… where people pay good money for this sort of thing:

Writers at all levels of experience are invited to explore new creative territory at a retreat on June 20-22 offered by local writer/poet Lorraine Gane.

“This retreat will take participants to a deep creative space where they can open to the writing that speaks to them at this time,” said Gane, who has taught writing here and in Ontario for nearly 20 years.

“We’ll start with practices to relax the body and still the mind, then move into longer writing sessions in which participants can delve into memories, images and ideas that they’ve been wishing to get down on paper but for some reason have held back from this,” she says.

“By connecting to a deeper space, these inner walls will dissolve and participants can move beyond boundaries into writing that is often original and alive with their natural voice.”

As such, participants will be encouraged to let go of form during this initial stage of writing and concentrate on fully expressing themselves, said Gane.

Feedback on first drafts will help shape the writing into the most appropriate form, whether fiction, poetry or personal essays.

“The supportive environment will allow writers to take risks and venture into those areas they may have been avoiding,” she said.

“This can open up new energy for this writing and also add vigour to ongoing projects,” she says.

Gane’s other intention for the retreat is to incorporate some natural elements, such as gardens and forests, which abound at the Salt Spring Centre where the retreat will be held. [This is a Yoga center, though the article doesn’t mention it.]

Lunch and a consultation are included in the retreat, which can be attended for the full three days ($260), or Saturday/Sunday/Monday only ($88 per day).

Each day stands on its own, and the hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday; and 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday…

Let’s relax our bodies and still our minds and review.

You pay $88 for five hours during which you compete with a bunch of other people (none selected with any consideration of their writing skill) for the retreat leader’s personal consultation. In only five hours, the instructor promises to take you into a deep creative space and dissolve your inner walls and allow you to take risks — something you’ve been trying to do on your own for decades.

Sign me up!