Write in Belize: A Soul-Centered Retreat

With so much happening in the world, are you as hungry as I am for soul-centered inspiration, delight, and motivation? We need positive change to move forward at a pace that matches our dreams and goals. We need spiritual nourishment so we can keep bringing our light and that’s what Write in Belize: A Soul-Centered Retreat will be all about. Join fiction, nonfiction and memoir writers December 2 – 7, 2022 (five nights) at Jaguar Reef Lodge and you’ll enjoy:

• Daily manuscript critique sessions with an agent or author
• Participant readings
• Delicious meals
• Meditation for writers
• Restorative movement
• Two powerful and transformative group sessions to guide us past the internal blocks that slow our progress on the page or in the marketplace
• A deep dive into creating a sustainable platform that resonates with your soul
• Time for fun on the beach

We’re confident that you will emerge from the retreat rested, joyful and ready to finish the writing projects that you have been called to create, the ones the world is waiting for!

Retreat Tuition & Specified Meals (four breakfasts, one opening night dinner, one closing night dinner) for those who book rooms at Jaguar Reef Lodge: $1299. Fee may increase at a later date. Please note: Tuition ($1299) does not include transportation or lodging at Jaguar Reef Lodge. If you choose to stay elsewhere, your tuition will be significantly higher. Participation in morning critique sessions are reserved for those staying at Jaguar Reef Lodge. After a nonrefundable deposit payment in full is required by Sept. 30. There are no refunds after October 1, 2022 for any reason. Retreat space is limited and proof of vaccination is required. This is a small group experience. Email for details and registration information: belizewritersconference@gmail.com.

 

At a beachfront resort in Belize …

The Belize Writers’ Conference April 2021!

 

The Belize Writers’ Conference at Jaguar Reef Resort in Belize
for fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers
In-person event: April 17 – 22, 2021 

Breathe new life into your writing while building friendships with literary agents, authors, and writers at the third annual Belize Writers’ Conference. Enjoy daily manuscript critique sessions taught by literary agents——plus time to generate new writing and to enjoy excursions on your own like snorkeling, ocean kayaking, or making chocolate on a cacao farm. Daily opportunities for reflection will reset your spirit so you can write fearlessly from your deepest self. Panel discussions on the business of writing will prepare you to successfully market yourself and your book to agents, publishers, and readers.

The conference includes five days of workshops, including critique sessions and Master Classes taught by literary agents and authors. Topics include nourishing your writing practice, book publicity, and how to build a fulfilling career as an author. Delicious meals are enjoyed at a communal table where new friendships are forged among participants from all over the world.

Your registration fee includes:

• All workshops, critique sessions, and special events with literary agents and
  authors.
• A presentation by a local expert on Belize.
• Panels on building a successful career as an author.
• Four breakfasts and four dinners with the conference group.
• Five nights lodging designated for registered conference participants.
• Access to resort grounds, including swimming pools and ocean kayaks.
• Private time to write and reflect.
• 19% Taxes and service charges.
• Air conditioning in every room!
• This is a smoke-free event. No smoking or vaping is permitted.

Please note that we offer the following registration options, which include lodging, meals, and conference fee and extras as stipulated above. All rooms are shared. Travel and transportation costs are not included. Gratuities are extra.

The Belize Writers Conference ONLINE

November 6 – 8, 2020

Enjoy craft sessions with accomplished authors and writing teachers.

Learn insider secrets from literary agents. 

Get book promotion tips from TV and radio show producers.

 

Three days of content writers need to know to boost their book and careers. Only $149!

Schedule (all sessions in PST)

Friday, November 6, 2020 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Start Me Up: Building Your Beginnings

The beginning of your manuscript must capture the attention of agents, editors, and/or publishers—before you can reel in an audience. In this session, we’ll discuss the submissions process with an eye to what can make or break a beginning. We will also explore ways to structure your story to create an impactful introduction and, ultimately, leave you ready to hook your target reader from your opening paragraph. Writers of all genres will benefit from this session.

