The 2024 Kāpiti Writers’ Retreat takes place at El Rancho in Waikanae from Friday 23 February to Sunday 25 February.
Weekend programme
Friday, 23 February
4:00pm – 4:30pm: Mihi whakatau with Mohi Edwin
4:30pm – 6:30pm: Whakarongo ki te tai, whakarongo ki te wā / Listen to the tide, listen to the time
Te Ati Awa local, Mohi Edwin will take us on a journey through the surrounding area and share some kōrero on the history, stories and significance of this special place to haukāinga, Te Ati Awa.
7pm: Dinner
8:30pm – 9:30pm: Freewrite with Helen Lehndorf
Saturday, 24 February
7am – 8am: Morning yoga with Helen Lehndorf
8am: Breakfast
9am – 12:30pm: Morning workshop (morning tea break included)
Workshop 1: Worldbuilding wonders: create your own universes with Cassie Hart
Workshop 2: Essays in the space between with Ingrid Horrocks
Workshop 3: Designing and promoting a compelling series with Isa Pearl Ritchie
Workshop 4: Grief and loss: writing through the hard times with Kiri Piahana-Wong
Workshop 5: Troubleshooting fiction with Paula Morris
Workshop 6: Steal and break the (literary) rules with Sasha Francis
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch
1pm – 1:30pm: Bookstore open
1:30pm – 2:20pm: Writing together (if you feel like you need some company to get the work done)
1:30pm – 2:20pm: Afternoon session: Writing through difficult times with Cassie Hart and Isa Pearl Ritchie
2:30pm – 3:20pm: Writing together (if you feel like you need some company to get the work done)
2:30pm – 3:20pm: Afternoon session: Engaging with the past with Paula Morris
3:30pm – 4:20pm: Writing together (if you feel like you need some company to get the work done)
3:30pm – 4:20pm: Afternoon session: Cause and effect with Catherine Cooper and Ingrid Horrocks
4:30pm – 5:20pm: Workshop check-in (confirmed with your workshop teacher)
5:30pm: Dinner
6:30pm – 7:30pm: Notebooks for prisoners with 5ever books
8pm – 9pm: Open mike readings (sign up at the Retreat)
Sunday, 25 February
7am – 8am: Morning yoga with Helen Lehndorf
8am: Breakfast
9am – 12:30pm: Morning workshop continues from Saturday (morning tea break included)
Workshop 1: Worldbuilding wonders: create your own universes with Cassie Hart
Workshop 2: Essays in the space between with Ingrid Horrocks
Workshop 3: Designing and promoting a compelling series with Isa Pearl Ritchie
Workshop 4: Grief and loss: writing through the hard times with Kiri Piahana-Wong
Workshop 5: Troubleshooting fiction with Paula Morris
Workshop 6: Steal and break the (literary) rules with Sasha Francis
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch
1pm – 2pm: Bookstore open
2pm – 2:50pm: Afternoon session: Go your own way with Kiri Piahana-Wong and Sasha Francis, Achille Segard, and Renae Williams
2pm – 2:50pm: Writing together (if you feel like you need some company to get the work done)
3 pm: Closing
Personalised coaching sessions will be held with Catherine Cooper during the weekend at a time to be arranged individually.
Writers Practice will host a drop-in to answer other writing questions you might have throughout the weekend.