Come write with us! We have reserved two October days in beautiful Grand Rapids, so we may step away from work and home responsibilities to write together. University Outreach and Engagement and The Writing Center invite interested faculty, Extension and academic staff, post-docs, and graduate students from MSU and other campuses to the retreat. Bring your public/practitioner pieces, journal articles, books, curricula, theses and dissertations, grants, conference papers, or other important pieces that could use your writing attention in a supportive community of writers. 

Expectations:

You are expected to have a writing project (or more than one) in mind and to bring along your laptop, power cord, and writing materials. As much as possible, please protect this important writing time. Past participants have cleared their schedules, turned on their out-of-office email notices, and let their colleagues know that they will be busy those two days. You will benefit the most from this retreat if you do not have other meetings during your precious writing time.

Schedule:

On Oct 19, the retreat will kick off with a welcome, overview of retreat options, and sharing of writing goals. Throughout the day, optional topical workshops, consultations, and peer review feedback will be available. We will break for lunch at 12 noon and organize ourselves for dinner around 6:00 pm. On Oct 20, we will continue with optional workshops, consultations, and feedback, with a wrap-up session scheduled for 3:30 pm. Consultants from The Writing Center and University Outreach and Engagement will be available the entire time for informal conversations and more formal feedback.

Location: 

This two-day writing retreat will be held at the Embassy Suites Grand Rapids Downtown (710 Monroe Ave NW). Located along the Grand River, this hotel features an indoor pool, gym, and indoor/outdoor hot tub. The hotel is near a walking/biking path, coffee shops, and brewpubs, an ideal urban retreat getaway. The hotel’s balconies, terraces, and common spaces are spacious and light-filled, perfect for writing inspiration.

Costs:

Registration fees include hotel accommodations the night of Oct 19. Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks on Oct 19 and Oct 20 are also included, as are all retreat materials and consulting. Dinner on Oct 19 is on your own. We will provide restaurant suggestions for the vibrant Grand Rapids dining scene and options for dining in small groups. Rooms include minifridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers for those who want to bring their own snacks or meals. 

• MSU participants $380.
• Double hotel occupancy $300.
• Day rate (no overnight) $250.
• Non-MSU participants are very welcome to participate at $480. 

Sponsored by: University Outreach and Engagement; The Writing Center; Office for Faculty and Staff Professional Development; The Graduate School