Donna Talarico is the founder of Hippocampus Magazine & Books and its annual conference, HippoCamp. She has bylines in The LA Review, Superstition Review, Mental Floss, The Writer, the Brevity blog, Games Magazine, and more. Donna is an independent writer and marketing consultant with an MFA in creative writing from Wilkes University and an MBA from Elizabethtown College. She teaches business and marketing courses in the MA in publishing program at Rosemont College. Donna lives in Lancaster, PA. Follow her on Twitter at @donnatalarico or visit her online at donnatalarico.com.

 

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Agent Secrets: An Introduction to What Agents Really Do

Ever wish that someone would pull back the curtain between agents and writers so you could peek behind it? Laurie McLean, Founding Partner at Fuse Literary, is granting your wish! In this session, Laurie will explain how to find an agent, what agents do for writers, what not to expect from an agent and how to successfully partner with an agent once you’ve got one. She will also share how to be a great client and what to expect from your partnership with an agent. Have a burning question that wasn’t covered? No worries! During the Q&A, Laurie will answer as many of your questions as time permits.

Laurie McLean spent 20 years as the CEO of a multimillion-dollar marketing agency and eight years as an agent/senior agent at Larsen Pomada Literary Agents before co-founding Fuse Literary in 2013 with her business partner Gordon Warnock. At Fuse Lit, Laurie specializes in middle grade, young adult and adult genre fiction including romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, and westerns. Laurie is the Director of the San Francisco Writers Conference, now in its 18th year. She co-founded two ePublishing companies: JoyrideBooks.com for romance and Ambush Books for tween and teen books (acquired by Short Fuse Publishing in 2015). Find out more at FuseLiterary.com and on Twitter @FuseLiterary and @AgentSavant.

 

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

 

12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Generative Writing with Rafael Gamero

Rafael will read from his novel-in-progress, “Rough Jewel,” and offer a related writing prompt during this generative writing session. Join in and spark your creativity!

Rafael Gamero is a fiction writer and teacher who was born and raised in Belize. He completed his MA in English at East Carolina University and an MFA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Rafael’s work has appeared in The Caribbean Writer, Wasafiri, Litro, and Drunk Monkeys. He teaches fiction writing at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

 

1:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Where I’m Calling From: Writing Well about Culture

Elizabeth Gonzalez-James in conversation with Lauren Francis-Sharma

We all have roots in a place and culture that is unique and open to endless excavation. But concepts like “middle America,” “flyover country,” “border jumpers,” and any attempt to reduce a group of people into a monoculture only have the effect of centering our focus on whiteness and erasing the infinitely rich and varied experience of the individual. In this session, Elizabeth Gonzalez James, author of the forthcoming novel, MONA AT SEA (SFWP, July 2021) and Lauren Francis-Sharma, author of The Book of the Little Axe and ‘Til the Well Runs Dry, will reveal how to give yourself permission to write about your culture and do so in an authentic and informed way. Lauren and Elizabeth will discuss the challenges and opportunities created by the issues of representation in publishing today and the empowering choices writers can make to support diversity in publishing.

Before becoming a writer, Elizabeth Gonzalez-James was a waitress, a pollster, an Avon lady, and an opera singer. Her stories and essays have appeared in Ploughshares Blog, The Idaho Review, The Rumpus, Split Lip Magazine, and elsewhere, and have received multiple Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. Her debut novel, MONA AT SEA, was a finalist in the 2019 SFWP Literary Awards judged by Carmen Maria Machado, and is forthcoming, Summer 2021, from Santa Fe Writers Project. Originally from South Texas, Elizabeth now lives with her family in Oakland, California. She served on the Belize Writers Conference board 2017 to 2018.

Lauren Francis-Sharma is the author of Book of the Little Axe and ‘Til the Well Runs Dry, which was short-listed for the William Saroyan International Prize, awarded the Honor Fiction Prize by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and chosen as an O, The Oprah Magazine Summer Reading Pick. ‘Til the Well Runs Dry was lauded by the New York Times, USA Today, Essence Magazine, and People Magazine. A child of Trinidadian immigrants, Lauren has written about the Caribbean in her novels. The story of her grandmother’s journey to the United States, the inspiration behind her acclaimed first novel, was the subject of feature articles in the Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in African-American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She is the owner of DC Writers Room, a co-working space dedicated to both published and aspiring writers. She is the Assistant Director of Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College and a MacDowell Fellow. Lauren lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband and two children.

