Build craft, community and career with 5-day intensives in Craft & Publishing for Novelists and Memoirists. Join from any quiet location with internet access. All classes, workshops and community time happen via Zoom. We'll send a Do Not Disturb sign for your door.
All sessions are recorded for you to review or refresh in the 30 days after the intensive.
Don't know where to start? Lost your creative direction in the middle? Worried you'll never finish this crazy project? Includes feedback on 75 pages, story evaluation and Work Plan, focused writing time, one-on-one coaching, special topics seminars and a post-retreat check-in to keep you moving.
Travel retreats to resume when safe. Virtual retreats as scheduled.
Create a personalized workshop or retreat for your writing group. Writing craft, traditional and self-publishing, essay creation, pitching and querying are all fair game. Guest teachers are available for special topics. Get in touch about your needs!
Bespoke events must be planned minimum six months in advance.
Not a vacation.A transformation. "Allison, working with you and the retreat have totally transformed me as a writer...at last, I know where I'm going with this book." Amy Evrard Young
Your Guides
Allison K Williams and Dinty W. Moore
Allison K Williams brings deep understanding of dramatic structure, sensitivity to voice and theme, technical expertise, and contagious enthusiasm for your work. She is the author of the writer's guides Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro From Blank Page to Book, Seven Bridges: Platform for Authors Who'd Rather Be Writing (forthcoming) and Get Published in Literary Magazines.
She has edited and coached writers to deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, St. Martin’s and independent presses. She’s guided essayists to publication in the New Yorker, Time, the Guardian, the New York Times, McSweeney’s and TED Talks. As Social Media Editor for Brevity, she inspires thousands of writers with blogs on craft and the writing life.
A former circus performer, Allison has written for NPR, CBC, the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, Creative Nonfiction, McSweeney’s, Kenyon Review Online and Travelers’ Tales. Her plays, including Hamlette, Mmmbeth, The Next Horseman, and the London Fringe Best of Fringe Winner TRUE STORY, have been produced worldwide.
Dinty has published essays and stories in The Southern Review, The Georgia Review, Harpers, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Arts & Letters, The Normal School and elsewhere. A former professor of nonfiction writing at Ohio University, he serves as Editor-in-Chief for Brevity, a noted online journal of flash nonfiction.
Dinty consults regularly with authors and publishers on book proposals and revisions, many going on to publish with Big Five houses and university presses. A well-known and popular workshop leader, he has led workshops in Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
Bring your imperfect words.Immerse your creative self. "...reinvigorated my writing habit. I left the intensive feeling more in tune with my writing goals and intentions, excited for my various projects and with more tools under my belt to accomplish them." Scott Russell Morris
The Rebirth Experience
From idea to novel | proposal to memoir lone author to literary citizen
Intensives feature MFA-level craft workshops to sharpen your writing, and frank, professional publishing talk. Seminars dive deep into narrative, dialogue, the "Invisible Magnetic River," querying, platform, and getting your work into the world.
Retreats include evaluation of your story plans and your pages with direct, constructive feedback; a pre-arrival coaching session; and a customized Work Plan. On location, you'll have craft seminars, writing time and one-on-one coaching. A follow-up coaching session helps you sustain momentum at home.
Intensives offer small-group connection time and facilitated networking. Enrollment of about 40 writers dramatically expands your literary community and ensures you'll find likeminded authors in your genre.
Retreats create strong bonds within a small group. To allow personal coaching and specific editorial feedback, enrollment is limited to 6 writers per retreat leader.
After a morning craft talk and generative writing exercise, writers work individually in shared spaces, revising their new writing, incorporating it into existing work, or focusing on their current project. Post-writing check-ins may include sharing short sections, but this is not a "workshop." Retreat leaders provide individual guidance as needed. It's like writing at your favorite cafe—with peer and editorial support.
Rebirth Your Book retreats happen in beautiful, culturally rich locations with great local food and a calm, supportive writing environment. Each retreat includes energy-boosting excursions to heritage sites and outdoor activities.
As much as we love travel retreats, "re-entry" is always tough. Virtual Rebirth Intensives happen in your regular writing place, helping create a sustainable practice within your daily life.
Individual attention.Spontaneous connections. "...life-changing. Days spent in community with other writers, working, eating, chatting and relaxing surrounded by gorgeous views. After my manuscript revision, an agent who had given me a 'Revise & Resubmit' offered to represent me, and my book sold to Penguin Random House!" Karen Fine, DVM
A Visual Adventure
every Rebirth retreat leaves us with a host of unforgettable experiences.
Can't Wait to Get Started? Schedule an editorial consultation or coaching meeting
Rebirth Your Book retreats focus on whole-book transformation: from your head to the page, from pile of material to draft, or from draft to finished manuscript. Writers receive substantial editorial feedback and individual coaching. When travel is safe, retreats take place around the world and include food, lodging and excursions.
