Last month, forty writers from twelve countries gathered in the Hudson Valley for our annual spring retreat. For five days, they wrote, workshopped, read aloud, and built connections that will sustain their creative lives for years to come.

The retreat began with what we call the "First Fire" — an evening gathering where each participant reads a single piece of writing, no longer than one page. No feedback, no discussion. Just voices in a room, offering their words to one another.

"I was terrified," admitted Sara, a first-time attendee from Berlin. "But hearing everyone else's fear and bravery gave me permission to be both afraid and courageous at the same time."

Over the following days, participants chose from workshops on poetry, fiction, memoir, and cross-genre writing. Our faculty — including Theona Marlowe, Kate Ellington, and guest author Chen Wei — led sessions that pushed writers beyond their comfort zones while providing the safety net of supportive community.

One of the most powerful moments came during the mid-retreat open mic, where writers shared work they'd written during the retreat itself. Raw, unpolished, and deeply honest, these pieces captured something essential about the creative process.

"Writing in community is different from writing alone," reflected James, a novelist from Toronto. "There's an energy, an accountability, and a generosity that changes what you put on the page."

The retreat closed with the "Last Fire" — another reading circle, but this time featuring work written during the five days together. The contrast with the opening night was remarkable. Voices were stronger, more present, more willing to take risks.

Applications for our fall retreat open in June. We hope to see you there.