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Mexican Writing Fiestas–August & October 2012!
Laura’s Mexican Writing Fiestas are dedicated to the notion that writing can be a pleasure as well as a serious craft. Immerse yourself in your writing and be inspired by the beauty of San Miguel– its art, food, and culture.Next Writing Fiestas: August 5-11 and October 29-November 3, 2012.
The October Writing Fiesta will coincide with Day of the Dead, and focus on memoir. The Day of the Dead is beautiful in San Miguel de Allende, filled with marigold-strewn altars with mementos to the departed. It will be a lovely week to focus on memories.
Laura’s Mexican Writing Fiesta is much more than a writing workshop–it’s an immersion in Mexican culture, a chance to relax and pamper yourself in a luxurious environment, an opportunity to eat great Mexican food, meet some of the interesting local artists, shop for some beautiful jewelry and pottery, and have a few margaritas along the way. You’ll have the advantage of seeing the beautiful colonial town of San Miguel de Allende with someone who knows its secrets well.
The writing workshop is small–limited to ten–so that you will get very individualized attention from Laura. She’ll start with a private conference to talk about your writing goals, and finish up with another one-on-one writing session. The workshop is held in a gorgeous park villa in a very central location, with gated security and easy access to the park and the jardin in the center of town. Three luxurious private rooms with baths are available in the villa.
“I attended this in October and it was AMAZING. Laura Fraser is a gifted teacher and group facilitator. And besides the great lesson in writing, she created a cultural experience of Mexican culture and art. I highly recommend it!”
–Anna Petrous
About the workshop: This workshop is for experienced (though not necessarily published) writers who would like an unhurried, relaxing, but serious atmosphere to write stories from their life experiences–whether travel, memoir, personal essay, or family history. We will work on loosening up your writing, paring it down, finding themes, structuring your piece, and polishing your prose into something you might publish. While the workshop will mainly focus on writing, I will also discuss the practicalities of publishing, finding an agent, editor, and publisher, as well as self-publishing.
I will have an individual conference with each student at the beginning and the end of the week to tailor the workshop to your writing needs, and to talk about your progress. Each student should come prepared with a piece of writing of up to 1200 words to workshop with the rest of the group. During the week, you can revise your work, discuss a larger structure for a memoir or book, or write a new piece. Each day will begin with a free writing exercise, and then a writing topic to discuss in depth, with readings, including structure, writing from the senses, character, dialogue, and others. Each student should bring a laptop computer to email their work to other students (email Laura if that is a problem).
Between workshop sessions, there will be plenty of time to explore the colonial artists’ town of San Miguel de Allende, to wander its cobblestone streets, and visit its galleries, restaurants, and live music venues. We will have several meals and excursions planned, but plenty of free time for writing or sitting in the sun on one of Villa Clara Bella’s many terraces, or right next door in the Parque Juarez.
Workshop price includes five morning workshops, two afternoon sessions, an evening reception, one lunch in town, a guided tour of town, a cooking class with lunch, a margarita-making lesson at Casita Laurita, an excursion to a folk art museum and artists’ house, and a celebratory dinner and reading. On your own you can schedule massages, astrology readings, Pilates classes, yoga classes, trips to the hot springs, hikes in the botanical gardens, and many other activities. (You might want to come early and stay late!)
PLEASE NOTE THAT SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE IS A VERY SAFE DESTINATION WITH NO PROBLEMS WITH NARCOTRAFFICANTES, KIDNAPPING, ETC. Of course, as in any foreign country or U.S. city, you have to use your common sense–dress modestly, mind your purse, take official cabs, and walk with someone at night.
Cost:$995 for July workshop. $500 deposit required to hold your spot. Contact info@laurafraser.com for registration and to ask any questions. $1095 for October workshop during the Day of the Dead.
