The Lowdown
(PD class of 2015)
The Pink Door Women’s Writing Retreat is exclusively
for writers of color. It serves to promote community
and dialogue for writers currently excluded from the
dominant cultural narrative; it actively seeks to bring
Black women, women of color, trans women and
gender non-conforming writers / activists / scholars /
rebels and regional voices into exchange & engagement
with each other to provide a space for mentorship and
exploration of ideas while building an active and
informed literary community.
This gathering is a low-cost alternative to the usual
writing retreats that present insurmountable financial
and class barriers.
Attendees can expect ten hearty home-cooked meals,
three daring writing workshops and three panel
discussions curated by some of the fiercest writers/
speakers in the country. Oh, and lots of mighty juju
rising up from our brilliant bodies to polish the moon.
WHERE IS IT?
The retreat is held in the city of Rochester in upstate
New York. The neighborhood is nestled between
Ontario Lake and the upper and lower falls.
Convenience, beauty supply and grocery stores are
all within walking distance.
will be held from Wednesday, July 27th to Saturday,
July 30th. Writers will have the opportunity to read
during Poetry & Pie Night’s public event on that Saturday.
For applications & additional information, write to
pinkdoorretreat@gmail.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can trans women writers attend?
YES PLEASE. Our mission is to elevate and normalize the lived experiences of all trans and gender non-conforming writers of color who have historically been shut out of the social narrative. During the public reading, our lucky audience is exposed to poems and stories that compel them to want to take action or, at the very least, motivate them to examine their own ideas and beliefs. We are a very protective bunch, and check in with each other every day. Of course, humans are human, so sometimes someone will make a mistake, but we are here to assist in everyone taking accountability for how they speak to and show up (or don’t) for each other. Short version: WE HAVE YOUR BACK.
What if I was assigned “female” at birth but refuse to conform to society’s bullshit gender binary and use a gender-neutral pronoun? Can I attend?
Absolutely. And PLEASE. We are just as interested in hearing your story as we are in telling our own. This retreat is as much about empowerment as it is polishing that stunning voice of yours.
I’m pretty anti-social, but I really want to work alongside experienced writers. Do I have to be a kumbaya butterfly the whole time?
NOPE!
We understand the need for self-care. If you feel overwhelmed or desire some good old-fashioned solitude, we invite you to take a break. Go for a walk through the long grassy knoll, or take a bike or hike along the spectacular trail a few blocks away. There are also waterfalls and a gorgeous monument called The Seat of Remembering and Forgetting. And of course, there is an awesome Victorian cemetery nearby where Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass are buried. Oh, and lots of craft supplies if you feel like making a collage of all that’s buzzing in your head.
My diet is really restrictive. Will we be eating pie the entire time?
We always make sure we learn everyone’s allergies and preferences to create meals long before the retreat starts. Our onsite chef is a wizard and has accommodated vegan diets and writers allergic to dairy, gluten, strawberries, tree nuts, fish, lions, tigers, bears etc. There are numerous options for everyone at meal time, and always tasty snacks available in between each meal.
I don’t have formal writing training. Does that matter?
No. Through the application process, we are able to determine a well-balanced roster of beginning, intermediate and advanced writers to provide opportunities for both growth and leadership.
>via: http://thepinkdoorwomenswritingretreat.tumblr.com/post/138495265264/the-lowdown