The 32nd annual Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway—a supportive, participant-focused writers’ conference—will take place January 16-19, 2026. There is plenty to be excited about this year:
Discounts and Deposit Feature
Try something new this year: Bring a friend who has never attended the Winter Getaway, and you’ll both receive $30 off the lowest sliding scale tuition rate for a three-day workshop. Email murphywriting@stockton.edu to receive your bring-a-friend coupon code.
Take advantage of a $30 “Early Bard” Discount for your room package if you register by Nov. 20.
Our online 50% deposit feature is back to provide you with payment flexibility. If you wish, as you complete the registration process, you’ll be able to choose to pay a 50% deposit for both your sliding scale tuition and room package if applicable. The remaining balance won’t be charged until Nov. 20.
Faculty
In addition to reuniting with some of our long-standing Getaway faculty, we have new faculty to welcome who have never taught at the Winter Getaway before:
- Jason Mitchell
- Nathaniel Popkin
- Jane Wong
Returning faculty favorites include Peter E. Murphy, Jan Beatty, Marina Budhos, Jiordan Castle, Roberta Clipper, Tyrese L. Coleman, Hugo dos Santos, R.G. Evans, Roberto Carlos Garcia, Luray Gross, Darla Himeles, Le Hinton, Anndee Hochman, Mike Ingram, Christine E. Salvatore, J. C. Todd and Gretna Wilkinson.
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Poetry Incubator Preferences
In case you missed it: Peter E. Murphy will be available to select as a faculty preference for his classic Poetry Incubator workshop. Spots with Peter are very limited and faculty preferences for the Poetry Incubator’s feedback sessions are assigned first-come, first-served, so be sure to register early.
We’ve also kept the option to share a 4th faculty preference from our stellar lineup, in the event that you register later in the season and one of your top preferences is unavailable.
Workshops
We’re offering a few brand new writing workshops:
Bridges Between: A Poetry Workshop – led by Jan Beatty
How do we avoid distant, vague language and find pathways to the fire beneath our lines?… Read more.
The Craft of Flash Fiction – led by Tyrese L. Coleman
Stories under a thousand words are wildly popular, yet many writers misunderstand their most basic elements… Read more.
Outward Gaze: A Creative Nonfiction Workshop – led by Mike Ingram
In this supportive workshop, we’ll focus on creative nonfiction essays that turn their gaze outward while remaining deeply and idiosyncratically personal… Read more.
The Poetry of Memoir – led by Jane Wong
This workshop explores how poetic techniques can deepen nonfiction by bringing emotional resonance, sensory tenderness and imaginative leaps to our narratives… Read more.
The Poet’s Myth: A Workshop – led by Jason Mitchell
In this generative poetry workshop, we’ll take a closer look at the origin of classical Western European poetry: the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Learn more.
Staying in the Now: A Novel Writing Workshop – led by Nathaniel Popkin
How do we activate the imagination of a reader to draw them into a story about characters they hardly know?… Read more.
Tethering Theme: Crafting Micro Essays – led by Darla Himeles
In this supportive, generative workshop, we’ll read and discuss micro essays—“essayettes”—to explore how writing a series of thematically linked flash creative nonfiction pieces will yield surprising layers of connection… Read more.
Peter’s beloved “Poetry Incubator” is back, as well as more favorites:
Hitting the Right Note: A Songwriting Workshop – led by R.G. Evans
Out Loud: Storytelling for the Page and Stage – led by Anndee Hochman
Stay the Course: A Novel Writing Workshop – led by Marina Budhos
Add-ons: Since the Poetry Round Table Workshop is a hot commodity, we added a second section. Our 101-style workshops will return, as well as New Year, New You: A Pre-Getaway Writing Workshop with Peter. Learn more.
Story Slam Returns
Our roster is exceptionally full this year, but we wanted to bring back Story Slam! The Story Slam crew will return this year for more stories, compassion and resilience right before we shake it out at the Getaway Disco. Stay tuned for this year’s Story Slam theme.
Sign and Unwind is Back
Sell and purchase books and crafts at the Getaway Bookstore, plus “Sign and Unwind” will return! Get your Getaway Bookstore purchases signed and sign your own books you’ve brought to sell, then grab a glass of wine or a ginger ale at the Lobby Bar.
The support you showed each other last year at this popular event was incredible. Let’s keep it going.
Scholarships
Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded last year’s goal of offering at least 10 scholarship seats. Our goal is to offer at least 10 scholarships again this year. Read about how Peter will match up to $5,000 in donations toward this effort.
The scholarship application system will be accessible just after registration opens, and the deadline to apply for a scholarship will be October 1. Learn more.
We look forward to writing with you in January.
View your workshop options.