Each morning begins with a small-group workshop or individual instruction with one of our faculty members, crafted to provide our writers with individual attention and the bonds of a close, friendly community.
Afternoons are spent exploring the beautiful island of Salt Cay with your instructors, learning more about the writing life from the vantage point of a white sand beach. We also include special outings to swim with the dolphins and to experience the unique history of our tropical locale.
There will be plenty of private time for writing, and the evenings will be filled with student and faculty readings and lectures. Mingle with your fellow authors and our faculty members at our nightly cocktail hours and finish your trip with a thorough one-on-one manuscript critique. Relax in the sunshine, and let the Bahamian breezes inspire you to new creative heights.
Morning Workshops
Workshops are at the heart of the Salt Cay Writers Retreat. Each writer will bring 20 pages to share with their group, and faculty members will lead participants in offering helpful critiques and praise. Everyone will receive feedback on their work from their peers and our retreat mentors, and develop a sense of community around the craft of writing.
Afternoon Events
At Salt Cay we have a world of wonder to explore. You can swim with the dolphins with our faculty members and see how that might inspire voice in your writing, and take a walking tour of the island along with a lesson about incorporating setting into your work. Each faculty member will teach an interactive topic about things such as character, storytelling, voice, setting, and other elements of craft. We also set aside group writing time for everyone to get their thoughts onto the page.
Private Writing
The island is yours — whether you find a secluded hammock or a great spot on the beach, there will be time to digest all you’ve learned and find inspiration.
Evening Readings
Come and listen to our faculty read from current and upcoming works and even try your hand at a reading yourself! We’ll have events that include readings by our award-winning authors, and an open mike night where our writers are encouraged to share their work.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Sunday, October 20:
7:00 – 10:00 PM – Orientation, sunset dinner cruise around Nassau harbor and surrounding islands
Our meet-and-greet dinner cruise allows students and faculty to get acquainted and mingle, but also prepares everyone for the days ahead – how to get the most out of the workshops, writing sessions, panel discussions, and one-on-one times slated for the week.
Menu: conch fritters, coconut shrimps, tamarind glazed chicken wings, vegetable crudities, beef on skewers; beer, wine, mixed drinks.
Monday, October 21:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island – please note: your spouse or family may join you on the island later in the day if they wish; ferries depart at 8:30, 10:30, 1:30, and 3:30
9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Workshop – Character
Workshop Format: Our day on Salt Cay begins with a two-hour small-group workshop (plus half-hour break) led by two instructors. During the course of the morning, two participants’ manuscripts will be up for critique – all other attendees will read the day’s manuscript samples and make notes and comments ahead of time to share them with the group. Everyone is encouraged to be both honest and constructive in their comments in the hope of sparking a lively discussion, and providing each participant with a host of ideas and ways of solving issues in their manuscripts.
Each day’s workshop will have a specific focus – today, for instance, will be on character – how to make sure that your character is as strong, as believable, as compelling as possible.
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island
Sample Lunch Menu: chicken burger, veggie burger, angus burger, salad, fries, fresh fruit; spinach salad, tossed salad with guava vinaigrette, grilled chicken breast, sauteed fish with onions, vegetable rice, corn on the cob, fresh fruit, mini pastries
2:00 – 6:00 – Island tour with literary highlights, free writing time, one-on-one meetings
Island Tour:
In order to craft convincing characters that live and breathe on the page, a writer must first get to know those characters – how they think, feel, and react – in different situations and settings. During the Island Tour Excursion, students s will enjoy a guided tour of Salt Cay Island in which they’ll learn about the island’s rich history, take in its scenic views, and imagine the protagonist or narrator of their manuscript in this unique setting.
After the informative and inspiring walk, students will relax in the shade with their notebooks and write a scene in which their character visits Salt Cay and encounters something out of the ordinary.
Free Writing Time:
At Salt Cay, we believe in daily writing as a way to reach a breakthrough. We’ve set aside two 45-minute blocks of time every afternoon to do nothing but write on our beautiful private island. Writers will sit together as a group and work on their current manuscripts (or a new idea that’s been knocked loose in our workshops!). Even if you’re struggling with writers block, being surrounded by other people who are writing will help ignite your creativity – it’s a very effective way of moving forward.
One-on-One Meetings:
In addition to your faculty-led workshop, each participant will have the opportunity to meet with a faculty mentor one-on-one for a more intimate discussion on the strengths and weakness of your work. Faculty mentors will be prepared to give you advice on everything from concept and plot to voice and scene composition. This is your opportunity to have the undivided attention of some of the biggest authors, editors, and agents and understand how they look at writing and publishing.
6:00 – Return ferry to hotel
7:00 – 9:00 – Author readings at The Cloisters, Paradise Island (Robert Goolrick, Jacquelyn Mitchard) not yet confirmed
The 14th Century French stone monastery of The Cloisters was brought over brick by brick to Paradise Island during the 1920s by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Years later, grocery-store heir Huntington Hartford had the site rebuilt at the current location presiding over Nassau Harbour. Today, many couples take their nuptial vows at this historic Old World venue. A short stroll from the retreat hotel, the site is now owned by the Ocean Club.
