Second Annual Creative Writing Retreat a Resounding Success
Classic 19th century British poet William Wordsworth said, "Let nature be your teacher," advice that was eagerly followed by more than 30 creative writers who recently spent a weekend attending the Bald Head Island Creative Writing Retreat.
On March 14-16, the Bald Head Island Creative Writing Retreat — presented through the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Creative Writing Department — drew creative writers hoping to polish their skills and network with other writers. Attendees spent the weekend participating in writing workshops, craft classes, readings and tours of the nearby maritime forest.
"It's so encouraging to be around other writers, and to see that same passion in them," said attendee Rachel Goldman of Raleigh. "And Bald Head Island is the perfect environment for this event. There’s inspiration everywhere."
The retreat kicked off on Friday night with a cookout at Captain Charlie's Station and a reading by UNCW author and professor David Gessner. Saturday morning, attendees were given the choice of finding a quiet spot on the island to sit and write, or touring the ancient maritime forest with a naturalist.
On Saturday afternoon, the writers split up into smaller groups for workshops in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. UNCW creative writing professors Karen Bender, Rebecca Lee, Sarah Messer and David Gessner led students through guided writing exercises and discussed the elements of "good writing." That evening, after a lovely dinner on the patio at the oceanfront Shoals Club, everyone was treated to a reading and musical performance by North Carolina legend Clyde Edgerton.
The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with more classes where many students shared the writing they had completed during their stay at the retreat.
Keep your eye out for information on the 2009 Bald Head Island Creative Writing Retreat to be held next March.
