Third Coast Literary Press announces ‘Skeleton Series’ Spring Lake storytelling retreat
Local writers looking to nail down their narrative frame will soon have dedicated space, expert guidance, and a community to lean on right along the water.
SPRING LAKE — Local writers looking to nail down their narrative frame will soon have dedicated space, expert guidance, and a community to lean on right along the water.
Third Coast Literary Press has announced the "Skeleton Series," a multi-day creative retreat running Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the Holiday Inn Grand Haven-Muskegon. Designed to help authors break through daily distractions, the intensive program zeroes in on mastering the traditional three-act story structure: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution.
Local bestselling author Melanie Hooyenga will lead the sessions covering Act 1 and Act 2, while author Angela K. Berent will guide writers through Act 3. Lessons kick off at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with each instructional workshop followed by 90-minute blocks of dedicated time reserved for guided or independent writing.
Beyond technical instruction, organizers emphasize that the retreat's primary goal is fostering long-term peer support.
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“Having a writing community to lean on is incredibly important,” said Jordan Kippe, founder of Third Coast Literary Press. “When you find your people, they encourage each other to write, rewrite, keep writing, and keep going. That's ultimately what we want to build here.”
The baseline price for the series is $395 for commuters and $795 for the series in addition to a standard room at the hotel. Additional items include a welcome dinner for $125 and an additional night's stay for $215.
The retreat is designed with the idea of building community and giving dedicated time and guidance that most writers do not get in everyday life.
For more information, visit retreat.guru/events/11879-73/skeleton-series-i-the-first-draft.
— Mallory Burt is a reporter for Ottawa News Network. Contact her at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
