Begins Saturday, December 12, 2026

Class will meet for two consecutive days via Zoom on Saturday and Sunday, December 12–13, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET each day

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PST): 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Chicago (CST): 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM / New York (EST): 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM / London (GMT): 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM / Berlin (CET): 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Now Enrolling! Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

Instructor Bio

Instructor Rosalie Morales Kearns is a writer of Puerto Rican and Pennsylvania Dutch descent, and the author of the novel Kingdom of Women (Jaded Ibis, 2017) and the story collection Virgins and Tricksters (Aqueous, 2012). Her short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poems have appeared in various journals. Her scholarly article "Voice of Authority," on power dynamics and white privilege in creative writing pedagogy, has been widely cited and is included in the Antiracist Praxis Guide at the American University Library.

Kearns has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Illinois and has taught creative writing at the University of Illinois, the University at Albany, and other adult education venues. In 2014, she founded Shade Mountain Press (now on hiatus), whose titles were named to NPR's Best Books of the Year and selected as winners and finalists for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the CLMP Firecracker Award, the Thurber Prize, the International Latino Book Award, and Foreword INDIES awards.

Who is this class for?

Limited to 12 writers, this online writing workshop is for creative writers of all levels—fiction writers, poets, and memoirists alike—who are eager to take a deep dive into their own work while enjoying the companionship of other writers. Whether you're starting something new or breathing life back into a work in progress, you're welcome here.

What to expect:

Winter is a time to pause and reflect—and a time to enjoy the company of others. Over two days, this multigenre creative writing workshop invites you to do both: take deep dives into your own writing, share what you've written (if you're so moved), and enjoy good writerly camaraderie. Many of the writing prompts are designed specifically for writing in a group, and you may find that this is where the magic happens—new images and scenes appear out of nowhere, along with ideas for whole new stories or a fresh direction for a work in progress. Hearing what others have just written can be just as inspiring. There is no critique on this writing—only praise and applause.

Expect wide-ranging conversation about craft, process, goals, and works in progress. What writers do you love? What do you do when you're stuck? How do you handle backstory? What is the meaning of life? Each day begins with shorter warm-up exercises and builds toward longer writing sessions, with the prompts alternating with ample time for conversation, deep listening, and heartfelt encouragement. Take each prompt wherever you like—or write something else entirely. The point is simply to write.

To protect the privacy and comfort of everyone in the room, participants keep their video cameras on during discussions—no invisible observers or lurkers. For that same reason, these sessions will not be recorded or available afterward, so plan to join live to take full advantage of the retreat. We writers mostly work in isolation; this is your chance for genuine writerly companionship. Grab a mug of hot cider, a ginger cookie, or your preferred holiday treat, and let's write together.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will generate fresh material that could become early drafts of new work, deepen their engagement with a work in progress and gain insight on how to take it further, and leave with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and lightness about the writing year ahead. Just as importantly, you'll experience a real sense of connection with other writers—an environment in which we truly listen to one another and are truly heard. Please note that this retreat is generative and community-focused: it does not include formal instructor feedback or critique, but warm encouragement is woven throughout.

Readings

There is no required reading for this writing retreat.

COURSE OUTLINE

Both days follow the same welcoming rhythm: we begin with writing warm-ups and check-ins, then move into longer writing sessions interspersed with discussion.

Day 1 (Saturday, December 12): Warm-up exercises and introductions, followed by longer generative writing sessions and open discussion.

Day 2 (Sunday, December 13): Warm-up exercises and check-in, followed by longer generative writing sessions and open discussion.

Discussion topics may include:

• Reflecting on our own stories—our works in progress, but also the story of ourselves as writers
• Writers we love and why
• The best and worst writing advice we've heard
• Finding inspiration
• Intuition and the creative process

Writing prompt goals may include:

• Embracing randomness; writing with spontaneity and joy
• Taking a deep dive into a character
• Approaching a work in progress from a different angle (tell it backwards; tell it from a different POV; tell it in kaleidoscopic fragments)

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Generate material that could become early drafts of new work
• Deepen your engagement with your work in progress, with fresh insight on how to take it further
• Enjoy a genuine sense of connection with other writers, in an environment where everyone truly listens and is truly heard
• Leave with renewed enthusiasm and lightness about your writing in the year ahead

PAYMENT OPTIONS: Tuition is $180 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

• Instructor: Rosalie Morales Kearns
• Begins Saturday, December 12, 2026
• Class will meet for two consecutive days via Zoom on Saturday and Sunday, December 12–13, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET each day
• Tuition is $180 USD.
• Limited to 12 writers.