Happy Holidays, everybody! Haven Writing Retreats in Montana is a powerful, often life-changing experience that we want to share with the people who want it most. Thanks to Go Fund Me, and Fortua.com, you can help send writers to Haven in 2016! The first scholarship is inspired by Haven Writing Retreat alum Kathryn Stockett, …
Happy Holidays, everybody! Haven Writing Retreats in Montana is a powerful, often life-changing experience that we want to share with the people who want it most. Thanks to Go Fund Me, and Fortua.com, you can help send writers to Haven in 2016!
The first scholarship is inspired by Haven Writing Retreat alum Kathryn Stockett, writer of the best-selling novel and Oscar nominated movie,”The Help.” Kathryn has set up a Gofundme account where you can offer a donation to help a writer come to Haven! To donate, click here.
Here’s what Kathryn has to say:
The Dream:
There is a person out there with the dream to write- they’re burning up with words to write – but they can’t afford the advice, time, and encouragement every one of us needs to write our story. I think it would be so cool to send one writer with The Dream to a Haven Writing Retreat.
The idea sprung from hearing about an airline clerk in 1956 who knew she had a story inside her but she couldn’t afford to take time off work to write it. So her friends gave her the money to go write for one year. Oh what friends. She wrote To Kill A Mockingbird.
In 2002, somebody did it for me- just for a month- but I got the advice and the encouragement I needed and it changed everything. I am ever thankful for that gift.
This isn’t a year, or even a month we’re giving, it’s just one weekend, but I think it could truly change someone’s life. What’s even more magical is it would come from writers and readers like you. What friends.
If we make the goal, Laura Munson will take submissions for the scholarship. The money will cover the workshop, food and lodging. This is just a one-time thing, one scholarship, one person. I hope you’ll help me help someone reach their dream.
Blessings,
Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help
The second scholarship is for two writers in need, through a wonderful adventure travel website called Fortua.com: Molly Carpenter and Terri Mellott-Gross both dearly want to attend my Haven Writing Retreat from February 24-28, 2016.
I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider making a contribution to this campaign by clicking on this link:
In exchange for making a contribution you can receive some great perks and you’ll also have a huge impact on the lives of two wonderful women and aspiring writers!
Without your financial backing Molly and Terri will not be able to attend the retreat.
Meet Molly Renee Carpenter:
I am a Portland State student living in an eensy treehouse above the city. It’s just me, my cat, and my words. In 2011, I started a Word document for daily musings. It has gone through active spurts, dry seasons, entries with excessive cursing, and entries that led to a lot of tears being smeared on my keyboard (they have since dried but I remember they were there). It has never been printed. It has only been seen with someone else’s eyes once, by accident. This summer, it reached 100 pages. Its name has never changed, but the girl writing it sure has.
When I was in fourth grade I read “Little House on the Prairie” and my teacher made all us kids write a synopsis of each chapter. The paper we were given to use had outlines of covered carriages printed on them, the inside of the carriages were lined and we were meant to fill each carriage with each chapter’s synopsis. I remember being sent to the library multiple times throughout the class because I kept running out of paper. I was the only one who ran out of paper. I never could understand how those other kids could fit their words in such a small space. This is the first time I thought I might be different – with words, I might be different.
Sometimes it takes me thirty minutes to write an Instagram post. But between the chaos that is 18 class credits and a full-time job, that thirty minutes spent crafting two sentences will make my heart flutter with purpose. I want to thank each and every backer for this opportunity and believing in me. I know this will be a life changing experience. #ThankYou #SoGrateful
You can find me on Instagram @mollyrcarpenter
Meet Terri Mellott-Gross:
I am a Certified Intuitive Life Coach. I have lived through challenges I candidly wasn’t sure I’d get through and yet, with inspiration from others and finding meaning and purpose in the challenges themselves, I rose above these events to become a much stronger and happier person. Challenges included a difficult childhood, a 25-year marriage that ended in divorce, a diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer, and the death of my mother when I was a girl.
These experiences inspired many questions in me: Why are we here? Is life supposed to be such a struggle? What is the meaning of life?
For more than 20 years I searched for answers and learned we live in a loving universe. We are connected to this source of love and abundance at all times. We are being divinely guided at all times if only we would pay attention. I now know that life is magical, it is a gift and there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.
My goal in attending the Haven Writing Retreat is to further explore my voice and how to share my life journey in writing. To each and every backer, I thank you. Your support is a gift and I will make the most of every moment of this gift. Thank You. #VeryGrateful
You can learn more at LovinYourLife
During this season of giving, please rally to support writers, forward this blog post to your friends, and share the spirit of the season. Your support will have a significant and positive impact on these people’s lives.
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Love,
Laura and the Haven Team
To learn more about Haven Writing Retreats click here.
2016 Schedule– all in gorgeous Whitefish, Montana!
February 24-28
June 8-12
June 22-26
September 7-11
September 21-25
October 5-9
October 19-23
