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.
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.
Los Aires
Uvita
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Villa Los Aires gives sweeping vistas, breathtaking sunsets and gentle breezes on 60 acres of private reserve. View rainforest wildlife, birds, monkeys and butterflies; splash in private waterfalls. A media room with cinema seating, a pool, and plenty of terraces for eating, lounging and writing give your creativity room to breathe.
Bedrooms include A/C and WiFi; daily maid service and complimentary water bottles. Evenings feature dinners from our private chef, or excursions to charming local restaurants.
Rebirth Your Book is also a travel experience.Start your morning creative flow with writing craft talks. Relax by the pool or hike the trails. Enjoy fresh, organic meals. Make spontaneous connections and renew your creative spirit.
Costa Rica is open for travelers, and vaccinating briskly. Masks are generally worn inside businesses and in public, populated areas; you’ll fit right in if you prefer to mask fulltime. Meals, writing time and talks are on a covered outdoor patio.
Allison and Dinty are fully vaccinated. All participants must provide proof of COVID vaccination. Please also note the payment and refund policy below.
THE PLAN
- Commit with a $500 deposit to hold your place
- We recommend you buy a changeable plane ticket by January 20th
- We'll confirm the retreat is a go February 1st, at which point balance is due or your payment plan begins.
- We’ll start pre-retreat reading and coaching sessions March 1st
IF COSTA RICA CLOSES TO TRAVELERS
Writers still get their pre-retreat editorial feedback and coaching session. They can then:
- Switch to the virtual retreat.
OR
- Choose not to attend. Your deposit pays for the pre-retreat editorial feedback and coaching session.
If a writer decides they don’t want to travel BEFORE January 1st
- We’ll refund their deposit minus a $150 administrative fee.
If a writer decides not to travel AFTER January 1st
- After a $150 administrative fee, they can apply their balance to future retreats/intensives.
THE BACKUP PLAN: Virtual Retreat
- Same basic hours and itinerary for the writing and teaching.
- Additional workshop and live-editing time.
- Same amount of reading and coaching time.
- Costs $2195 instead of $3385.
THE FINE PRINT
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 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.
Understand The Experience
Editorial support | Creative excursions Dedicated writing time
Your pre-arrival manuscript evaluation includes supportive, specific, written critique of up to 50 double-spaced 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.
Live-editing sessions led by Allison & Dinty illuminate writing craft but this is not a "workshop." Scheduled and informal Publishing Talks address your writing-career questions.
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 eight writers.
Spacious rooms have private baths. 2 doubles and 4 singles are available; see registration for pricing. Share with a writing friend or travel partner, or make a lasting connection with a new literary friend.
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.Allison and Dinty provide individual guidance as needed.
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. Questioning an editorial note? Lost your plot thread? Ask Allison or Dinty right now—we're 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. Give your writing brain a rest and enjoy waterfalls, the beach, and a visit to the animal sanctuary.
You should be working on a book, in any stage of development.
It can be a novel in any genre, a memoir or an essay collection. It can be an idea, 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 & Dinty aren'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 for critique, so the experience level of your fellow writers isn't a big factor in your retreat.
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.
A friend or family member age 16+ sharing your room pays a companion fee of $1800. Their trip will include lodging, group meals and activities, local tours and airport transfers. It doesn't include Writing in Company, one-on-one time or editorial feedback.
Pairs of writing friends often enjoy Rebirth Your Book together; solo writers make lasting connections.
Single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge of $495-650.
Costa Rica is open for travelers, and vaccinating briskly. Masks are generally worn inside businesses and in public, populated areas; you'll fit right in if you prefer to mask fulltime. Costa Rican health care is of a high standard and readily available. Meals, writing time and talks are on a covered outdoor patio.
Allison will personally visit Costa Rica in late 2022 to check safety protocols and the local "feel." The travel industry is eager for our return, and this is a rare chance to visit Costa Rica without hordes of tourists.
Allison and Dinty are fully vaccinated. All participants must provide proof of COVID vaccination. Please also note the payment and refund policy below.
As we'd normally say: travelers to any destination should update routine vaccinations and bring a small supply of stomach remedies and sufficient prescription medications. Well-stocked pharmacies are within 20 minutes' drive.
Airport transfers are provided in and out of San Jose airport (SJO).
For group sightseeing, transportation will be provided. For personal exploration, jungle trails are on the property; you're also welcome to bring your own 4x4 rental car. Costa Rican car rental insurance is mandatory and expensive; ask Allison about reputable companies with firm advance quotes and how to use your credit card insurance.
