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The Sitka Writing Adventure is a week-long workshop with Pam Houston where writers will generate new work while hiking, kayaking and exploring the pristine beauty of Sitka, Alaska. The workshop is limited to 15 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and explore all the outdoor wonders Sitka has to offer.
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When: July 24 - 29, 2022 in Sitka, Alaska. The workshops will be held at Sitka Fine Arts Camp, 110 College Drive, Sitka, Alaska.
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Tuition: $2,000 includes four full days of workshop, all group excursions (hiking, kayaking, boat tour), airport transfer, lodging in a single room and meals.
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Airport Transfer: Complimentary transfer from the Sitka Airport to the Sitka Fine Arts Camp is included in tuition.
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Lodging & Meals: Lodging and meals are provided on-site at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Writers will be housed in Sweetland Hall in single occupancy dormitory style rooms with a shared bathroom on the hall. Double occupancy rooms are available for individuals wanting to share with a spouse, partner or friend. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meal options are available.
Format: The Sitka Writing Adventure is open to all levels of writer. Each day we will have time for outdoor activities, writing and craft talks. We won’t be reading and critiquing manuscripts, but rather generating new material and closely examining elements of craft with the intention of allowing participants to see their work with deeper insight.
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Faculty: Pam Houston
Faculty
Pam Houston
Pam Houston is the author of the memoir, Deep Creek: Finding Hope In The High Country, as well as two novels, Contents May Have Shifted and Sight Hound, two collections of short stories, Cowboys Are My Weakness and Waltzing the Cat, and a collection of essays, A Little More About Me, all published by W.W. Norton. Her stories have been selected for volumes of The O. Henry Awards, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Travel Writing, and Best American Short Stories of the Century among other anthologies. She is the winner of the Western States Book Award, the WILLA Award for contemporary fiction, the Evil Companions Literary Award and several teaching awards. She teaches in the Low Rez MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, is Professor of English at UC Davis, and co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers, which puts on between seven and ten writers gatherings per year in places as diverse as Boulder, Colorado, Tomales Bay, California and Chamonix, France. She lives at 9,000 feet above sea level on a 120-acre homestead near the headwaters of the Rio Grande. A book of letters between Pam and environmental activist Amy Irvine will be published by Torrey House Press in October of 2020.
Travel Information
Sitka, Alaska is a beautiful, coastal fishing community with a population of 9,000 people. With stunning mountains and ocean, Sitka sits at the edge of wilderness teeming with wildlife including brown bear, deer, eagles, sea otters, whales, and lots of salmon. The Sitka Fine Arts Camp is conveniently located 5 minutes by foot to downtown with access to the library, post office, grocery store, as well as several restaurants and bars. The Campus is also bordered by the Sitka National Historic Park which includes a beautiful trail with a phenomenal collection of Tlingit and Haida totem poles. Other walking trails are also nearby.
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Arrival & Departure: Dinner will be available on Sunday, July 24th from 5:30 to 6:30pm on campus at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Our welcome and orientation is at 7pm. The workshop will end on the morning of Friday July 29th.
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Weather: Summer weather in Sitka can be beautifully sunny with temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s or can be chilly and wet with temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s. We recommend dressing in layers and bringing warm clothes so you will be comfortable in any weather. The sun rises early around 4 am and sets around 11pm in the summertime.
Getting Around:
Sitka is a walkable community. If you do need transportation Sitka’s bus system is called Community Ride. For more information about the schedule and stops visit Ride Sitka. Sitka Fine Arts Camp recommends Hank’s Cab for a taxi service (907-747-8888).
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Coordinating Travel: If you wish to coordinate with other workshop participants please use the comments section below.
For additional information please contact us at info@writingxwriters.org. We look forward to seeing you in Alaska!
Workshop Schedule
SUNDAY, JULY 24
5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 – 7:30 pm Welcome & Orientation
MONDAY, JULY 25
7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 – 11:30 am Marine Wildlife Boat Tour
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm Workshop
5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner
TUESDAY, JULY 26
7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 – 11:30 am Visit Totem Park
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm Workshop
5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm Storytelling
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27
7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 – 11:00 am Workshop
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 pm Herring Cove Hike
5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner
THURSDAY, JULY 28
7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 – 11:30 am Kayak Tour
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm Workshop
5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm Wrap-up
FRIDAY, JULY 29
7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast & Check-out of Rooms
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Application Details
The Sitka Writing Adventure is open to all levels of writer. Participants should be comfortable and capable of outdoor activities including kayaking and hiking. The total cost of the Sitka Writing Adventure is $2000 which includes all lodging, meals, group excursions and workshop fees. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Sitka. The Sitka Writing Adventure is limited to 15 participants and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
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Cancellation Policy: If you cancel by April 1, 2022, your tuition will be refunded minus a $150 cancellation fee. Refunds for cancellations made after April 1 are contingent upon filling your place and will be made only if your place is filled. In the unlikely event that we must cancel a workshop and you do not wish to transfer to another workshop, you will receive a full refund.