Rebirth Your Writing Intensives are like virtual writing conferences, with craft talks, writing exercises, and in-depth talks on writing and publishing topics. Writers can also add on individual editorial time.
Bespoke events are custom-planned personal retreats for your writing group. We work together to design a plan of editorial feedback, group seminars, workshops, and writing time that fits your needs. Bespoke events can be virtual, or live when travel is safe.
To give each writer the specific attention their pages need, retreats with two leaders are limited to ten writers; retreats with one leader are limited to six writers.
Intensives follow a "conference" format, with whole-group craft lessons, half-group seminars and small-group discussions for about forty participants. One-on-one editorial time is available as an add-on.
For travel events, see FAQs on the individual retreat webpages for specific notes about the venue's accessibility.
For all virtual events, closed-captioning is provided for all teaching sessions. We're happy to work with technology you might need to fully experience the retreat.
Allison & Dinty have (between them) worked with writers who are d/Deaf, hearing-impaired, blind, visually-impaired, neuro-atypical and with physical disabilities. We want to work with you—let's discuss how to make it an excellent experience.
Everyone works on their own, with the energy of a shared live or virtual writing space. Sessions begin with a craft talk and generative writing. Then, you decide whether to continue the new writing; incorporate it into your existing work; or focus on your current project.
At a Retreat, you'll have a specific Work Plan you can use during your Writing In Company time throughout the week.
During Intensives, writers often draft new essays from the craft exercises.
As Allison says, "If I'm writing with a buddy and I start to get bored or frustrated, I look up and think, I can't quit now—she's still going!"
Nope! Your pages for feedback can be part of a book, a series of essays, or an idea and notes. If you're working on a book, we'll look at your synopsis and (proposed) chapter summaries with your pages.
If you're starting from an idea, or exploring your writing goals, we'll use your pre-arrival coaching to set goals for your time. In that case, you can choose to submit your pages after the retreat.
You do not need a book in progress for Intensives.
Not in retreats. While reading group members' work in advance and noting points for discussion is a valuable practice, it's not what we're doing here. Your focus is on your own work.
Some seminars include "live-editing" where we discuss and revise each others' pages, but no advance reading is required. Bespoke events can include mutual reading if the participants desire.
For retreats, you'll receive feedback on up to 50 pages before arrival, plus your synopsis or chapter summaries if desired. After the retreat, you'll receive feedback on another 25 pages of revisions or new work.
In your pre-retreat coaching session, we'll discuss your concept, voice, story, character and craft, as well as what you want to accomplish during the retreat, and set out a specific Work Plan.
During the retreat, you'll have a scheduled one-on-one meeting to discuss your work-in-progress, your writing and your publication goals.
Throughout travel retreats, we'll have plenty of casual chatting time. In virtual retreats, Café Time allows group chat and individual questions.
After returning home, your follow-up coaching session lets you check in and address questions or new challenges as your writing continues.
In Italy, India and Costa Rica, a friend or family member age 16+ sharing your room pays a companion fee of about 1/2 the writer's fee. Their trip includes lodging, group meals and activities, local tours and airport transfers.
Pairs of writing friends often enjoy Rebirth Your Book together; solo writers make lasting connections.
In Lancaster, our lodging is limited to only participating writers.
Due to local regulations, Dubai is only open to women writers.
Our first day includes a Zoom orientation. We'll cover how to participate verbally and in chat, share work in breakout rooms, and what options you have for questions and communication with Dinty and Allison.
All teaching sessions will be closed-captioned. If you have accessibility concerns, let us know. We'll work with whatever technology you need to make the virtual intensive work for you.
Allison and Dinty have (between them) worked with writers who are d/Deaf, hearing-impaired, blind, visually-impaired, neuro-atypical and with physical disabilities. We want to work with you—let's discuss how to make it an excellent experience.
Morning sessions focus on a specific element of writing craft. A prompt carries us into Writing In Company time, where you decide whether to continue the new writing; incorporate it into your existing work; or focus on your current project.
Suitable for existing writing groups, this is a create-your-own program for single- or multi-day events. Bespoke events can happen virtually or in person at a retreat location near you.
You'll work with Allison to plan the right mix of editing, workshopping, publishing seminars and writing craft learning time, tailored to your group's needs.
Bespoke writing events must be planned a minimum of six months in advance.
Price depends on whether the event is travel or virtual, how many days, and if individual manuscripts are edited/workshopped.
Bespoke events usually cost per person in the same range as a retreat of similar length. (Check Lancaster for a four-day retreat; Italy or Costa Rica for a week-long event)
Bespoke writing events must be planned a minimum of six months in advance.
Rebirth Your Book participates in AWP's Kurt Brown Prize, which awards $500 each year to emerging writers in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction who wish to attend a writers’ conference, center, retreat, festival, or residency. Winners and six finalists also receive a one-year individual membership in AWP. For more information, visit the AWP website.