Tuesday, October 22:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island
9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Workshop – Voice
Today’s workshop focus will be on voice – building a strong, distinctive voice (or voices) to really make your prose stand out from the pack. (See Monday’s description for a general overview of the workshop format.)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island (sample menu)
2:00 – 6:00 - Snorkeling excursion & sensory description / point of view writing exercise, free writing time, one-on-one meetings
Incorporating all five senses in your prose is a simple way to lend your manuscript immediacy. Similarly, knowing which point of view to use – first person, second person, or third person – is crucial to building a believable and compelling world on the page. During the snorkeling excursion, students will dive beneath the pristine waters of the Caribbean to view Salt Cay from a different perspective. (For those who don’t wish to wear flippers and a mask, glass bottom kayaks will be available.)
After the swim, students will gather on the beach to work on a short writing assignment in which they’ll re-write a scene from their manuscript from a different viewpoint with greater emphasis placed on the inclusion of sensory details.
7:00 – 9:00 – Dinner on the island, open mike night
Wednesday, October 23:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island
9:00 – 9:45 – Panel: Publishing Today
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Kate Miciak, Erin Harris, Michelle Brower
An overview of the world of trade publishing, and the impact that new devices, new retailers, and new publishers are having on the market.
10:00 – 10:45 – Panel: Opening Pages
Robert Goolrick, Amy Einhorn, Jeff Kleinman, Steven Fisher
A discussion about how to make the opening pages of your manuscript as compelling and extraordinary as possible.
11:00 – 12:00 Panel: Identifying the Big Book
Amy Einhorn, Chuck Adams, Kate Miciak, Erin Niumata
Our faculty is world-renowned for having shepherded some of the biggest, most popular, most critically acclaimed books of the past dozen years – here’s a chance to hear behind the scenes of how they assess the books that cross their desks, and how they work with their publishing houses, booksellers, and the public to make the books mega-bestsellers.
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island (sample menu)
2:00 – 6:00 - Dolphin swim, free writing time, one-on-one meetings
6:00 – Return ferry to hotel
7:30 – 9:30 – Dinner excursion to Nassau’s world-famous “Fish Fry” on Arawak Cay
(transportation only provided; students purchase their meal from their choice of dozens of unique, colorful kiosks and restaurants)
Named after the original West Indian inhabitants of the islands, Arawak Cay offers a staple in Bahamian culture known as the Fish Fry. A stroll through Arawak Cay reveals seafood delights such as conch salad, scorched conch, conch fritters, cracked conch, grilled shrimp, grilled lobster tails, and a variety of fish dishes. All are prepared with an elegant blend of spices. Much of the flavor comes from the addition of limes, which Bahamians call “sour”, and hot peppers. Bahamians, traditionally, are lovers of hot and spicy foods. The hot peppers found in their cuisine are given names such as bird pepper and goat pepper. So, if you have a low tolerance for the hot spices, be sure to ask for the mild version.
Thursday, October 24:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island
9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Workshop – Dialogue
Today’s workshop focus will be on dialogue – tricks, tips, and advice to assuring that each of your characters sounds distinct from the others, but also how to be sure your ear is as developed as possible. (See Monday’s description for a general overview of the workshop format.)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island (sample menu)
2:00 – 6:00 – Writing compelling dialogue exercise, free writing time
This is an optional exercise for students who would like a more structured afternoon writing session. During the dialogue exercise, we will discuss the components of successful dialogue and our writers will be asked to recast one of the scenes from their manuscripts – or one of the free writes they drafted during the Island Tour and Snorkeling Workshop – into a scene that’s composed of only dialogue.
7:00 – 9:00 – Dinner on the island, open mike night
Friday, October 25:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island
9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Workshop – Momentum and Pace
Today’s workshop focus will be on momentum and pacing – how to keep the reader turning the pages, how to be figure out when to slow the pace down (or speed it up). (See Monday’s description for a general overview of the workshop format.)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island (sample menu)
2:00 – 6:00 - Dolphin swim, free writing time, one-on-one meetings
6:00 – Return ferry to hotel
7:00 – Dinner and evening activities on your own
Dine at nearly Atlantis Resort & Casino, or explore the restaurants and shops of downtown Nassau.
Saturday, October 26:
7:00 – 8:00 - Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel
8:30 – Ferry to island
9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Workshop – Impressions and Final Feedback
Today’s workshop will be a final opportunity to discuss other issues that haven’t yet been covered. (See Monday’s description for a general overview of the workshop format.)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch on the island (sample menu)
2:00 – 6:00 – Free time
This is your chance to revisit your favorite island places and activities, or to try one of the other island offerings you haven’t yet had the opportunity to sample. Or you can simply relax and soak up a final afternoon of sunshine on a chaise by the lagoon or under a shady coconut palm in one of the island’s many double hammocks.
7:00 – 9:00 – Closing festivities and island feast with Bahamian entertainment
Menu: Bahamian conch chowder, fresh roasted corn, jerk chicken, grilled fish with onions, bell peppers and plantain, beans and rice, potato salad, coconut and raisin rolls, grilled vegetables, Bahamian coconut and pineapple tarts, beer, wine, mixed drinks
Sunday, October 27:
Private poolside breakfast buffet at the conference hotel at your leisure; final farewells
