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We're sad to say no Lancaster retreat this year, due to continuing USA travel and safety concerns. We invite you to join our Virtual Retreat August 15-19. Registration now open
Finish Your Book
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Farm-to-table food and Amish handicrafts. Rolling farmland cradles an elegantly restored 1800s home.
Rebirth Your Book in Lancaster 2023Rediscover your novel or memoir and your desire for the page.
Personal editorial feedback & Coaching
An intimate, focused group.
A revival of your creative self
"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
The Rebirth Difference
Four focused days with editorial guidance, accountability, and a concrete plan to finish your book.
The Witmer Estate
Paradise, PA, USA
4 days/4 nights
August 13th - 17th, 2023 (TBC)
Personal Guidance
Allison K Williams, "The Unkind Editor" provides editorial feedback on 75 pages plus your synopsis or chapter summaries, and personal feedback & coaching throughout the week
From idea to novel, proposal to memoir, first draft to first royalties, Allison K Williams brings deep understanding of dramatic structure, sensitivity to voice and theme, technical expertise, and contagious enthusiasm for your work.
Allison 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.
Unsure if we're a fit? Need feedback now? Book Allison for a one-time coaching meeting or editorial consultation here.
Paradise, PA
The Witmer Estate
Retreat to our quiet farmland sanctuary in Amish country. The elegantly restored Witmer Estate holds Victorian charm in 5 private bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms plus powder room, porch, gazebo, and plenty of writing corners.
Channel your writing conference energy from Hippocamp.You've heard great speakers, gotten new ideas. Made spontaneous connections and figured out what your book needs. Now write it.
Understand The Experience
From idea to novel | proposal to memoir lone author to literary citizen
Your pre-arrival manuscript evaluation includes supportive, specific, written critique of up to 50 pages (plus your synopsis or chapter summaries), a coaching session, and a customized work plan for your retreat.
On location, you'll have daily guidance, craft seminars and a one-on-one session.
A post-retreat work plan, feedback on an additional 25 pages and follow-up coaching session help you sustain momentum at home.
To give the personal coaching and specific editorial feedback your manuscript needs before, during and after the retreat, participation is limited to four writers.
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." Allison provides individual guidance as needed. It's like writing at your favorite cafe—with your personal editor on-call.
The rest of the day is for solo writing time, one-on-one meetings, and relaxation or an excursion.
Focused time away from home helps you plow through pages.
Direct, specific feedback helps you write better.
Rebirth Your Book combines a retreat environment with personal editorial assistance. You'll have a work plan to start writing on day one. Need feedback on today's pages? Lost your plot thread? Ask Allison right now—she's across the table.
Rebirth Your Book happens 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.
Your Itinerary
This Week You'll Finish A Draft August 13-17, 2023 TBC—We follow Hippocamp
It can be a novel in any genre, a memoir or an essay collection. It can be an outline or proposal and some material, a partial manuscript, or a draft that isn't singing yet.
You're ready for direct and specific feedback about your work.
You're writing in English, because Allison isn't fluent enough to edit in any other language. (English need not be your mother tongue.)
You DON'T need a degree in writing (or anything else!).
You DON'T need previous publication credits.
You're not reading others' work in advance, so the experience level of your fellow writers isn't a big factor in your work.
No problem! 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 life, we'll use your pre-arrival coaching to set goals for your time. In that case, you can choose to submit your entire 75 pages after the retreat and we'll guide you forward.
Transfer from the conference hotel in Lancaster, group excursions to area sights, travel to our farewell dinner, and transfer to Lancaster airport or train station for departure.
Most of Lancaster is wheelable and the pavement is relatively—but not consistently—smooth. Many businesses have steps at their entrances. Our retreat is in a restored farmhouse surrounded by mostly level grassy lawn.
The house has three flights of stairs; all bedrooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors. If you have mobility concerns, let us know.
Allison has worked with writers who are d/Deaf, hearing-impaired, blind, visually-impaired, neuro-atypical and with physical disabilities. She wants to work with you—let's discuss how to make it an excellent experience.
Everyone works on their own manuscript with the energy of a shared writing space. 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!"
At the beginning of each session, we have a short craft lesson with a writing prompt. Writers can then work further on the prompt; take the writing prompt into their manuscript; or work on whatever they are excited to work on that day.
We take a short stretch break at the halfway point. Afterwards, each person shares how their work went and may—but doesn't have to—read a short passage for brief feedback.
Throughout Writing in Company time, Allison will be available to talk through problems, suggest new ways to tackle a tough section, or give you a quick exercise to shake your writing loose.
Nope. 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 book.
During Live-Editing, you'll be able to glean lessons for your own work from watching others, as well as having your turn in the (optional) spotlight.
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. If you're at an early stage and don't have a lot of pages, we'll focus on your idea, purpose and process
During the retreat, you'll have a scheduled one-on-one meeting to discuss how the work is going, your writing in general and your writing career. This time can also be used for query feedback or discussing your publication goals.
Throughout the retreat we'll have plenty of casual chatting time, and you're welcome to start/participate in writing-related discussions with Allison and/or your fellow writers just about anywhere.
After returning home, you'll have another 30-minute editorial call to check in and address questions or new challenges as you finish your draft.
Rebirth Your Book accepts Venmo, Zelle, Canadian e-transfers, US checks, PayPal and credit cards via PayPal. A $500 deposit on acceptance reserves your place.
Balance can be paid as follows:
Balance due July 1st
OR 4 monthly payments of $500 and a 4th payment of $495
Or talk to us about a plan that works for you.
We offer a $100 discount for payment via check, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit or e-transfer (when we don't pay credit card fees, we pass the savings to you!)
Rebirth Your Book/Rebirth Your Writing 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.
We strongly recommend travel & trip-cancellation insurance.
We will update this cancellation policy in April 2023, based on travel safety and pandemic situation. Below is our general policy:
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 manuscript:
you may apply your $500 deposit to another Rebirth Your Book retreat, and you will be refunded any additional payments.
If your initial manuscript 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.
Refunds will be sent within 30 days of receipt of notice of cancellation.
THE FINE PRINT 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.
Have another question? Want to talk payment plan or health & safety? contact us
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Cancellation Policy
We strongly recommend travel & trip-cancellation insurance. Please see FAQ: What's the Cancellation Policy for details specific to your chosen retreat. Below is our general policy:
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 manuscript:
you may apply your $500 deposit to another Rebirth Your Book retreat, and you will be refunded any additional payments.
If your initial manuscript read has taken place and you have paid at least $1480:
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.
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.
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. 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. 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.
