Pages Promotions Retreat Information

Pages Promotions and Creative Slingers of Ink
have joined forces to host an
Intensive Four-Day Writing Retreat.
When: Thursday, August 24, 2023 - Sunday, August 27, 2023
Where: The Colombiere Conference & Retreat Center
9085 Big Lake Road Clarkston, MI 48346

What Is It All About? Here's The Overview...

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Your Work Published In An Anthology To Serve Charity!

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Introduction Coming Soon!

The Colombiere Conference
& Retreat Center

The Colombiere Center is a former Jesuit College, and a portion of the buildings and grounds are still home to priests in their retirement years. There is a peaceful serenity to the entire Center that makes it especially conducive to learning about writing and practicing craft. The Center still retains that "college feel" in all of it's sleeping rooms, classrooms, and dining room.

Upon arrival, you'll check in, collect your room key and a special surprise box of fun, along with a printed itinerary of the weekend's events. From there, you'll take the ramp, stairs or elevator to the second floor - which we have all to ourselves.

Go find your assigned room (each door is posted with the writers' names), drop your things, and say hello to your roommate. The dormitory-style bedrooms are comfortable, but not huge. Remember, this used to be a college dormitory. Each room has two twin beds, a small closet and a sink. Linens and pillows are provided for you. There are large windows to let in plenty of natural light, should you choose to write in your room, and most have a window A/C unit. [If you want to bring along a small bed-side fan, you're welcome to do that, but chances are, you won't need it.] The rooms may be on the small side, but, what more does one need? The goal is to use your bedroom for sleeping, and spend the rest of your time with the other writers in workshops, critique, at the Campfire Circle, or writing on your own.

If you need a controlled cool space for medications, we have a designated medicine refrigerator on the floor for that purpose. Just let us know when you check in, and we'll show you where it is.

There are standard "school" restrooms in the middle of the floor, and the gender divided shower rooms are at the end of the hall. Each shower room has eight private shower stalls. Each shower stall has a dry changing area with a bench, and an inner wet room. Each shower stall has floor to ceiling, solid walls, and a door - not just a shower curtain. So you'll have plenty of privacy. There are additional toilets and sinks in each shower room, as well.

The community dining room is very large, with plenty of space for multiple groups to gather, share a meal, and chat about the day's events. Here, you may meet some of the other guests attending their own retreats, and they may be interested in hearing about your writing journey, and your books. Who knows? You may meet a new fan.

Three times a day, a different buffet of selected entree's will be set out for your culinary enjoyment, as well as a salad bar each day at lunch and dinner. There is a full beverage station and special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request. Click HERE to read the Center's full menu for a preview of what may be in store. We'll post the final menu a week or so before our Retreat begins so you'll have a better idea what to expect. In addition, a variety of snacks and beverages will be available in the workshop and breakout rooms, to keep you well satiated throughout the weekend.

The main workshop space is extremely large, with huge windows to let in the natural light and the day's breeze. There are plenty of long tables that offer tons of room for everyone to spread out and work together. Workshop facilitators will also have use of two large white boards and an HDMI projector to share their knowledge, tips, and tricks with the group.

If you're not interested in participating in a workshop topic, there are two smaller breakout rooms with tables and chairs. One is the "Beta" space where writers can come together, share a bit of their work out loud, and give and gain constructive critique. The other room is the "Writing Room". This space is set aside for writers to work on their own or in small groups. Both spaces will be open 24/7 for the entirety of our Retreat... so there will always be space to collaborate, focus, and - yes - even chat.

There is also one smaller quite space. This is our "Owl's Nest." This is specifically designated as a silent writing room if you need a space to escape to in the middle of the night, or any time you need perfect silence.

The grounds are beautiful, with plenty of open fields, meditation spaces, and a walking path through the trees. Mandy Jo will offer an optional morning yoga class to start each day, and we'll close each night with a Campfire Circle and S'mores. We'll post photos of those spaces just as soon as mother nature cooperates with warmer weather.

Click Here To Sign Up! This Button Takes You To Our Registration Page!

The Story Scribblers Present...
Theatre By The Seat Of Our Pants:
An Improv Experience

This fun experience gives writers a general framework of a story... a genre, and basic character maps... and turns them loose on each other. This is what happens when you bring a group of highly creative, highly intelligent, highly silly people together and ask them to create a story on the fly. No one knows where it will end, or what unexpected twist and turns they will take along the way. Produced in the form of a one-act play, we'll give these talented writers 90 minutes to give you a beginning, a middle, and an end... but we make no promises about wrapping it up neatly with a bow. Cliffhangers may be involved.