 

2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Generative Writing with Alia Volz

Alia will read from Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco and offer a related writing prompt during this generative writing session. Join in and spark your creativity!

Alia Volz is the author of Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco. Her work has appeared in The Best American Essays, The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Salon, Guernica, The Threepenny Review. Her unusual family story has been featured on Snap Judgment, Criminal and NPR’s Fresh Air.

 

Saturday, November 7, 2020

9:00 a.m.– 10:20 a.m. Both Sides of the Coin: The Agent as Author

When literary agent Liz Parker started writing her first novel, she thought twelve years of publishing experience as an editor and an agent would grant her a seamless experience. She knew agents, she knew editors, and she certainly knew the market. What could go wrong? Liz soon learned that being on the side of the creator was a far cry from the business of buying and selling books. From actually writing a novel, to trying to find an agent, to submitting a book during the Covid-19 pandemic, Liz realized that sometimes her knowledge of the other side was invaluable, and sometimes she needed to throw that knowledge out of the window. Ultimately, writing is an undeniably emotionally charged experience, and creating something with the hopes of getting it into the world is a unique endeavor. As an agent, she gained a new level of compassion for her authors and realized how often her attempted transparency still left gaps in an author’s understanding of the development, submission, and selling process. And as an author, she learned the art of melding publishing strategy with emotional creativity, and how best to utilize her agent’s expertise. In this session, Liz will tackle tips and tricks of the query and go through a play-by-play of the submission process, sharing the insider’s tips she gained along the way.

Liz Parker heads up the publishing department at Verve Talent & Literary, an agency based in Los Angeles, CA. She represents upmarket and literary fiction, select thrillers, suspense and YA, as well as memoir, sociopolitical, narrative and platform-driven nonfiction. Liz began her career in editorial, serving as an editorial assistant at Viking/Penguin, and ultimately as the publishing director at Counterpoint and Soft Skull Press. She was a scout with Maria B. Campbell Associates, and spent three years with InkWell Management before joining Verve Talent & Literary in April 2018. She’s an avid reader of the beach read, of novels that make her think, and of any unheard voices demanding to be heard.

 

10:30 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m.  Investing in Your Writing Career and Forming a Writers’ Community 

Angela Hur in conversation with Margaret Lee

Angela Hur published her debut novel, The Queens of K-Town, in 2007. She was in her mid-twenties and straight out of her MFA program. Her real education in craft, community and perseverance, however, came afterward in the years of struggling to publish her second book. Her new novel will be published in Spring 2021, with early praise from MacArthur “genius” Kelly Link, a mentor she found through the Tin House Writers Workshop. In her writing journey, Angela has had four agents, worked with multiple writers’ groups, and attended several conferences and workshops. Her novel has had its own journey of transformation, sometimes regressing and getting waylaid. Ultimately, the biggest breakthroughs came from financially investing in her writing and taking it seriously as a career, not just artistic aspiration.

Three years ago, Angela met journalist and Belize Writers Conference board member Margaret Lee in a writing group in San Francisco. They became fast friends and critique partners. Their books, sharing thematic and cultural resonance, have enriched each other as well. In this session, Angela and Margaret will discuss how writing groups, workshops, conferences, mentorships, and finding the right readers have paved their pathways to publication. They will also offer insights into honing a manuscript, writing query letters, finding an agent, and more.

Angela Mi Young Hur has a B.A. from Harvard University and an MFA from the University of Notre Dame. Her debut novel The Queens of K-town was published by MacAdam/Cage and has been assigned in Korean diaspora literature classes at UC Berkeley, Stanford, University of British Columbia and elsewhere. Her new novel is forthcoming in Spring 2021. Excerpts have been published in Azalea, Harvard’s journal of Korean literature, and Two Thirds North, literary journal of Stockholm University.

Margaret Juhae Lee is currently seeking representation for Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, which chronicles her search for information on her grandfather who was a student revolutionary in colonial Korea. She received a Bunting Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation in support of her book. Previously, she was an editor at The Nation magazine and has written articles for The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, and Oakland Magazine. She has attended the Writer’s Hotel, Lit Camp and Tin House writing workshops and was awarded residencies at Mesa Refuge and the Mineral School. For more information see www.margaretjuhaelee.com and @margaretjuhae.

