One of our goals at the Bosque Village is to provide writers with a space where they are free from outside obligations. Meals, snacks, and fun are scheduled for you to attend, and field trips and activities will also be scheduled. However, if you're cruising right along and don't want to attend a scheduled event, you will never be pressured! Join in to the degree that you wish.

 

Daily:
The basic daily schedule will stay the same. Weeks will include a variety of activities, classes, and tourism to keep your brain almost sane and give your fingers some rest.

  • 7:30AM: Optional brisk walk/run or yoga
  • 8:30 - 9:30AM: Breakfast
  • 11:00AM: Juice and snack break, stretching session
  • 1:30PM: Big Lunch
  • 4:30PM: Agua fresca and snack break, stretching session
  • 7:00PM: Light dinner
  • Nightly fires. One fire will include a discussion about characters, plots, and settings in novels in progress. The other fire will be novel-free: no talking about writing, novels, or plots under any circumstances!

group discussion at shambhalaWeekly:
Depending on progress and the number of participants interested, the exact days of these activities will vary.

  • Readings after lunch. Interested participants will read a section of their novel for the group.
  • One-on-one meetings with one of our facilitators for feedback, discussion, or other needed help.
  • "We're STUCK" meetings. Flesh out parts of your novel with a group to break past barriers.
  • Optional partner discussion. Partner up with another writer to read parts of your novel, talk about roadblocks, and think about the next few chapters.
  • Optional weekly group word-counts.
  • Bi-weekly saunas for clean skin and minds!
  • Afternoons of outdoor activities including volleyball, badminton, and archery.

October 30 - November 2 :

  • Welcome! Settle in, get used to the climate, the altitude, the space.
  • Group: Orientation. Everyone signs the Month-Long Novelist Agreement and Statement of Understanding.
  • Sign up for classes.
  • Class: Traveler's Spanish
  • Enjoy Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This Mexican holiday is famous in this region. We will be traveling together to Pátzcuaro to enjoy the celebration.

November 2:

  • Meet the group, share goals and visions.

Week 1: November 2-8:

  • Group discussion: What are your main character's hobbies? What were they doing one year ago today? What will they do tomorrow? What ambitions and goals motivate them?
  • Week One exercises from Chris Baty: "Tell me about your Uncle" and "Couch Potato"
  • Afternoon walk to a nearby village for ceviche and beer or agua fresca
  • Class on how to make tamales: a traditional Mexican dish of steamed corn dough with a vegetable filling.
  • Tour of the Bosque Village
  • Photography class covering macro photography, nature photography, and portraits.

Week 2: November 9-15:

  • Group discussion: How are things going? Second week goals.
  • Group discussion: Read a paragraph of your novel that you find interesting, and listen to thoughts, feedback, and suggestions.
  • Week Two exercise from Chris Baty: "Getting on Your Case"
  • Afternoon field trip to Opongio, a local distillery. Dinner in Opongio.
  • Tortilla and salsa making class.
  • Class on local crafts: baskets out of pine needles.

Week 3: November 16-22:

  • Group discussion: Are you halfway done? More? Less? For those who are still under 25,000: group Jetpack exercise, recommended by Chris Baty, facilitated by a Bosque member.
  • Group discussion: How goes the Inner Editor?
  • Week Three exercise from Chris Baty: "Putting Your Story on the Map"
  • Day trip to Pátzcuaro, Janitzio, and Tsingtzuntzan. Lunch in Pátzcuaro.
  • Discussion on permaculture and sustainable living at the Bosque Village.
  • Small group dinners in local villages to experience village life and local cuisine.
  • Circus afternoon: slack line, juggling, poi, and spinning staff.

Week 4: November 23-30:

  • Booster shots for those behind: one-on-one discussions between people who are under 35,000 words with facilitators and other novelists to inspire and motivate! Get going!
  • Daily word-count board: we're nearing the end.
  • Week Four exercise from Chris Baty: "Doing the Last Days Longhand"
  • Game day at the Bosque. Board games, volleyball and other outdoor games... anything to get away from the computer!
  • Archery competition.
  • Photography competition.

December 1-2:

  • Optional: participants receive a print-out of their novel.
  • Party to congratulate all participants! Featuring a local Mexican band, margaritas, and aguas frescas.
  • Email exchange and good-byes.

group discussion on the terraza