San Miguel de Allende

ART OF THE NOUN: PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS, IDEAS

FUTURE DATES TBD: WATCH THIS SPACE

Animate and enliven your writing through daily writing practice, craft conversations, and critique workshops. Start, revise, and aim to finish one new story – fiction or nonfiction – plus take away drafts, ideas, and desire to create more.

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE is a safe and vibrant cobblestone town of artists, expats, tourists, and locals set on a high desert plateau at the geographical center of mainland Mexico. It offers a pleasing climate, colonial architecture, great food and music, a spirited central plaza, parks and hills to walk, and thermal hot springs a short bus or taxi ride away.

The curriculum is welcoming to new and advanced writers, whether you're writing for publication or personal reasons.

"Studio" means new writing will be generated in response to prompts and assignments.

"Workshop" means feedback on new writing or old work-in-progress will be offered when desired.

"Trips" means exploring, observing, and enjoying the scenery, new views, and good company.

MARIANNE ROGOFF is a professor of creative writing who lives in California and has been leading writers trips to San Miguel de Allende for nearly twenty years. She is the author of the memoir Silvie’s Life, the story collection Love Is Blind in One Eye, and many award-winning travel stories, short fictions, essays, and book reviews.

Use Contact page to get in touch for more details and to sign up for next trip.

Questions? > marianne@mariannerogoff.com

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Previous Gatherings:

NEW YEAR DAYLONG WRITERS STUDIO

SUNDAY JANUARY 7 2024 * 10AM-4PM

FEASTS, FASTS, FIGHTS

Stories of Memorable Meals

In San Miguel de Allende [exact location upon deposit]

For writers of fiction or memoir, all levels welcome

Have you been hungry, satisfied, left with the bill, a happy camper, lazy snacker, secret sinner? Describe sensory textures, table settings, and emotional dynamics of turning-point meals: the tensions and pleasures of cooking and eating with lovers, family, and gatherings of friends. Take time out on the first weekend of the new year to write in good company.

10 participants max, first come first serve

PAST TRIPS BEFORE PANDEMIC BREAK: 2020-2024

Exploring Narrative (January 2018)

Art of the Noun: People, Places, Things, Ideas (January 2017)

Art of the Noun: People, Places, Things, Ideas (January 2016)

The Hero's Journey: San Miguel de Allende (January 2015)

Turning Points: San Miguel de Allende (January 2014)

Art of the Verb: Boulder, Utah (June 2013, with Lavinia Spalding)

Art of the Noun: San Miguel de Allende (Jan 2013, with Lavinia Spalding)

Art of the Noun: San Miguel de Allende (Jan 2012)

Art of the Noun: San Miguel de Allende (Jan 2010)

Art of the Noun: San Miguel de Allende (Aug 2008)

Textures of Happiness: Palm Springs (Jan 2008)

Textures of Happiness: Inverness Coast (Aug 2007)

Restless Urges: Todos Santos, Baja (Jan 2007)

Feasts, Fasts, Fights: San Miguel de Allende (Dec 2005–Jan 2006)

Travel Atlas: San Miguel de Allende (Aug 2006)

Travel Atlas: San Miguel de Allende (Aug 2005)

Memoir/Fiction Writing: Jilotepec (Aug 2004)

Porto, Portugal

“Where the river meets the sea”

PARTAKING OF PORTO: STUDIO-WORKSHOP TRIP FOR WRITERS

JUNE 25 ~ JULY 2, 2020

[CANCELLED BY PANDEMIC > MAYBE SUMMER 2022??]

To partake is to “take part in or experience something along with others.” Write each day in good company, inspired by selected readings, prompts, conversations, and wandering the wonderful city of Porto. Generate new material or bring work-in-progress. Try new approaches to craft and structure. Plan to start and revise at least one new short piece and leave with ideas and beginnings for more. Week ends with a formal final evening reading.

TRIP PACKAGE includes:

5-Day Studio-Workshop, consisting of:

~ 3 guided writing mornings > June 26, 27, 28

~ 1 day free to read, write, rest, revise, roam > June 29

~ 1 evening workshop > June 30

~ 1 final reading > July 1

~ 1-hour individual consultation, if desired

~ Stories, poems, and essays to inspire your work

Room, 7 nights > arrive Thurs JUNE 25, depart Thurs JULY 2

Traditional European pousada > twin room w/desk, private bath, balcony view of Douro River

Breakfast, 7 mornings > Your stay at the pousada includes breakfast.

Flight, transportation, other meals, and optional outings not included.

Please make your own flight reservations to Porto [OPO]. Note that flights from SFO usually arrive next day so plan accordingly.