Los Aires is in hilly terrain with paved and dirt paths including ramps and small steps. The driveway is gravel. An all-terrain wheelchair would be able to traverse the grounds and some hiking trails.
The main terrace, where we have writing time and meals, hassmooth, finished floors with small steps down to the pool.
Rooms in the main house are up a flight of wide stairs. Room interiors are one level, with step-free access to bathrooms. Showers are wide enough to accomodate a wheelchair. This retreat has plenty of space & additional beds for a caregiver or companion to share your room.
Allison and Dinty have 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.
Our writing time and excursions are in English; the house manager speaks English; house staff speak primarily Spanish. We recommend keeping Google Translate on your phone with the Spanish dictionary downloaded, or carrying a phrasebook.
Our private chef Yennere cooks fresh Costa Rican cuisine.
Breakfast buffet includes your choice of traditional Costa Rican fare with plantains and eggs; empanadas; or American eggs and bacon; All breakfasts include fruit, fresh juice, coffee & tea.
Lunches are a mix of served plates with salad, protein and rice or potatoes; some days are a light buffet.
Family-style dinners will include salad, main dish and dessert. Fresh juice, wine and mojitos are available.
Some included meals are in local restaurants, where you may order off the menu.
Snacks, fruit, juice, coffee and water are always available.
Please advise us of any dietary restrictions and we will work to accommodate your needs as much as possible.
You're welcome to add hotel nights, tours, or exploration time before or after the retreat. We’re happy to provide personal recommendations or connect you with a local travel agency to extend your trip. You can pick up a personal rental car in the nearest town, or at the airport to keep one throughout your stay.
Everyone works on their own, with the energy of a shared 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.
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!"
Afterwards, each person shares how their work went and may—but doesn't have to—read a short passage.
Throughout Writing in Company time, retreat leaders 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, your focus is on your book.
During Live-Editing, you'll glean insights for your own work from watching others, as well as having your turn in the (optional) spotlight.
At the end of the week, we'll have a casual evening reading. This is an opportunity to share aloud pages you've been working on with a small, supportive audience. Travel partners are welcome.
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 your work-in-progress, your writing and your publication goals.
Throughout the week we'll have plenty of casual writing-related discussions with leaders and/or your fellow writers.
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.
To give each writer the individual and specific attention their manuscript needs, the retreat is limited to eight writers with Allison & Dinty co-leading. Non-writing travel partners may join us for meals, tours and activities.
Lodging in spacious rooms with private baths provide plenty of space to spread out. Additional writing areas are available throughout the property: find your secret spot!
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 February 1st
OR 5 monthly payments of $580
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.
WRITERS BOOKING AFTER Jan 1 2023
Commit with a $500 deposit to hold your place
We recommend you buy a changeable plane ticket as soon as possible
We’ll start pre-retreat reading and coaching sessions February 1st, and we'll get you into the rotation
Balance is due or your payment plan begins within 10 days.
If a writer is unable to travel after all, the deposit is nonrefundable. We may be able to refund additional payments if we can fill your place from the waitlist. If we can't fill your place from the waitlist, all payments are nonrefundable.
WRITERS BOOKING BEFORE Jan 1 2023
Commit with a $500 deposit to hold your place
We recommend you buy a changeable plane ticket by January 20th
We’ll start pre-retreat reading and coaching sessions February 1st
we will confirm the retreat is a go February 1st, at which point balance is due or your payment plan begins.
If a writer decides they don’t want to travel after all BEFORE January 1st, we’ll refund their deposit minus a $150 administrative fee.
If a writer decides not to travel AFTER January 1st, after a $150 administrative fee, they can apply their balance to future retreats/intensives.
IF COSTA RICA CLOSES TO TRAVELERS writers still get their pre-retreat editorial feedback and coaching session. They can then:
Switch to the virtual retreat
OR
Choose not to attend. Your deposit pays for the pre-retreat editorial feedback and coaching session.
THE BACKUP PLAN: Virtual Retreat
Same basic hours and itinerary for the writing and teaching.
Same amount of reading and coaching time.
Additional publishing seminars and live-editing time.
Costs $2195 instead of $3385.
THE FINE PRINT
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 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 about a payment plan or get more travel info? 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 and administrative fees 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 $1480. 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 $1480, 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.
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, pandemic 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/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.
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.