DEPOSIT, PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY
Laura’s Mexican Writing Fiesta workshops are limited to a small number of participants, typically 9 or less. Therefore we require a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your space. The $500 will be applied towards the fee of the workshop. Fees vary depending on the time of year. Final payment is due no later than 30 days prior to workshop. One exception to the non-refundable deposit policy: with adequate notice of a documented family emergency we will permit you apply all but $250 administration fee towards another workshop within one year.
In the unlikely event that Laura’s Mexican Writing Fiesta is cancelled for any reason, we will refund your full deposit and final payment if it has been made. In no case are we responsible for airline change fees; therefore, we strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance. We also recommend that you hold off buying your airline ticket until you get confirmation that the workshop will be filled, one month before.
Hotel accommodations: There are three luxury rooms in the Villa Clara Bella available for students on a first-come basis. The rates are $1000/week for the Master Suite, $925 for the library room, $850 for the Juliet room with twin beds, or $600 each to share that room. These rooms will require a separate 50% deposit to hold upon reservation.
Other hotel accommodations are available nearby at budget, moderate, and luxury rates. Contact info@laurafraser.com for details.
REGISTER NOW (Contact Laura if San Miguel de Allende resident for discount)
About Villa Clara Bella: This luxurious villa is inside a gated community right next to San Miguel de Allende’s lovely Parque Juarez, and just four blocks from the central jardin and Parroquia church. The villa has sumptuous gardens and terraces, with all kinds of private nooks for writing or dreaming. The workshop sessions will be held in the formal, Spanish-style dining room, or outdoors on a terrace. The rooftop terrace is planted with olive trees, herbs, and flowers, and has a stunning 360-degree view of San Miguel de Allende. The villa has wireless internet, a Vonage phone line (free calls to the US for all students), and loads of amenities.There are three bedrooms with private baths in the villa for those who are first to register; otherwise, there are plenty of nearby accommodations.
The Writing Fiesta can also arrange your transportation and reservations at other hotels, and Laura will make suggestions or reservations at her favorite local restaurants. It’s never a bad idea to book an extra day or two to become acquainted with the town before the workshop.
Andale!
Sign up soon to hold your spot!
Some testimonials:
Laura Fraser is as gifted as a writing instructor as she is a NYT best-selling author. Not every great writer can teach writing, but Laura excels at both. With enthusiasm and compassion, she breaks down each aspect of personal writing and invites her students to be honest, bold and daring on the page. Under her guidance the words easily flow and what seemed challenging and confusing before, takes shape with new structure and voice. Her “Writing From Experience” workshop in San Miguel is much more than a workshop – it’s a cultural fiesta! While the writing classes are incredibly constructive and informative, the excursions into San Miguel’s colorful lifestyle, food, music and history make the whole experience one I’ll never forget.
–Gwen Mayes, Lawyer, Freelance Health Policy Writer
Laura Fraser’s writer’s workshop in San Miguel was everything I’d hoped it would be and much, much more. The accommodations were not just comfortable, they were absolutely luxurious and very secure. Our classes were enlightening and constructive with feedback given in a very positive manner. Sometimes it can be beyond intimidating to bare your soul in a writing group, but Laura made it a wonderful experience. She is an intelligent, experienced and very skillful writer who understands and embraces the craft of writing. She’s able to get that across easily in her classes. I left with renewed enthusiasm to see my writing project through to completion.”
–Fran Tunno. Copywriter and voiceover actress
“Laura’s workshop was a pleasure and more importantly, the structure of the sessions and her facilitation allowed for very practical feedback. I do not think that every writer can create an environment where the workshop portion is actually useful, that is, where the participants can be constructive, not too nice and not too mean. But that is exactly what happened. The format allowed for a lot of learning (for me, especially on structure), a lot of re-writes and a lot of fun. And of course, San Miguel! What can you say? Beauty, charm and friendly people – a perfect spot for a workshop.”
–Carol Merchasin, lawyer and essayist
- We learned to make Chiles en Nogada at Patsy’s cooking class
Workingshopping every morning; plenty of time to relax, explore, and write in the afternoon. 
Some local color, and the gardens at the villa.
