Take a trip up, up, up the mountain, away from the bustle of everyday life, away from the noise and demands of the city, and into the beauty and tranquility of Kinglake.

Awaiting you is Karma, the retreat which’ll be your sanctuary this weekend. Rustic on first impressions, Karma offers luxurious accommodations, mouth-watering meals, and the opportunity to rest, recharge, and discover your innermost desires.

Participate in our writing retreat, whether your specialty is fiction (do you write short stories? or have a novel in the works?) or nonfiction (perhaps you want to write a memoir, a family or community history, a self-help or business book), and learn from a series of workshops that will feature theory and practice (yes, there’ll be writing exercises!) on the following:

Explore why we write: why do you want to write, and what stands in the way of finishing your project?

Elements of writing: join us as we look at voice, sense of character, sense of place, dialogue, POV, tense, the finer details and, in the case of nonfiction, how to deal with incorporating real people and sensitive truths.

Structure, Plot, and Content: looking at how you break down structure, explore the use of plot, character arcs, what do you and don’t you include, and how do you transcend those emotional barriers and get deep into authentic writing.

Workshopping: workshopping an excerpt from your writing.

The Wrap-up: a reflection on how to take everything you’ve learned and apply it.

This two-day program will transform your writing life. Join this small group at Karma Kinglake from 17–19 June 2022.

Your story is going to grow in ways that you cannot imagine and your life will open up to the unexpected. You will develop and grow as a writer in ways you never could’ve possibly imagined.

This program is all-inclusive: accommodation, 2 x breakfast, 2 x lunch, 2 x dinner, writing program(prices include GST): $1,395 (single room).

EARLY BIRD ENDS 15 April $1,145 (single room).

Call our studio on 03 9434 6365 or email Blaise at blaise@busybird.com.au if you have questions.

PLEASE NOTE: this deposit will secure your spot but to be eligible for the early bird price the full amount must be paid by the cut off date.

TIMETABLE ​

FRIDAY

2.00 - 4.00pm Check in to Karma Kinglake

4.00 - 6.00pm Welcome and writers session 1

6.30 - 8.00pm Dinner

8.00 - 9.00pm Round table discussion

SATURDAY

7.30 - 8.00am Optional walk

8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast

9.00 - 10.30am Writers session 2

10.30 - 10.45am Morning tea

10.45 - 12.15pm Writers session 3

12.30 - 1. 15pm Lunch

1.15 - 3.15 pm One on one consults

3.15 - 4.30pm Free / writing time

4:30 - 6.00 pm Writers session 4

6:30 - 8.00pm Dinner

8.00 - 9.00pm Round table discussion

SUNDAY

7.30 - 8.00am Optional walk

8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast

9.00 - 10.00am Writers session 5

10.00 - 10.30am Check out

10.30 - 10.45am Morning tea

10.45 - 12.00pm Writers session 6

12.15- 1. 00pm Lunch

1.00 - 2.00 pm Wrap Up

Who is your facilitator?

Blaise van Hecke is an award-winning writer and co-owner of Busybird Publishing. Over the past ten years, Blaise has helped over 500 people to write and publish their books. She's also published some books of her own: a childhood memoir about living on a commune and a travelogue about walking on her own across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage of over 800kms as well as a book about publishing, a children's book and more.

Blaise loves to work with people to excavate the story that is itching to be told, true or imagined. She lives and breathes story.