Stars and Spreadsheets
Tech and Tarot
Artificial Intelligence and the Arcane
Stories are made of patterns.
As storytellers, the better we understand narrative patterns—as well as the human patterns that make us who we are—the better we will be at this work.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime look at patterns through two lenses. One is the arcane, how understanding the patterns of the stars can help you understand yourself and the stories you were born to tell. We’ll call that the woo-woo.
The second is using technology. Ethical artificial intelligence and other tools that help you see the patterns in your story so that you can refine and revise to the best of your abilities. We’ll call that the wow.
During this unique experience, you'll learn how to use cutting-edge technology to analyze the patterns in your writing, and ancient practices to unearth the patterns within yourself, all under the light of the moon in the Pacific Northwest.
Join our staff of award-winning writers and industry professionals for a retreat in idyllic Seabrook, Washington this spring to sharpen your writing craft, invigorate your process, and change the way you create.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Martha Brockenbrough
is the author of more than twenty books for young readers, including YA fiction and nonfiction, picture books, a middle grade mystery, and a chapter book series.
A former faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, she's also the founder of National Grammar Day (every March 4), and she's written game questions for Cranium and Trivial Pursuit.
Andrea Hannah
is an acclaimed author, ISAR-certified astrologer, and workshop leader. She teaches creatives and sees clients all over the world, and writes everything from fierce modern fairy tales to articles about the cosmos (she’s a Gemini).
Her work has appeared in Bustle, Elite Daily, Thrive Global, HuffPost, Mslexia Magazine, and more. She is the author of creativity guide The Maker’s Guide to Magic and several books for young adults, including Where Darkness Blooms and forthcoming The Wildest Things duology.
MEET THE FACULTY
A.S. King
has been called “One of the best Y.A. writers working today” by the New York Times Book Review. King is the author of highly acclaimed novels including 2021’s SW/TCH, 2020 Michael L. Printz Award winner and LA Times Book Prize finalist DIG, 2016’s Still Life with Tornado, 2015’s surrealist I Crawl Through It, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future, Reality Boy, the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants, 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Please Ignore Vera Dietz, among others.
She also writes middle grade fiction as Amy Sarig King, including Attack of the Black Rectangles. In 2022, King received the Margaret A. Ed-wards Award for her significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. She is a former faculty member of the WCYA MFA program at VCFA.
Elana K. Arnold
is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets.
Kristin Dwyer
is the author of critically-acclaimed YA romances Some Mistakes Were Made and The Atlas of Us. She grew up under the California sun and still prays every day for a cloudy sky. When she’s not writing books about people kissing, she and her spouse can be found encouraging their four overly opinionated misfits to get into trouble. Kristin is a part-time hair model and wants you to know she is full-time TSA PRECHECK, and one time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom, she will try to join.
The Curriculum
You'll attend five classes by our instructors—all related to identifying and reading patterns. You'll also have the opportunity to have your pitch critiqued by literary agent and assistant faculty member, Sheyla Knigge, and attend exercise classes taught by certified instructor and assistant faculty member, Jolie Stekly.
The Schedule
You'll arrive in quaint Seabrook on Thursday, where you'll have the opportunity to attend a cocktail reception at the Belfry. On Friday and Saturday, after breakfast and before dinner, you'll have the option to attend classes from our instructors. The rest of the day is yours! You can spend your time walking the beach, hiking, writing, taking extra classes, exploring the downtown area, or going out to dinner with fellow writers. On Sunday, we'll say goodbye with an in-house breakfast basket before you go.
The Accommodations
You'll stay in a stunning beach house on Washington's coast with a full kitchen and your own private bedroom. The first night reception snacks, breakfast, and lunch is included in your stay. To learn more about Seabrook and check out images of the location, click the button below.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Revision Strategy
Create, Return, Craft: How to find your hidden patterns and leverage them in revision with Elana K. Arnold.
Writing is a strange creature. It’s part magic, part mystery, part puzzle. Where do our ideas come from? What breadcrumbs have we left ourselves in early drafts that we can find and build on during revision? And how can we help ourselves leave even richer breadcrumbs, in future drafts?
Join award winning author Elana K. Arnold on an exploration through the creative process, from first spark through polished final draft. Through sharing how she creates, discovers, and leverages patterns in her own work, Elana will model how you can do the same. This discussion will be useful for writers on any step in their journey.
Creative Process
As above, so below. As within, so without. As the universe, so the soul.
Ancient esoteric practices tell us that there is no separating the creator and the work. By deeply understanding, honoring, and learning to work with, instead of against, ourselves we will create more powerful, impactful art. Join author, ISAR-certified astrologer, and workshop leader Andrea Hannah to learn how to use astrology, tarot, and other tools to understand your own internal patterns and make the art you were always meant to make.
Story Technique
Award-winning author A.S. King will talk about the natural patterns that arrive when you allow yourself to write without a clear destination. And in all types of writing, this creates a satisfying series of patterns that get closer and closer to each other, which build tension, and often lead to a satisfying conclusion, simply because you allow your unconscious brain to do the work. And the unconscious brain loves patterns.
Character Development
How do we make characters come alive on the page? Join critically-acclaimed author Kristin Dwyer to learn how to create a visceral experience for your readers by consciously crafting emotional patterns in you work. By creating reliable relationship beats, you will craft characters that stay with your readers long after they close the cover.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Critically-acclaimed author Martha Brockenbrough will talk about our brains as pattern recognition engines, plus the key patterns that great stories offer readers, as well as a few tech tools writers can use ethically to recognize and refine the patterns they’ve put on the page.
Are there accommodations for dietary restrictions?
Can I stay in a house with people I know?
Have you all done this before?!
Are they any extras I should know about?
Ready To Join Us?
The investment for the entire retreat is $1500. To save your spot, please put down your $500 deposit ASAP as this retreat is expected to sell out quickly. You will receive a general confirmation email from andrea@andreahannah. com. Please save this email for your records.
You will receive an invoice for the remainder of your payment in March 2024. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] and/or [email protected].
