Dear Murphy Writing Community, If you, like us, have a big ol’ hole in your heart where last year’s Getaway should have been, you’ll be thrilled to know that it will return this year better than ever. The 26th Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway will be held at the Seaview Hotel from January 17-20, 2020. Despite pining for the Getaway last year, we kept busy planning our other retreats and getaways, including our upcoming trips to Scotland and New Hampshire. We particularly loved seeing so many of you last winter at our New Year’s Writing ... Read More...
Big News about the 2019 Winter Getaway
Big News about the 2019 Winter Getaway Dear Murphy Writing Community, We have been thinking of you as we plan our upcoming retreats and getaways and want to share our big news with you. Stockton University sold the Seaview Hotel at the end of July, and the new owners will be closing it for renovations this winter. We spent weeks looking at venues all over the state trying to find another hotel that’s large enough, reasonably-priced and available over MLK weekend, all to no avail. As a result, we are sad to say the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway ... Read More...
Special Announcement: Murphy Writing is becoming part of Stockton College
We have exciting news to share: Murphy Writing is becoming part of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. While our name is changing to Murphy Writing of Stockton College, our commitment to you isn’t changing. All of the good stuff you’ve come to love about our writing getaways will continue: The challenging and supportive atmosphere which fosters your best writing Insightful instruction and feedback A fantastic community of writers My bad puns As many people will remember, Rob Gregg, Stockton College’s Dean of General ... Read More...
A vacation-inspired writing prompt
Here's a vacation-inspired writing prompt for you to try from one of the Atlantic City Shore Thing Writing Getaways. Consider it an Autumn gift! It includes options for writing fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and of course one of my "Challenges for the Delusional." Have fun and be daring. You won't break anything, except, perhaps a mild case of writer's block. "For a while we pondered whether to take a vacation or get a divorce. We decided that a trip to Bermuda is over in two weeks, but a divorce is something you always have." ~ Woody Allen "No man needs ... Read More...
A hurricane-inspired writing prompt
"...Love, if you love me, lie next to me. Be for me, like rain..." From “The Rain” by Robert Creeley Writing Prompt Drive a storm into a poem that explores a devastating romantic relationship, current or past. Requirements Begin with a line or two of pure description of Hurricane Sandy or its aftermath. Argue for or against one of Dr. Phil’s "Ten Relationship Myths." Tell a secret, tell a lie and never tell anyone which is which. Surprise yourself! Fiction Alternative Write a dialogue-driven story about a chance encounter between two ... Read More...
How “true” is your fiction?
I have a journalist friend who does not read novels. "Why should I waste my time," he told me, "reading about something that never happened. "I've heard this before. Over my 30 years teaching literature to high school students, I always had a few who mistakenly believed that fiction is "fake." Having them read works like Of Mice and Men, The Sun Also Rises and Romeo and Juliet helped convert them, but there were those students that would not succumb to my charms. No matter what they read, they would not allow what Coleridge described as the "willing ... Read More...
Big Getaway News
Dear Getaway Participant, All good things must end. The Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway has never been a money maker, but this past year left me with a considerable personal loss. Although I haven’t raised the tuition in three years, I realized I could not hold another Getaway without raising the tuition a lot. So after 18 years, I decided to call it quits. I started to draft a letter telling you the bad news, and Amanda started to send out her resume to look for a new job. We were both brokenhearted. Despite making this decision, we kept looking for ... Read More...
Fun Facts About Seaview Resort
Fun Facts About Seaview: Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones stayed at Seaview in 1989. We’re still trying to find out if they trashed their rooms. Princess Grace Kelly had her Sweet 16 Party at Seaview in 1946 in the room where we will hold the Getaway Disco. Presidents Harding & Eisenhower were both regulars. Seaview has hosted PGA & LPGA Championships on their award-winning Bay Course. Seaview is located on the edge of the Pine Barrens with hundreds of wooded acres waiting to be explore. Seaview overlooks Reed’s Bay and offers ... Read More...