This theatre experience is open to the public. Ticket sales will support the Colombiere Center, and The Haley Sue Foundation.

And if that's not enough, after the mayhem of our Improv Experience, visitors may join us for "Lunch with The Authors", and a Mini-Book Festival where authors' books will be available for sale and they'll sign them, too! A copy of our Community Service Anthology, "Summer Vacation," written by those attending The Story Scribblers Writing Retreat, will also be available for sale, with sales once again supporting The Haley Sue Foundation.

Limited Seating will be available for this unforgettable experience... and yes, visitors may attend the Improv Experience and the Authors' Lunch & Mini-Book Festival independently of each other.

COMING SOON! Watch this space, for more information about ticket reservations for both the Improv Experience and The Authors' Lunch & Mini-Book Festival.

2023 Story Scribblers Programming Details

Click The Quill Above To Learn More About Our Programming!

2023 Story Scribblers
Writer's Retreat
Tentative Schedule
Click the Calendar Icon, above, to learn more about our Workshops and Presenters.

Thursday, August 24. 2023
4:00PM - 600PM... Check in and Settle In
6:00PM - 9:00PM... Dinner
7:00PM - 9:00PM... Orientation & Tour
9:00PM - 12:00AM... Campfire Storytelling or Writing On Your Own
12:00AM - 7:00AM... Sleeping or Night Owl Writing

Friday, August 25, 2023: Welcome Late Arrivals
7:00AM - 8:30AM - Greet The Day (optional Yoga)
8:30AM - 9:30AM... Breakfast
9:30AM - 10:30AM... Improv Theatre Table Read, or Writing On Your Own
10:30AM - 11:30AM... Workshop: The Writer's Dashboard, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
11:30AM - 12:30PM... Workshop: The Short Story Experience, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
12:30PM - 1:30PM... Lunch
1:30PM - 3:30PM - Casual Writing or Word Sprints
3:30PM - 4:30PM... Workshop: How To Keep Your Story Moving: Tips & Tricks, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
4:30PM - 6:00PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
6:00PM - 7:00PM... Dinner
7:00PM - 8:00PM... Workshop Creating Book Cover Designs in PhotoShop: , Critique, or Writing On Your Own
8:00PM - 9:00PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
9:00PM - 12:00AM... Campfire Storytelling or Writing On Your Own
12:00AM - 7:00AM... Sleeping or Night Owl Writing

Saturday, August 26, 2023
7:00AM - 8:30AM - Greet The Day (optional Yoga)
8:30AM - 9:30AM... Breakfast
9:30AM - 10:30AM... Workshop: Using The Hero's Journey To Create A Compelling Plot, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
10:30AM - 11:30PM... Workshop: Exploring Comedy In Fiction; Critique, or Writing On Your Own
11:30AM - 12:30PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
12:30PM - 1:30PM... Lunch
1:30PM - 2:30PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
2:30PM - 4:00PM... Workshop: Messing With Perspective, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
4:00PM - 5:00PM... Workshop: The Dreaded Synopsis, Critique, or Writing On Your Own
5:00PM - 6:00PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
6:00PM - 7:00PM... Dinner
7:00PM - 9:00PM... Casual Writing or Word Sprints
9:00PM - 12:00AM... Campfire Storytelling or Writing On Your Own
12:00AM - 7:00AM... Sleeping or Night Owl Writing

Sunday, August 27, 2023
7:00AM - 8:30AM... Greet The Day (optional Yoga)
8:30PM - 9:30AM... Breakfast
9:30AM - 10:30AM... Awards Ceremony
10:30AM - 11:00AM... Improv: Get Into Character, or Writing On Your Own
11:00AM - 12:30PM... Improv Theatre Experience
12:30PM - 2:00PM... Lunch with The Authors & Mini-Book Festival
2:00PM... Check Out & Say Goodbye

Pages Promotions, LLC
Indie Author & Book Publicists
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 248-914-4027
(voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)

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Creative Slingers of Ink
Indie Author Advocate
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 248-791-4199
(voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)

The Colombiere Conference​& Retreat Center

The Colombiere Conference
& Retreat Center