Last year’s information below. Sign up for our email list to receive updates for the 2026 conference.
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Schedule
The Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway was founded on the belief that when writers leave behind the distractions of their busy lives to gather in an encouraging community, they are able to make important breakthroughs in their writing. By spending the entire weekend in one workshop, participants will venture deeper into their writing, making more progress than they thought possible.
The Getaway offers plenty to do after hours: choose from tutorials, walking on the wooded paths, relaxing by the pool, open mics, dancing, a bookstore and more. Of course, you can continue writing in the solitude of your comfortable room.
Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway Schedule
January 17-20, 2025 Agenda
Tentative. Updated 12/16/2024.
Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | “How You’ll Spend Your Time”
Friday
| 10:30 am- 1:30 pm |
New Year, New You: A Pre-Getaway Writing Workshop (optional add-on) |
| 1:30-3:30 pm | Fiction 101 Workshop & Nonfiction and Memoir 101 Workshop (optional add-ons) |
| 3:30-6:30 pm | Poetry 101 Workshop (ends 5:30) and Poetry Round Table Workshop (optional add-ons) |
| 4:00 pm | Hotel and Winter Getaway check-in begins |
| 6:00 pm | Optional activities:
|
| 7:15-9:15 pm | Opening Program: Reception, orientation, freewrite |
| 9:30-12:00 am | Optional activities:
|
Saturday
| 7:00 am | Sunrise yoga |
| 7:30-8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:45 am- 12:00 pm |
Workshops |
| 12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch and Bookstore consignment check-in |
| 1:15-4:15 pm | Workshops |
| 4:15 pm | Free time for writing and/or:
|
| 6:15 pm | Free time for writing and/or:
|
| 8:00-9:15 pm | Open mic |
| 9:00 pm- 12:00 am |
Dancing at the Getaway Disco |
Sunday
| 7:00 am | Sunrise yoga |
| 7:30-8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:45 am- 12:00 pm |
Workshops |
| 12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch; Bookstore preview |
| 1:15-4:15 pm | Workshops |
| 4:15 pm | Free time for writing and/or:
|
| 6:15-7:15 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30-8:30 pm | Special Art Event |
| 8:30- 9:15 pm |
Sign and Unwind: A Book Signing |
| 9:00-11:30 pm | Optional Activities:
|
Monday
| 7:00 am | Sunrise yoga |
| 7:30-8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:45-11:15 am | Workshops |
| 11:15 am | Check out of your room if you haven’t already |
| 11:30-12:15 pm | Closing Program; Tribute to Dr. King |
| 12:15-12:30 pm | Bookstore consignment returns and payment pick up |
*Head home inspired, exhausted and refreshed!*
How You’ll Spend Your Time at the Getaway
Workshop Time
Each workshop will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, feedback, motivation and inspiration.
The Poetry Incubator workshop will meet for an hour or so each morning before sending you off with an assignment that will encourage and inspire you to produce exciting new work. After lunch you will share your new piece in a feedback session where an experienced faculty will give your work positive attention to help you achieve your writing goals.
In the prose workshops and other poetry workshops, you will start something new using brief, structured assignments or bring along a work in progress to polish. Either way, your writing will receive personalized attention.
Late Afternoons
Late afternoons at the Winter Getaway offer time for tutorials and special programs. For example, a previous program featured a talk and book signing by Nelson Johnson, author of Boardwalk Empire.
Many participants find themselves energized by their workshops and choose to spend this time writing instead. And those ready for a real break can opt to visit the pool or take a walk on the property’s hundreds of wooded acres.
Evenings
The weekend officially begins on Friday at 7:15 pm with a reception and orientation. You will start to get to know other participants and faculty while enjoying light refreshments and Peter’s bad puns.
On Saturday night you can try one of the local restaurants, relax in the solitude of your room, play table tennis in the game room or lounge around the pool. If you are a risk-taker, you can drive 20 minutes into Atlantic City and try your luck at one of the casinos. If you like to dance, the Getaway Disco will be buzzing.
Sunday evening will feature a special art event, the Getaway Bookstore, a book signing and karaoke. For participants who like to share their work, there will be open mics on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Head Home Refreshed
The Getaway will conclude on Monday, after your morning workshop and a memorial tribute to Dr. King. Grab lunch offsite with some of your new writer friends on your way home. You will feel refreshed and excited, with new vision and new work to revise and keep you busy. Can you think of a better way to blast through the winter doldrums?