Trip Package rate will be adjusted if you share a room or choose to room elsewhere.

Pousada is a youth hostel, therefore affordable, but you will encounter youth! There is a nice, just a bit more expensive, hotel within walking distance of where our sessions will be held, with ocean views.

PLEASE USE CONTACT PAGE TO WRITE FOR PRICES AND OTHER DETAILS > marianne@mariannerogoff.com

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PREVIOUS TRIPS

WRITING & WANDERING:

Studio-Workshop for Writers

+ Yoga and Expressive Movement (if you like), led by international retreat leader Sakshi Keeton

June 19-26, 2019

A hands-on, body-in-motion opportunity to write your stories each day in good company, inspired by selected readings, prompts, conversations, movement, and wandering the wonderful city of Porto.

DR. MARIANNE ROGOFF is the author of the memoir Silvie’s Life (Zenobia Press, 1995), which was translated by Gradiva, Lisbon, in 2006, the Pushcart Prize nominated collection Love Is Blind in One Eye: 7 Stories (Shebooks, 2016), and many travel stories, essays, and book reviews. She teaches in the MFA in Creative Writing program at Dominican University of California, the Department of Writing & Literature at California College of the Arts, and has been leading Studio-Workshop Trips for Writers since 2004.

SAKSHI KEETON is an international retreat leader, teacher, and therapist, specializing in Vinyasa Yoga, Conscious Dance Practice, and Integrative Therapeutic Massage. Learn more about her teaching here: https://www.livingsakshi.com/

School

Education

Graduate, Class of 2021, Media & Medicine Certificate Program, Harvard Medical School

Ph.D. Transformative Inquiry, California Institute of Integral Studies

M.A. English: Creative Writing, San Francisco State University

B.A. English, Rutgers University

California Community Colleges Instructor Credential, Language Arts and Literature

Academic Appointments

MFA in Creative Writing Program Faculty, Dominican University of California, 2017-present

Writing & Literature Faculty, California College of the Arts [CCA], 1994-present

Literature, Languages, Humanities Faculty, Dominican University of California, 2012-present

Effective Communication Faculty, Make School, 2018-2021

MFA n Writing & Consciousness Program Faculty, New College of California, 2000-2001

Creative Writing Faculty, San Francisco State University, 1983-1985

Courses Taught

Graduate

Advanced Fiction/Creative Nonfiction Workshops

Literary Theory I: Ancient Concepts for Writing Now

Literary Theory II: The Isms

Literary Theory III: Approaches to Literary Criticism

Undergraduate

300/400-level

Writing for Artists, Architects, & Designers

Creative Prose Workshops

Art of Memoir Writing

Reading Creative Nonfiction

Literary Theory: Ancient Concepts for Writing Now

100/200-level

Big History Through the Lens of Big Literature

Writing 2 [varying themes]

Seeing What Matters

Seeing The Zeitgeist

Appropriations

The Brain and Art

Opposing Forces

Historical Novels

Mexico in Writing

Writing 1

The Individual in the World

Health & Well-Being

Creative Writing Studio

Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry/Drama

CCA Extended Education

Summer International High School English & Design Program

Pre-College Creative Writing

Story Writing: Memoir/Fiction

Writing Travel Stories

College of Marin Community Education [Summer 2021]

Griefwriting

The Finca, Spain

CREATIVE WRITING AT THE FINCA:

WORKS IN PROGRESS

A 5-day Studio-Workshop Course for Writers in Spain

SUMMER 2015

Upon arrival in Madrid, you will be greeted at the airport by a personal driver who will escort you back in time to a beautiful rustic treasure one hour from the city in the hills of northern Spain. The Finca sits atop hundreds of acres of olive trees, almond groves, and natural forest. Its gentle slope overlooks a breathtaking valley with a 400-mile view. The original brickworks buildings date back 250 years. Three natural springs are the lifeblood of the property, which includes seven buildings and a spring-fed pool, all connected by meandering footpaths.

The Great Hall in the main building serves as a central meeting area. There are numerous indoor and outdoor places throughout the Finca to be by yourself or with small groups. A central kitchen serves the whole property. The Tenar is a large, open, outdoor lean-to for dining, reading, writing, or enjoying the view.

Numerous hiking trails venture into the forest. Ancient footpaths lead to nearby villages and a surrounding locale rich with thousands of years of vibrant history and culture. Within a half hour of the Finca there are four large castles, one the home of the famous El Cid. The Finca is also on the route of Don Quixote - Man of La Mancha - and near the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, the famous ancient pilgrimage route featured in the movie The Way.

Contact Marianne Rogoff for details on the course, pricing, and logistics.