Due to the pandemic, individual retreats have generous cancellation policies and back-up plans for rescheduling or virtual retreats.Please see individual event pages for details.
When not under pandemic conditions, if you are unable to attend a retreat or intensive and we can fill your place from the waitlist, we will refund your tuition on a prorated basis.
For travel retreats, we strongly recommend travel & trip-cancellation insurance.
Due to the limited number of one-on-one editorial consultations, add-ons are non-refundable. Your balance can be applied to a future Rebirth Your Book event or to regularly priced editorial services.
Refunds will be sent within 30 days of receipt of notice of cancellation.
Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to cancel the retreat in the event of civil unrest, natural disaster, pandemic travel restrictions or Act of God. In the event of cancellation of the retreat in its entirety, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid, less bank/PayPal/transfer fees. You agree to release Rebirth Your Book and its agents and/or representatives from any liability, including consequential expenses you may have incurred in planning to attend. We will provide you with documentation to support a claim to your travel insurance provider for flights and other expenses not paid to Rebirth Your Book.
Have another question? Want to talk payment plan? contact us
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Writing Around the World
Cancellation Policy
We strongly recommend travel & trip-cancellation insurance.
If you are unable to attend and we can fill your place from the waitlist, we will refund your tuition on a pro rata basis:
If you have not submitted your pages:
you may apply your $500 deposit to another Rebirth Your Book retreat, and you will be refunded any additional payments.
If your initial editorial read has taken place and you have paid at least $1450:
we will still schedule your two coaching sessions and Work Plan, and you will be refunded payments over $1450. It may be possible to apply your $500 deposit to another retreat on a case-by-case basis.
If we can’t fill your place: we’ll provide you with documentation to support a claim to your travel insurance provider, but any payments made are nonrefundable. If you have paid at least $1450, you will still receive your manuscript read and coaching sessions.
Due to the limited number of one-on-one editorial consultations, add-ons are non-refundable. Your balance can be applied to a future Rebirth Your Book event or to regularly priced editorial services.
Refunds will be sent within 30 days of receipt of notice of cancellation.
Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to cancel the retreat in the event of civil unrest, natural disaster or Act of God. In the event of cancellation of the retreat in its entirety, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid. You agree to release Rebirth Your Book and its agents and/or representatives from any liability, including consequential expenses you may have incurred in planning to attend. We will provide you with documentation to support a claim to your travel insurance provider for flights and other expenses not paid to Rebirth Your Book.
Privacy Policy
Rebirth Your Book operates the RebirthYourBook.com website, which provides the SERVICE.
These are our policies on the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information for web visitors using our Service.
If you choose to use our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in relation with this policy. Any personal information we collect is used for providing and improving the Service. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.
Information Collection and Use
For a better experience while using our Service, we may require you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information, including but not limited to your name, phone number, and postal address. The information that we collect will be used to contact or identify you.
Log Data
Whenever you visit our Service, we collect information ("Log Data") that your browser sends us. This Log Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser version, pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, and other statistics.
Cookies
Cookies are files with small amount of data that is commonly used an anonymous unique identifier. These are sent to your browser from the website that you visit and are stored on your computer’s hard drive.
Our website uses “cookies” to collection information and improve our Service. You have the option to accept or refuse these cookies, and know when a cookie is being sent to your computer. If you choose to refuse cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.
Service Providers
We may employ third-party companies and individuals as follows:
To facilitate our Service;
To provide the Service on our behalf;
To perform Service-related services; or
To assist in analyzing how our Service is used.
These third parties have access to your Personal Information only to perform the tasks assigned to them on our behalf. However, they are obligated not to disclose or use the information for any other purpose.
Security
We value your trust in providing us your Personal Information, and are striving to use commercially acceptable means of protecting it. But remember, no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Links To Other Sites
Our Service may contain links to other sites. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that site. These external sites are not operated by us. Therefore, we strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policies of these websites. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Children's Privacy
Our Services do not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal identifiable information from children under 13. In the case we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we immediately delete this from our servers. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we will be able to undertake the necessary actions.
Policy Changes
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus, we advise you to review this page periodically for any changes. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. These changes are usually effective immediately after posting.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us.
ALL RESERVATIONS WITH REBIRTH YOUR BOOK ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
Submitting of registration form and payment of deposit to Rebirth Your Book indicates acknowledgement and acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
ALL RESERVATIONS WITH REBIRTH YOUR BOOK ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: Submitting of registration form and payment of deposit to Rebirth Your Book indicates acknowledgement and acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
RESERVATION REQUEST & PAYMENT:
Upon registrants request for reservation, Rebirth Your Book will advise registrant of amount of deposit needed to initiate a reservation and full charges to finalize. Upon receipt of deposit payment and acceptance by Rebirth Your Book, registrant will be notified of receipt of payment. The balance payment will typically be due a minimum of 4-6 weeks prior to retreat commencement. For reservations not confirmed with final payment, Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to amend or cancel reservation request.
