FAQ

1. WORKSHOP QUESTIONS

Who is this for?

If you’re serious about the craft of writing, you’ll belong. It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re published, or confident, or accomplished. Fiction and nonfiction are welcome. We’ll be treating your sentences and ideas as explorations into the mysteries of intimacy and truth. Isn’t that why you write?

Is there any prework?

Please read and bring your copy of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. We’ll talk about it from time to time as a shared example. The value of everyone having read it beforehand is that we’ll all understand the references. Also, it’s a reminder that writing well requires reading well.

What’s the point of this workshop?

I can spill out grammatical sentences all day long. In that way, writing is seldom a problem. Where I get hung up, and maybe you do too, is in improvement and completion. Yikes! Now I’m not writing, I’m judging — my talent, my knowledge, my worth, and my maintenance of a shiny exterior that everyone can applaud. Self-worth and better sentences have a way of getting tangled. That’s great when it works, and when it doesn’t, crushing.

What is this workshop not about?

It’s not about publishing, or getting an agent, or selling your screenplay.

How do you teach?

I facilitate conversation. My exercises provide frameworks for exploration, either as a group in a circle, or breaking out into pairs or trios. We dive into your writing passages, and into your unhelpful beliefs, and return to the surface with a shared interest in basic truth and love.

Will there be public critiques of my work?

No one is allowed to criticize anyone else’s work, and that includes me. Anyone can find fault in anything. We live in a swamp of trolls. Finding what works, and why it works, is both harder and more productive in the long run. When we share work, it will always be to point out what sings in the passage and how you did that remarkable thing. This is not whitewashing. There is a time and place for copyediting and protecting me from my blind spots. That is not our time together, though.

Will I get one-on-one time with you?

I’ll be around all the time. I’ll schedule a private session with each attendee. And it would be great if you sent me a sample of your work, and we can have a Zoom session this summer to discuss the sample, or the workshop, or both.

What follow-up will there be?

I’ll schedule a free regular Zoom meeting at the frequency that the collective picks — weekly, monthly, every other month, up to you together. If it turns into a regular writing group, that’s great. If it’s for catchup and staying in touch, that’s great too.

Will there be time for fun?

We’ll be in session about five hours a day — most of the morning and half of the afternoon. A schedule will be made available beforehand, so you can schedule spa visits or horseback riding in free time. We’ll have all our meals together, some of them offsite for variety. The hot-spring-fed pools are open day and night, the bar and grille are always lively, and you’ll have time to hike in the hills and meadows surrounding the lodge. Plus we’ll spend a day in Yellowstone National Park. For a pretty reasonable fee, you can extend your stay before or after the retreat; just let me know.

2. LOGISTICS

What’s the weather?

Think classic Autumn. In Pray, Montana, September brings crisp, pleasant days and cold nights, making it a spectacular time for hiking and fall foliage. Average daytime highs typically range from the mid-60s to low 70s°F, while overnight temperatures drop sharply into the upper 30s°F. It is also one of the driest months of the year. The mountains in the distance may receive their first dusting of snow.

How do I get there?

Bozeman airport (which somewhat confusingly is in Belgrade, MT; your reservation may look like you’re going to Serbia) is about an hour north of Chico Hot Springs. Because it is the chief entry port for Yellowstone, Bozeman hosts an unusual number of nonstops from around the country. One free transfer will be available Sunday for arrivals, and Friday for departures. The pickup Sunday will be at 2:30, and Friday at 11. I’ll send a signup. Otherwise, an Uber or Lyft costs $150-200, a cab $250. Rental cars are also available.

How would you describe the accommodations?

Rustic and comfortable. The Main Lodge rooms are quaint and feel like time travel back to an old frontier inn. The Lower Lodge and Fishermans Lodge rooms are modern with Western touches. None of the rooms has a TV, but all have wifi. Chico is an extremely well-run resort with a well-trained service staff who mostly grew up in the Paradise Valley.

What will I need to pay for onsite?

Alcoholic beverages will not be included. (Likewise, due to logistics, soft drinks ordered from the bar may not be covered.) You’re on your own for spa services, too.

What is Chico like for people with mobility issues?

It’s a 125-year-old resort that retains its frontier character. My experience is that there are a fair number of stairs, a lot of uneven ground, and the hot springs pools are not designed with lifts. If this is a concern, I would recommend you contact Chico and discuss your mobility needs with them.

Why is it so expensive?

My retreats help subsidize my private practice, for which I do not demand payment. I work with about 25 inner critic clients a week, about half of whom pay very little or nothing.

Where can I read more about Chico Hot Springs?

https://www.chicohotsprings.com/

What if I have other questions about the workshop?

Contact me at neal@shapesoftruth.com.