort of the 300-acre resort.

Delphi Resort is located in the heart of the scenically breath-taking Delphi Valley, near Leenane, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland. With its stunning scenic location, Delphi is a world apart and a haven for romantic getaways, special occasions, adventure-filled family holidays and wellness escapes.

Situated just 10 mins from Leenane, Connemara, 30 mins from Westport and 80 mins from Galway City, Delphi Resort is surrounded by magical scenic drives along the Wild Atlantic Way. If looking to explore the area, Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park are located just 30 mins away, with Louisburgh and Croagh Patrick just 20 mins away – making Delphi Resort the perfect base for those that want to get settled at the resort and for those that like to travel and see the sights! Free car parking is available at the resort for guests and visitors.

THE WRITING RETREAT INCLUDES:

• Morning workshops on writing craft, including one hour focused on your work
• Mentor critique and strategic plan
• Story mapping and scene-building exercises
• Individual consultations with a mentor
• Group consultations on scene-building and story arc
• Writing prompts and free time to write on your own
• Opening Summer Solstice ritual
• Time to stroll along the fjord and hike the mountains of Connemara
• Time to enjoy a spa treatment (including one free hour of hot tub soak and discounts on other spa treatments)
• “Artist date” field trip and writing time (optional) with a Yeats theme (location to be announced)
• Optional meditation walk-and-talk on Irish myth, poetry and the soul

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE BY APPLICATION

Are you a resident of Ireland? Up to four generous partial scholarships are available.

Are you a resident of the UK? If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England, please apply! We still have two partial scholarships available.

Are you a resident of North America? We have one partial scholarship available, but hurry! Most of our retreat participants come from the United States or Canada, so this is pretty competitive.

Are you an alumni or student of the Spalding MFA in Writing program? We offer one partial scholarship to Spalding friends (because Carolyn is an alum and it was one of the top decisions she’s ever made).

Are you a journalist? We offer one generous partial scholarship to a journalist, because Carolyn has been a working journalist since she was 17 and now is a journalism academic at the University of New Mexico. “I know your work ethic. I know your commitment to the truth,” she says. “If you have a culturally resonant book idea, then I want to help you get it out into the world.”

Please send a one-paragraph synopsis of your project and the first 10 pages. Tell us how you qualify for a partial scholarship and how this will help you get momentum for your project. (Apply here or email me at hello@carolynflynn.com)

If you are awarded a partial scholarship, we’ll send you a coupon code that you can use for checkout on EventBrite.

EARLY BIRD RATE – Hurry! This retreat fills up fast!

Double occupancy $2,295

Single occupancy $2,495

AFTER MARCH 8

Double occupancy $2,395

Single occupancy $2,695

DEPOSIT OF $995 secures your spot.

REMAINING BALANCE to be paid by April 15.

Email hello@carolynflynn.com for details, to register or to be put on the interest list for future retreats.

Pay your deposit on EventBrite here to secure your spot.

And please pass it on to a writer you love! If you refer someone to this retreat and that person signs up, you get $100 off of a future retreat.

ABOUT CAROLYN

carolynflynn.com | Known as The Story Catalyst, Carolyn Flynn is winner of the 2014 Rick Bass/Montana Prize for Fiction; author of “Resurrection,” published in Fourth Genre; semifinalist for the 2016 Elixir Press Fiction Prize for first novel. See her TED talk, “Tell a Better Story, Live a Better Life” here.

ABOUT JONA

jonathakottler.com | Jonatha Kottler is an American writer and educator from Albuquerque, NM, recently based in Scotland.

Her work has appeared in Nasty Women and in publications including The Guardian and NY Magazine.

She works with the Lighthouse Writers Workshop and is completing her first novel.

All full list of FAQs and little details is available on the website here.

THINKING ABOUT IT? WANT TO MEET US AND ASK QUESTIONS?

Join us Feb. 26 for a live call where you can tell us about your project and get all the answers to your questions.

Register here to get call-in information. The call is free.