Tuition for Santa Fe Life Letters Retreat, November 2023
Our Santa Fe Life Letters Retreat takes place in northern New Mexico, with a premier location in the heart of Santa Fe's historic Plaza, including an award-winning spa, Luminaria Restaurant and Patio, and a year-round heated garden pool, as well as many unique onsite galleries and boutiques. Santa Fe is one of America's most historic, artistic, and fascinating cities. Known as “The City Different,” the nation's oldest state capital city is a place unlike any other in the world. Santa Fe is 400+ years of cultural fusion with echoes of the past alive in the present.
The Life Letters Retreat is open to individuals as well as couples. You’ll map your life’s narrative to date and be expertly led to write a personalized document that you can be proud of. No matter your writing experience, you’ll walk away with craft techniques about storytelling that will strengthen your voice on the page. You might even forge a path to publication.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell the stories, history, and experiences that have shaped your life’s journey. It’s a gift to you, your loved ones, and your community.
Lodging at The Inn and Spa at Loretto
Our Santa Fe Life Letters Retreat takes place at The Inn and Spa at Loretto, a AAA Four Diamond resort that epitomizes the intrigue of northern New Mexico through artist design and world-class accommodations. The Inn and Spa at Loretto celebrates the authentic Southwestern style and culture of New Mexico. It is the most photographed building in the state, with a premier location in the heart of Santa Fe's historic Plaza, including an award-winning spa, Luminaria Restaurant and Patio, and a year-round heated garden pool and many unique onsite galleries and boutiques.
*Each participant will have their own room. If you would like to bring your spouse/partner please let us know. Tuition will be discounted for your spouse/partner less the cost of the hotel room.
Tuition
- Daily breakfast and four nights at The Inn and Spa at Loretto.
- Life Letters Retreat, led by Nancy Sharp.
- Personalized guidance and coaching by Nancy Sharp and Diane Goldstein.
- Afternoon group activities including a Historic Walking Tour of Sante Fe, a Private Food Tour of Santa Fe, and more.
- Opening night reception and dinner.
- Closing night happy hour reception and reading.
- A once in a lifetime experience.
- Life Letter Keepsake Folder & Box: an enduring gift for you, your loved ones, and community.
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Note: If you would like to bring your spouse/partner please let us know. Tuition will be discounted for your spouse/partner less the cost of the hotel room.
- Expanded FAQ at the bottom of this page.
Schedule
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
4:00 PM: Hotel check-in begins.
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Meet & greet happy hour in The Ballroom. Happy hour at 5PM, dinner at the hotel at 6PM. Presentation of Symbolic Objects during dinner.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Working group breakfast. We'll dive into the history and overview of Life Letters and complete the Through the Decades™ exercise to map key events, themes, and narrative threads in your life.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Historic Walking Tour of Santa Fe
12:00PM - 1:00PM: Lunch break and free time.
1:00 PM - 4:00PM: Afternoon Workshop - Reading of sample letters and comparable works; personalizing the document – salutation, values, unique circumstances; Identifying dominant theme and/or main components for the body of the Life Letter; Reflect on stories, poems, letters and/or other items that you may wish to include in the Life Letter or keepsake box. Begin outline of Life Letter.
6:00 PM: Group Dinner at a restaurant in downtown Santa Fe
Friday, November 10, 2023
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Working Group Breakfast in Conference Room.
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Outline and Draft Life Letter. Small group support and coaching offered.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Nancy and her colleague, Diane, also an experienced Life Letters and storytelling guide, will be available for small group coaching. Continue drafting Life Letter.
3:30PM: Free Time
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Culinary Tour of Santa Fe
Saturday, November 11, 2023
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Working Group Breakfast in Conference Room.
9:00 PM – 12:00 PM: Put finishing touches on Life Letters document; Decide when and how to present your Life Letter.
12:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Lunch on your own/Free Time.
2:00 PM - 4:30PM: Celebratory Reading of Life Letters.
6:00 PM: Group Dinner
Sunday, November 12, 2023
11:00 AM: Retreat/Hotel Check out.
You'll leave with a copy of your Life Letter, an archival folder and high-quality paper to print it on, and a special keepsake box that can also house personal memorabilia. You'll also receive a recording of you reading your Life Letter aloud.
FAQ
Tuition is $3,195.
Are Payment Plans Available?
Yes. Accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting Shop Pay or Affirm (for U.S. & Canadian residents) at checkout.
What does tuition include?
-Daily breakfast and four nights at The Inn and Spa at Loretto.
-Life Letters Retreat, led by Nancy Sharp.
-Personalized guidance and coaching by Nancy Sharp and Diane Goldstein.
-Afternoon group activities including a Historic Walking Tour of Sante Fe, a Private Food Tour of Santa Fe, and more.
-Opening night reception and dinner.
-Closing night happy hour reception and reading.
-A once in a lifetime experience.
-Life Letter Keepsake Folder & Box: an enduring gift for you, your loved ones, and community.
-
: If you would like to bring your spouse/partner, please let us know. Tuition will be discounted for your spouse/partner less the hotel room cost.
-Note: accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting Shop Pay or Affirm (for U.S. & Canadian residents) at checkout.
What is the tuition payment schedule?
If your application is accepted, full tuition is due within 14 days of acceptance. You can pay your tuition in full or opt for a payment plan by selecting Affirm or Shop Pay at checkout.
What is your Refund policy?
Tuition is nonrefundable 14 days after the acceptance notification, regardless of attendance. If a refund is requested up to 14 days after acceptance notification, all but a $750 deposit will be refunded.
Where is the hotel and workshop venue?
Our Santa Fe Life Letters Retreat takes place at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, a AAA Four Diamond resort that epitomizes the intrigue of northern New Mexico through artist design and world-class accommodations. The Inn and Spa at Loretto celebrates the authentic Southwestern style and culture of New Mexico. It is the most photographed building in the state, with a premier location in the heart of Santa Fe's historic Plaza, including an award-winning spa, Luminaria Restaurant and Patio, and a year-round heated garden pool and many unique onsite galleries and boutiques.
Santa Fe is one of America's most historic, artistic, and fascinating cities. Known as “The City Different,” the nation's oldest state capital city is a place unlike any other in the world. Santa Fe is 400+ years of cultural fusion with echoes of the past alive in the present.
Can I bring my spouse/partner?
If you would like to bring your spouse/partner, please let us know. Tuition will be discounted for your spouse/partner less the hotel room cost.
What will happen if Nancy Sharp is physically unable to attend for any reason?
If the Life Letters Retreat workshop leader, Nancy Sharp, cannot attend the retreat for any reason, Diane Goldstein will step in to lead the retreat in Nancy's place.
What is your COVID policy?
It is the responsibility of Writing Works workshop attendees to ensure they are vaccinated and boosted per federal and state guidelines. If the state of New Mexico or the United States government forbids entry to the state of New Mexico for the dates of November 8th - 12th, 2023, Writing Workshops will offer a full refund for program fees. Writing Workshops will not reimburse any airline tickets or additional trip-related expenses. If the retreat takes place on the dates planned, no program fees will be reimbursed, regardless of attendance.
I have a question not answered here.
Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly. You can also Chat with us (lower left of your screen).