 

11:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.  LUNCH BREAK

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Generative Writing with Melissa Hart

Melissa will read from her YA novel, “Avenging the Owl,” and offer a related writing prompt during this generative writing session. Join in and spark your creativity!

Melissa Hart is the author of Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens (Sasquatch, 2019) and the award-winning middle-grade novel, Avenging the Owl (Sky Pony, 2016). She’s contributing editor at The Writer Magazine, and her essays have appeared in Real Simple, Working Mother, Woman’s Day, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and numerous other publications. She teaches for the MFA in Creative Writing program at Southern New Hampshire University, and lives in Oregon with her husband and 12-year-old daughter. Find her on Twitter and Instagram at @WildMelissaHart.

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Then What Happens?: Examining Structure for Your Manuscript

One reason why writers struggle to land an agent is that their work lacks a strong narrative structure. The reader does not see where the story is going, or they don’t feel invested in where the story is going and lose interest. While we can simply say structure is mapping out one event after the next, the truth is that there are basic structures prevalent in any successful book that we should recognize. By examining structure with examples from notable fiction and nonfiction, this session will shed light on how rethinking your story’s structure can transform your manuscript.

Anita Gill is a teacher, writer, and a recent Fulbright Fellow in Spain. She has led sessions on writing and craft at numerous conferences including AWP, Women Who Submit, and HippoCamp. Her humor and essays have appeared in Prairie Schooner, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Rumpus, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. Her website is anitagill.ink.

 

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Why We Can’t Wait: D&I in YA

Diversity and Inclusion are more than ideals. Teens need and deserve to see themselves reflected in the books they read. “The adolescent characters and protagonists young people meet in (YA) books help them cope with dilemmas and make sense of their relationships, and their world, by shedding light both on experiences that resonate and experiences that differ from their own,” said R. Joseph Rodriquez, of the National Council of Teachers of English. It’s time to end the cultural mismatch between YA literature and YA readers. The continued failure to do so is everyone’s loss. In this session, two dynamic YA authors will help us understand the challenge and opportunity of YA literature and why we can’t wait for publishing to catch up but must push the industry to commit to real change right now.

Dana L. Davis is a novelist (The Voice in My Head and Roman + Jewel) and a Hollywood actress with previous series regular roles as: Carmen Phillips on TNT’s Franklin and Bash and modern-day mimic Monica Dawson on NBC’s cult series Heroes. She currently stars on the animated series Star Vs. the Forces of Evil, Craig of the Creek, and She-Ra. Dana has guest-starred in over 20 prestigious primetime series, including 911, Scorpion, Code Black, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI. In addition to her work on screen, Dana is a motivational speaker for teens. Her stirring assemblies help youth redefine what it means to win and lose. Dana is also a screenwriter and a trained violist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from Loyola Marymount University. Her nonprofit organization, Culture For Kids, gifts inner city children with tickets and transportation to see performing arts shows in the Los Angeles area. Dana was raised in the Midwest and currently resides in Los Angeles with her 9-year-old daughter. Learn more at: DanaLDavis.com

Michelle Ruiz Keil is a writer and tarot reader with an eye for the enchanted and a way with animals. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, All of Us With Wings, called “…a transcendent journey” by the New York Times and “…a fantastical ode the Golden City’s post-punk era” by Entertainment Weekly, was released from Soho Teen in 2019. She is a 2020 Literary Lions honoree and the recipient of a 2020 Hedgebrook residency. Her short fiction can be found in Cosmonauts Avenue, The Buckman Journal, and the anthologies Color Outside The Lines and Dispatches From Anarres. Her second novel is forthcoming from Soho Press in 2021. Michelle lives in Portland, Oregon and curates the fairytale reading series, All Kinds of Fur. She lives with her family in a cottage where the forest meets the city. Find her online at michelleruizkeil.com

 

Sunday, November 8

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. How to Get Your Book on the Air: Advice from a TV Producer

We’ve all seen authors featured on television shows—but how do they get those opportunities? Natasha Lee, an award-winning TV producer, will explain what producers are looking for in a pitch so you can increase your chances to be featured on the air. Natasha will also explain what happens after the pitch is accepted and how to make the most of your on-air time. Joey Garcia, book coach, author, and former TV producer, will join Natasha for this lively, informative presentation. A Q&A will follow.

