Writing and Teaching Writing – Both Matter!

A few years ago, I was interviewing to find a new writing teacher for our arts camp. One applicant told me in the interview: It’s good that teaching positions exist because when you can’t make enough money in the arts, teaching is the next best thing. Wrong. If an artist views teaching as financial fallback, then I would question how they define what it means to be an artist. As A.L.Kennedy puts it in her […]

2019-05-04T17:23:14-04:00November 23, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Uncategorized, Writing Retreats|

Spooky Prompts for Writers

If you enjoy writing, and you also love Halloween, here are THIRTEEN writing prompts to get you in the mood for trick or treating! ONE: You take an elevator at the mall. The elevator goes down… and keeps on going. Where are you when the doors open? TWO: It’s a dark and rainy night. Someone hears a knock on their door. They open it – and find themself standing on the other side. THREE: Your […]

2019-05-04T17:24:44-04:00October 23, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Young Writers!|

Beat the Blank Page: Inspiration for Writers!

This post is most definitely for the writers among you! Have you ever sat down at your desk and tried to write – only to find you have no ideas at all? Here are 6 ways to get you started on a new piece of fiction: Choose a novel off your shelf – preferably one you haven’t read. Open randomly and let your eyes land on a portion of a sentence that sounds vague. Write […]

Writing Matters – a Newsletter for Writers

Several weeks ago, I started a newsletter for writers. The newsletter is a free service. It goes out every Friday by email and is packed full of prompts and writing tips. This blog is an excerpt from the very first newsletter. If you like what you see here, and you want to receive the newsletter every week in your mailbox, simply drop me a note: julieAT SIGNcentauriartscamp.com Today, I’d like to introduce you to the […]

2019-05-04T17:26:48-04:00March 24, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Writing Retreats, Young Writers!|

Costa Rica Retreat – Days 6-8

Day 6… After breakfast by the pool to a cacophony of screeching parrots, we set ourselves a bizarre challenge this morning: use what we have learned this week to collaborate, in just an hour, on the plot outline for a novel! We explored different ways to generate ideas, warmed up with a 15 minute free write, then in less than an hour, we outlined a complete novel. Our inspiration was a simple question: what is […]

2017-02-13T15:35:15-04:00February 13, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Writing Retreats|

Costa Rica Retreat – Days 4-5

Our lives have fallen into a wonderful pattern, here. We wake to a cacophony of rainforest noises in the morning, drink coffee and eat a breakfast that consists of produce either grown or made right here at Fina Luna Nueva: delicious breads, jams, kafir, kombucha, farm fresh eggs, chaya and yucca pancakes and platters of fresh fruits. We eat overlooking the forest on one side and the lovely pool on the other. We take our […]

2019-05-04T17:27:46-04:00February 9, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Writing Retreats|

Costa Rica Writing Retreat – Days 2/3

The retreat is now in full swing! We began yesterday with a tour of the spectacular bio dynamic farm at Finca Luna Nueva, seeing toucans, flocks of parrots and much more. Then we dove into the first writing workshop – a 2-hour session about inspiration: where to find it as a writer, and how to stay inspired. We have a fabulous group of talented writers here this year, and it’s a joy to see them […]

2019-05-04T17:28:36-04:00February 7, 2017|On Writing, Writing Retreats|

Costa Rica Writing Retreat – Day 1

One of my favourite activities each year is taking a group of writers from all over North America to an incredible eco lodge in the Costa Rica rain forest, where I lead writing workshops and discussions for seven magical days. There are few things more inspiring than the opportunity to help others find their voice as writers. I landed in San Jose yesterday, took a few hours to read the short stories and novel excerpts […]

2019-05-04T17:30:33-04:00February 5, 2017|Home Page, On Writing, Writing Retreats, Young Writers!|

A Typical Day on our Writing Retreat

Early Morning… We wake to the smell of tropical vegetation and the screech of parrots. The world is glistening as we make our way through the trees and down to the poolside restaurant to greet the group. There are fresh fruit smoothies, slices of papaya, ice cream fruit, tortillas, rice, beans, pancakes, eggs and toast. The eggs are brought in by a local family and the crusty bread is made on site. The ‘ice cream […]

2016-11-25T21:20:20-04:00November 25, 2016|Home Page, Life at Centauri, On Writing, The Finding Place|

Join us on Retreat in Costa Rica

In February 2017 we will be holding our second annual writing trip to Costa Rica! As with last year, we welcome solo writers as well as writers with accompanying family members. We’re staying in a spectacular lodge in the rainforest, 10 minutes from La Fortuna. Mornings will consist of workshops for participants whose focus is on writing, while other group members relax around the pool, climb the viewing tower, or enjoy nature from one of […]

2016-10-17T18:44:44-04:00October 17, 2016|Home Page, On Writing, The Finding Place|
Go to Top