RETREATS
REGISTRATION OPEN
Caboose Farm Retreat
A week at Caboose Farm with Liz Bicknell, Kathy Erskine, and Gary Schmidt
Six days of workshops, one-on-one editing, and writing time at Caboose Farm in Sabillasville, Maryland.
DATES
(6 days TBD)
LOCATION
Caboose Farm, MD
LEVEL
Advanced
FROM
$xxx
*Limited to X participants.
A Week to go deep.
Join Liz, Kathy, and Gary for a week designed to help you dive deep into your craft and take your writing to the next level. With an editor, a novelist, and a Newbery Honor author teaching together, this retreat brings three working perspectives to the table.
Some of the most talented writers we know return year after year. Published books are coming out of this class.
The week is built around workshops, talks about the writer's craft, one-on-one editing and mentoring sessions, and readings — all at Caboose Farm in Sabillasville, MD.
RETREAT OVERVIEW
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Six nights at Caboose Farm
Lodging in [X] small houses on the property. Sunday arrival, Saturday departure.
All meals included
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. Dietary accommodations available with notice.
Daily workshops and craft talks
Sessions with Liz, Kathy, and Gary across the week. New material each year.
One-on-one sessions with each instructor
Individual editing and mentoring time scheduled across the week with all three teachers.
Protected Writing Time
Hours each afternoon to work on your own project, with quiet spaces around the property.
FOR YOU IF
You're an experienced writer ready to take your manuscript to the next level.
You want concentrated time away from daily life to focus on your work.
You value one-on-one time with both editors and authors.
YOU’LL LEAVE WITH
More words on the page and a clearer vision for your project.
Editorial and authorial perspectives on your manuscript.
A community of writers who'll be in your work for years to come.
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
LIZ BICKNELL
25+ years editing at Candlewick. National Book Award and Caldecott Medal-winning books.
KATHY ERSKINE
National Book Award winner for Mockingbird. Seven novels for young readers.
GARY D. SCHMIDT
Two-time Newbery Honor recipient. Author of The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, and many others. Former Hamline MFA faculty.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
What your days look like.
Morning
[Shari/faculty to confirm — e.g., breakfast at the farm, then morning workshop and craft talks with one of the teachers.]
Afternoon
[Shari to confirm — e.g., lunch, then writing time and scheduled one-on-ones with faculty.]
Evening
[Shari to confirm — e.g., dinner together, sometimes faculty readings or open mic.]
ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS
Lodging
[Accommodation details placeholder — Shari to provide. Likely: lodging in [X] small homes at Caboose Farm, [X] writers per house.]
Single Occupancy: [Available / Not available — Shari to confirm.]
Meals & Logistics
All meals are included. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served at the farm each day. [Shari to confirm dietary accommodation process.]
Getting there: Caboose Farm is in Sabillasville, MD. [Distance from airports — Shari to confirm.]
THE FARM
FROM A PAST PARTICIPANT
"[Real testimonial from a past Craft and Career participant — Shari to provide.]"
FIRST NAME, LAST INITAL - (YEAR)
FREQUENTLY ASKED
A few things to know.
-
[Shari to provide — airport distances, driving directions.]
-
[Shari to confirm — available or not, additional cost if so.]
-
The $500 deposit is non-refundable. The full balance is due before the retreat begins. If you withdraw before the retreat starts, $250 of your deposit may be applied toward another Whale Rock program. No refunds once the retreat is underway.
-
Yes. Many writers return year after year. Each year, the faculty bring new material, and writers come back with new projects or further revisions of ongoing ones.
COST & POLICIES
Tuition is [$PRICE] and covers all workshops, instruction, lodging, and meals at Caboose Farm for the full week. You can pay by credit card or use Klarna for payment plans.
Deposit & Balance:A $500 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot. The full balance is due [X days/weeks] before the retreat begins.
Scholarships available for writers with underrepresented stories and voices. Educators and librarians receive a 20% discount.