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Ghost Story Weekend 2023

We will haunt the Oregon coast for this year’s ghost story weekend with Eric Witchey! MEMBER REGISTRATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 5th | General Registration opens September 12th

Everybody loves a good ghost story!

Come write at a spooky coastal retreat for this spooky story-writing event. Learn the basics of short story structure, enjoy group speculation on what scares us, and let your imagination run wild. Everyone will write a complete short story by the end of the weekend, and read them in a dark, hopefully haunted place. Don’t be scared—well, you can be scared, but don’t be intimidated!

All writers are welcome, from the beginner to the accomplished short story writer or novelist. The instructor will be there to help with plot, story structure, or character development. This is a fun way to get started in short story writing, and a good way to meet other writers working in the same genre.

Tuition includes all instruction and some very real tricksy treats. (You’ll register for your own room at the Adobe Resort.)

We will get together Friday night for an optional dinner out in the world, then gather to talk about ghosts and other spooky things and the structure of short stories. And then. . . ready, set, write! The point is to write a complete ghost story (romantic, scary, humorous, sentimental—all ghosts are welcome!) by 7 pm on Saturday, when we will gather together to read our stories. The instructor is available to help you with your stories, and to talk privately about your writing. We hold very casual class time during meal times. Sunday morning we give light feedback/critiques on the stories we heard Saturday night. (Don’t be nervous—everything is first draft.)

SOLD OUT

Details & Schedule

Ghost Story Weekend will be held in person at Adobe Resort in Yachats, OR. Attendance is limited to 16 participants, plus instructor.

FRIDAY

  • 5 pm – The Dark Lair opens to begin gathering, enjoy cocktails, get to know each other
  • 6 pm – Dinner and cocktail hour–either on your own or as a group trip to a restaurant
  • 7 pm – Gather around the fireplace to talk about ghost stories, story structure, spooky writing inspiration
  • 8 pm – Start Writing! You have until 7 pm on Saturday eve to write
  • You are welcome to write on your own until we gather again at 7 pm Saturday eve.
  • The Dark Lair will be open running parallel play sessions until the clock strikes 11.

SATURDAY

You are welcome to write on your own until we gather again at 7 pm.

We will gather for virtual potluck meals and informal instruction discussion (totally optional to attend) at:

  • 9 am – Breakfast
  • 1 pm – Lunch
  • 6 pm – Dinner
  • Eric will be available for questions and story help throughout the day
  • The Dark Lair will be open all day running parallel play sessions

7 pm til the Witching Hour – Gather around the fire to share stories!

SUNDAY

  • 8 am – Breakfast and coffee and chocolate and conversation
  • 9 am to Noon – Moderated story advice session

The weekend begins at 4 pm Friday, October 27, 2023 and goes until noon on Sunday, October 29

EXTRA NIGHT

Want an extra night at the beach to settle in? Arrive Thursday eve and have a “no host” extra night at the resort.

THE COVID STUFF

We want our medically sensitive folks to be able to participate fully.

  • Participants will provide proof that they are FULLY vaccinated and boosted with the most recent booster. NO EXCEPTIONS OR DISPENSATIONS.
  • Participants must provide a negative test from previous 24 hours.
  • If anyone requests it, we will all wear masks PROPERLY in the public/communal spaces e except when we’re eating. Maskholes will be staked out on the rocks and left to be pecked by the seagulls.
  • Everyone will help with bleach-wiping and cleaning all the high-touch points in the Dark Lair. This is the perfect time to get your germ-phobic neat freak on.
  • And to be clear: Everyone will need to be vaccinated, boosted, and provide proof and wear masks (if requested). Properly.
  • We will follow all the safety guidelines required at the time of the event and err on the side of abundance of caution.

About the Instructor

Eric Witchey has made a living as a freelance writer and communication consultant for over 20 years. In addition to producing many corporate non-fiction titles, he has sold more than 160 short stories and four novels. His stories have appeared in six genres on five continents, and he has received recognition from New Century Writers, Writers of the Future, Writer’s Digest, The Eric Hoffer Prose Award program, Short Story America, and other organizations. His how-to articles have appeared in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest Magazine, and other print and online magazines. When not teaching or writing, he spends his time fly fishing or restoring antique, model locomotives.

In-person registration $200 (workshop only – you’ll need to book your own room!)

October 27-29, 2023

MEMBERS SAVE 10% OFF REGISTRATION! 

Want an extra night at the beach? We’re gonna be there THURSDAY for a no-host extra day to settle in!

SOLD OUT

Members enjoy early access to registration and save 10% on classes and events.

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