The Story Cottage – Track 2 of the Writers Retreat

I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Colleen Geraghty, a legend among writers in the Hudson Valley, an inspirational writing coach and published author in her own right, and, by the way, a woman who’s both deeply compassionate and funny as hell, is returning to lead The Story Cottage at our Women At Woodstock Writers Retreat this year. We describe it as a track for emerging writers, but it’s open to anyone, whether new to the dream of writing or a seasoned veteran who’s been putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) for years.

Here’s how Colleen describes her Story Cottage Workshop:

The Story Cottage is an Amherst Writer’s and Artist’s method of writing that supports all genres and skill levels of writers by using a non-hierarchical approach, a diverse array of writing prompts, and constructive feedback based on the Amherst Method.

AWA is an international community of writing workshop leaders committed to the belief that a writer is someone who writes and every writer has a unique voice.  All are encouraged to leave any assumptions about writing and writers aside and to write freely.  As a certified AWA workshop leader, Colleen Geraghty works with both novice writers who have been led to believe they have no voice and with experienced writers who want to hone their craft. Both beginning writers and more experienced writers work together in the same workshop  to generate new material and/or explore stories, poems, or other reflections that they wish to deepen. Colleen will focus on voice, power, confidence, and craft.

As part of Women at Woodstock 2017, Colleen will offer participants an opportunity to explore the Amherst Writer’s and Artist’s method and to write in a creative cauldron that affirms the following five essential beliefs:

1)      Everyone has a strong, unique voice.

2)      Everyone is born with creative genius.

3)      Writing is an art form that  belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level.

4)      The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem.

5)      A writer is someone who writes.

The philosophy of The Story Cottage workshop is encapsulated in this quote:

Pat Schneider, founder of Amherst Artists and Writers

Click here for more information on the WAW Writers Retreat 2020.