Natasha Lee is a 2x Emmy Award winning producer based in Atlanta. Natasha is the recipient of the 2018 Atlanta Press Club’s Award of Excellence for Reporting on Civil and Human Rights. Prior to the ATL, Natasha worked as a segment producer for KTXL-Fox40 where she met author Joey Garcia, and booked her to appear regularly on Fox40’s morning show. Natasha’s unique approach to TV programming increased the morning show’s Nielsen ratings and revenue, while also launching guests onto NBC’s Today Show and Good Morning America. A former newspaper reporter, Natasha has also produced documentaries for the BBC’s Twenty/Twenty Television in London, and TV segments for Rev. Jesse Jackson, Wendy Williams and other celebrities. She is a graduate of The George Washington University.

Joey Garcia created opportunities through her book tour, including new gigs as a Relationship Expert for a network television station. She coaches writers and authors on effective strategies to boost their books and platforms. Her widely published essays, poetry, and short stories have received awards, including a Pushcart nomination. The author of When Your Heart Breaks, It’s Opening to Love, Joey writes a relationship advice column for a California newspaper and is the on-air Relationship Expert for Fox40-TV. She is the founder of The Belize Writers Conference and the book publicity track coordinator for the San Francisco Writers Conference. www.joeygarcia.com

 

10:15 a.m.– 11:15 a.m. The Grand Finale: Capturing the Right Ending for Your Story

While the beginning of your story is essential, crafting the end of the story should be just as important. The ending can either make or break everything you have worked toward, and this pressure can make the process very difficult and frustrating. In this session, Rafael will discuss examples of successful endings from popular novels and short stories and examine their effectiveness. Through this process you will see whether your story is set up to leave your reader with the emotion or new awareness you intended.

Rafael Gamero is a fiction writer and teacher who was born and raised in Belize. He completed his MA in English at East Carolina University and an MFA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Rafael’s work has appeared in The Caribbean Writer, Wasafiri, Litro, and Drunk Monkeys. He teaches fiction writing at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

 

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Generative Writing with Ari Honarvar

Ari will read from her forthcoming novel, A Girl Called Rumi, and offer a related writing prompt during this generative writing session. Join in and spark your creativity!

Ari Honarvar is the founder of Rumi With A View (www.rumiwithaview.com), dedicated to building music and poetry bridges across war-torn and conflict-ridden borders. Her writing on social justice issues have appeared in The Guardian, Teen Vogue, Washington Post, and elsewhere. She is the author of Rumi’s Gift, an oracle card set and book. Her debut novel, A Girl Called Rumi, is forthcoming in 2021.

 

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

 

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. START THE PRESS: Tips to Amplify Your Book’s Audience—and Sales

The word “author” is rooted in “authority.” If you’ve published a book—congratulations! You are now an expert. Daily television and radio shows need experts to interview, but authors or writers who land interviews often struggle to make the most of their 3 – 8 minutes. Juicy talking points are key, but there is much more to understand if you want the experience to strengthen your platform. In this session, you will learn simple yet effective methods of creating a buzz that inspires the media to interview you. This session includes a Q&A.

Joey Garcia created opportunities through her book tour, including new gigs as a Relationship Expert for a network television station. She coaches writers and authors on effective strategies to boost their books and platforms. Her widely published essays, poetry, and short stories have received awards, including a Pushcart nomination. The author of When Your Heart Breaks, It’s Opening to Love, Joey writes a relationship advice column for a California newspaper and is the on-air Relationship Expert for Fox40-TV. She is the founder of The Belize Writers Conference and the book publicity track coordinator for the San Francisco Writers Conference. www.joeygarcia.com

 

2:00 p.m. Closing Celebration

 

Boost Your Book & Your Literary Career. Three days for only $149 usd. Registration is easy!

1. Click the PayPal button.

2. Enter $149 usd (or $49 for a private consult with a literary agent)

3. Before the event, you will receive an email with Zoom links to every session.

Pay with PayPal

[maxbutton id=”1″]  Support our fabulous authors! Click the button to enter our bookshop.

 

Teens Rave About “Have Them At Hello: Communication Skills for Teens.”

Joey has taught courses to teens in relationship education, creativity, and spirituality since 2000 and has had a private coaching practice for teens since 1995.