Writing Retreat 2022: Albuquerque
September 21-24, 2022
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Welcome to the WFWA writing retreat in sunny Albuquerque, New Mexico!
Join fellow women’s fiction writers for three edifying and entertaining days of workshops, writing, and networking in Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 21-24, 2022.
We’re excited to have Janice Hardy, as the speaker for the 2022 Albuquerque retreat. Janice is the award-winning author and founder of the popular writing site Fiction University, where she helps writers improve their craft and navigate the crazy world of publishing.
She teaches writing workshops across the country, and her blog has been recognized as a Top Writing Blog by Writer’s Digest. She also spins tales of adventure for both teens and adults, and firmly believes that doing terrible things to her characters makes them more interesting (in a good way). She loves talking with writers and readers, and encourages questions of all types—even the weird ones.
The workshop will address the building blocks from POV to agency to internal (and some external) conflicts with lessons, brainstorming, and exercises to apply to your WIP.
Make the Most of Your Point of View
Point of view is the single-best tool writers have in their toolkit. With it, you can avoid common pitfalls such as telling, not showing, infodumping, too much backstory, and reactive characters. A strong point of view helps you determine what details and to share, how a character will react in any situation, and even makes plotting easier. In this workshop, you’ll will learn how to see your story from the eyes of your characters (no matter which point of view you use) and how that unique perspective can make your novel stronger.
How to Write Characters with Agency
Characters drive a story, but sometimes writers throw them into a tale and tell them what to do. This can lead to plots without purpose, protagonists who are just along for the ride, and a novel that only describes what happens, not a story about a character with a problem. In this workshop, you’ll learn what agency means and how it can help you craft stronger, deeper stories. You’ll discover how to find the reasons your characters do what they do, and why they’re the ones driving the story. You’ll also learn how to craft characters who make their own stories happen, which not only creates better characters, but stronger plots and better pacing.
Develop Stronger Internal Conflicts in Your Novel
In character-driven novels, internal conflicts play a bigger role in developing the plot. But internal conflicts have plotting challenges that external conflicts don’t face, so how you create a plot to illustrate and support them is different. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to identify where your strongest internal conflicts lie, how to build a character arc around those inner issues, and how to craft a plot to support those arcs. You’ll also learn how to weave the internal conflicts in with the external conflicts to create a layered and compelling plot.
Schedule
Preliminary schedule
Wednesday, September 21
- Check-in and orientation
- Dinner on your own
Thursday, September 22
- Breakfast
- Workshop
- Lunch is on your own
- Writing, brainstorming, discussion groups, free time
- Dinner
Friday, September 23
- Breakfast
- Workshop
- Lunch is on your own
- Writing, brainstorming, discussion groups, free time
- Dinner and Awards reception for the Star and Rising Star contests
Saturday, September 24
- Breakfast
- Workshop
- Lunch is on your own
- Writing, brainstorming, discussion groups, free time
- Dinner
Sunday, September 25
As in years past, the Albuquerque retreat will be the location of the Awards Dinner where we announce the winners of this year’s Star and Rising Star Awards.
Registration Fee
Registration fee: $570
Breakfast and dinner are included in the registration fee on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Due to a significant increase in cost of food, we’ve had to increase the registration fees for the retreats this year. Registration fees cover the cost of putting on the retreats. WFWA does not make money on any of these events.
Hotel, airfare, transportation to the hotel, lunches, or other expenses not expressly stated above are not included in the registration fee.
Hotel
The retreat is being held at the laid-back Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, within walking distance of Albuquerque’s historical Old Town shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Hotel rooms are $149.00 plus $20.00 amenity fee and taxes per night (single/double occupancy).
Reservations will be made directly through the hotel. After you have registered for the retreat, you will be sent a link to our block of rooms to get the group rate.
All attendees will be required to comply with hotel and state restrictions for masks and social distancing. WFWA encourages each attendee to review guidelines posted by the hotel and the state.
You can find more about the safety precautions at Hotel ABQ here.
COVID
All WFWA retreats will adhere to local, state, and federal guidance/regulations regarding COVD-19 safety measures and other public health requirements. We are closely monitoring developments in each of the locations where our 2022 retreats will be held and will continue to monitor as we get closer to the dates for each of the retreats.
For the safety of our members, speakers, and the venue staff, WFWA requests that all attendees be fully vaccinated. We will be running the retreats following best practices and in compliance with the local, state, and federal guidelines at the time each of the retreats takes place.
As a courtesy to fellow retreat attendees and hotel staff, please:
- Follow all CDC recommendations for limiting COVID-19 exposure prior to the retreat: correct and consistent mask use, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, practice proper hand sanitation, and proper disinfection of shared surfaces and objects.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the retreat, please let retreat organizers know. Proof of a negative covid test is required prior to arrival at the retreat.
- If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 within 5 days of the retreat, you must inform the retreat organizers prior to arrival.
- If you develop symptoms just prior to travel, please stay home.
- Should you develop symptoms during the retreat, immediately notify organizers, isolate, and get a rapid test.
Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, WFWA reserves the right to alter these policies at any time to best keep our attendees safe. Please note the cancellation policy for the retreats. Should WFWA cancel a retreat, WFWA will endeavor to provide a refund up to the full amount of the retreat fee to any member registered at time of cancellation.
Cancellation Policy
Please read carefully, as cancellation terms have changed. We will no longer be able to issue full refunds.*
Until May 30: 75% refund less $50 cancellation fee
June 1 – July 15: 50% refund less $50 cancellation fee
No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after July 15.
*We understand the COVID-related uncertainty, and the wellbeing of our members and presenters is of utmost importance. In the event that WFWA cancels the retreat, we will issue full refunds for those who are registered at time of cancellation.
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