The Inn at Taughannock Falls and a Women Reading Aloud Writing Retreat

Last week I attended a Women Reading Aloud retreat in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. Women Reading Aloud WRA is my favorite writing retreat that I will travel to, that's how I fell in love with the secluded island of Alonissos, Greece. The Finger Lakes were one heck of a lot easier to get to than Alonissos! They are also incredibly beautiful. 

The Inn at Taughannock Falls rests right at the mouth of the path to the Falls. Our group took over The Inn and the two newer cottages for a long weekend. WRA uses the Amherst Writers and Artists Method that I'm such a fan of. The Director of WRA is Julie Maloney. I've written with her for years and I'm a huge fan. If you're just stepping into writing or if you have been published for years with piles of books to your credit, you'll all fit in and be comfortable with this group of women. 

Every day of the retreat, rain or shine, I took the time to walk to the falls. The Inn loaned me a massive umbrella on the rainy day and I loved every step! The falls are magnificent. 

The little falls at the start of the hike!

 

Our group wrote morning, afternoons, and evenings. Longer retreats offer longer down-time but you're always encouraged to take time for yourself at these workshops and retreats. We write to prompts, read aloud if we so desire, and the other writers offer feedback. Namely, "What works for you?" We're all writing first drafts, all writing is considered to be fiction, and all feedback is so the writer can take away what works in the piece. 

Taughannock Falls

Somehow, this positive feedback encourages writers to dig deep and write from the heart. My first workshops of this type were ages ago, and I wondered how the lack of hard to hear critique could help my writing. Yet it works beautifully. That doesn't mean you won't have to rewrite your brains out for publication later (you will). That doesn't mean you won't need an editor (you do). What it means is that, if you desire to publish someday, that you'll begin with something moving from the start. It also means that you'll enjoy your writing and listening and learning from other writers!

After a rain.

The Inn at Taughannock Falls provided our group with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner and all the water and tea or coffee we could desire. They catered to our needs, and every time one of us with food allergies asked, "but is it gluten-free?" they answered cheerfully. The food was also quite good, and the gluten-free/dairy-free/nut-free fare was safe and tasty.

Let me just add that my favorite gluten-free comment is calling someone from the kitchen over to ask again, "Is this really gluten-free? It tastes too good to be gluten-free." As a "but, is it gluten-free?" person, that is the highest praise you can give a restaurant!

And I hope we come back again next year!