RETREAT/PRICING:
In the event of unforeseen circumstances over which Rebirth Your Book has no control, Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to offer a substitute accommodation of similar category. When extenuating circumstances dictate, prices, conditions or schedule may be subject to change or amendment, Rebirth Your Book will notify participant of any said changes within 48 hours of disclosure.
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:
Once a deposit has been rendered and a Rebirth Your Book confirmation/invoice has been issued to client, any cancellation must reach Rebirth Your Book in writing. Cancellation penalties are as follows: If you are unable to attend, and Rebirth Your Book can fill your place from the waiting list, your deposit is nonrefundable but may be applied to a future retreat. See retreat FAQs for more cancellation information.
If we can’t fill your place, we’ll provide you with documentation to support a claim to your travel insurance provider. Due to the limited number of one-on-one editorial consultations, add-ons are non-refundable. Your balance can be applied to a future Rebirth Your Book event or to regularly priced editorial services. Refunds in accordance with this policy will be processed within 30 days of receipt of notice of cancellation; deposits are non-refundable. Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to cancel the retreat in the event of civil unrest, natural disaster or Act of God. In the event of such cancellation of the retreat in its entirety, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid, less bank transfer/Paypal fees. You agree to release Rebirth Your Book and its agents and/or representatives from any liability, including consequential expenses you may have incurred in planning to attend. We will provide you with documentation to support a claim to your travel insurance provider for flights and other expenses not paid to Rebirth Your Book.
HEALTH AND TRAVEL:
Participants with physical mobility issues must make these known at the time of application, to ensure compatibility with planned locations and events. Accommodations and some activities may feature steps, steep hills, uneven pavement, and may cause problems with accessibility.
All participants are expected to purchase trip/travel insurance, including medical evacuation cover, before departure, at their own expense.
Participants are advised to check and comply with the CDC website for any recommended medications and/or immunizations .
Rebirth Your Book is not responsible for any travel other than that mentioned previously or any expenses associated with the Participant’s travel outside the scope of the retreat.
Participants arriving later than 6PM on the day before the start date of the retreat or leaving earlier than the last scheduled day of the retreat must arrange transportation to/from the arrival airport at their own expense.
DISCLAIMER:
Rebirth Your Book makes every effort to ensure that the information provided to participants is correct and that properties are properly maintained, clean, functional and safe for occupancy, however, Rebirth Your Book assumes no liability for any errors or inaccuracies or external circumstances beyond its control such as, but not limited to staff cancellations, weather conditions, events which do not achieve the required retreat/program minimum, maintenance work, mechanical faults which may result in some amenities or scheduled events becoming temporarily or permanently unavailable. Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary or facilitators.
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT & LIABILITY WAIVER:
By registering with Rebirth Your Book, I accept and acknowledge that there are risks associated with any foreign travel experience and I will use appropriate caution/discretion when traveling/residing in a new area. I agree to leave the premises in clean, good, working order. I also agree to release Rebirth Your Book and its officers, employees and agents from any and all liability for consequential damages or complaints resulting from any incurred loss, injury or death, accidents, damages, theft, grievances, extra expenses due to delays, damages or cancellations, schedule changes, sickness, quarantine, acts of nature, strikes, civil strife, war or warlike conditions or other circumstances beyond its control or for any of the above arising due to my participation in Rebirth Your Book retreats.
I further acknowledge and accept a) that Rebirth Your Book acts only as a facilitator, and assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the services of any property owners or their employees; b) that Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to decline to accept or retain participants in its retreats and events, and to withdraw a scheduled retreat should conditions warrant or necessitate, in which event the amount paid by the participant may be fully refunded; c) that in the event it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort and well-being of participants, or for any reason whatsoever, Rebirth Your Book reserves the right to alter announced arrangements without penalty; d) that Rebirth Your Book accepts no liability for any travel provider or carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline or other ticket to the destination and return; e) that I am solely responsible for obtaining any necessary visas; f) that I acknowledge the advisability of obtaining travel insurance to cover the various risks associated with foreign travel. I agree that it is the intention of Rebirth Your Book to provide services as described on the Rebirth Your Book website, and by registering for a Rebirth Your Book retreat I accept the arrangements as described and certify that I am mentally and physically capable of full participation in this program. I have carefully read the above and agree to abide by these conditions. I have also read and understand fully the Disclaimer and the conditions of the Cancellation Policy.
PRIVACY POLICY:
All information shared by individuals on the registration form is used solely by Rebirth Your Book's administration and faculty. Rebirth Your Book does not and will not ever share, sell or trade personal information to any third party.
