Schedule
All sessions will be held in Newton Memorial


Click Here to View the Campus Map
November 2022 Schedule
Note that all activities are optional. We want you to make this retreat whatever you need it to be. Attend any or all of the scheduled sessions, or skip some or all if you’d prefer to spend your time walking through the redwoods, praying in your room, connecting with friends, or anything else the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
THURSDAY
1:00–5:00 pm – Registration check-in
Get your booklet, name tag, lanyard, and lodging assignment.
NOTE: Lodging rooms will not be available until 4:30
4:30–5:00 pm – Get your lodging room key
5:15–6:15 pm – Welcome, announcements, and Get-to-Know-You Activity
6:30–7:30 pm – Dinner
7:45–9:00 pm – Campfire get-together with s’mores at Victory Circle
FRIDAY
7:30–7:50 am – Early Risers Devotional and Prayer Time with Jane Daly
8:00–9:00 am – Breakfast
9:30–10:45 am – Worship with Dave Lippman, Spiritual Session with Dyann Shepard, and Daily Announcements
11:00 am–12:00 noon – Writing Nonfiction that Sells, Lynn Donovan
What a writer needs to know and do to write a nonfiction book that will sell. How to prepare and deliver a successful interview for television, radio, or other media to further the reach of your book. Working with traditional book publishers as well as publicists for those who self-publish. Includes practical “sit down and do it” time.
12:30–1:30 pm – Lunch
1:45–2:45 pm – Using Life Experiences to Write Fiction, Kelly Harrel
You know that writing about your life experiences, and the lessons you’ve learned from them, could help, bless, and benefit readers. But is memoir really the best way? Discover how to take what God has done in your life and transform it into a fictional story that reflects the messages your heart yearns to share. Writing inspiring fiction is fun, freeing, and far more publishable and marketable than a memoir.
3:00–4:00 pm – Copyright Basics, Kelley Way
Copyrights are an important tool in the arsenal of any author. Without copyrights, there would be no way to truly profit from your work or prevent others from using or copying your work without permission. But what are copyrights, and how can they be used to protect your work? This presentation will teach you what rights you have, and how to use them to your best advantage.
4:15–5:15 pm – Beginning Fiction Techniques, Kelly Harrel
A brief overview of the techniques every fiction writer needs to know, including point-of-view, dialogue, story structure, and show-don’t-tell.
5:30-6:15 pm – Small-Group Meet-ups:
Fiction, Nonfiction, Indie Publishing, Writing for a Secular Audience
6:30–7:30 pm – Dinner
7:45–9:00 pm – Creatives Showcase
Watch your fellow attendees read something they wrote, sing a song, play an instrument, perform a humorous skit, do a worshipful dance, or show off some other talent. Support them with your applause and encouragement!
SATURDAY
7:30–7:50 am – Early Risers Devotional and Prayer Time with Dyann Shepard
8:00–9:00 am – Breakfast
9:15 am – Group Photo at Victory Circle
9:45–11:15 am – Worship with Dave Lippman, Spiritual Session with Lynn Donovan, and Daily Announcements
11:30 am–12:15 pm – Small-Group Meet-ups:
Fiction, Nonfiction, Indie Publishing, Writing for a Secular Audience
12:30–1:30 pm – Lunch
1:45–2:45 pm – Estate Planning for Authors, Kelley Way
Estate plans exist to protect your assets and provide for your children. A copyright is designed to do the same; that’s why the life of a copyright is 70 years past the life of the author. This presentation will teach you what comprises an estate plan and how your copyright fits into it, so that your copyright can continue to provide value even after you’re no longer able to manage it.
3:00–4:00 pm – Triumphant Writing: Spiritual Warfare for Writers, Lynn Donovan
Overcoming, delay, disappointment, rewrites, fear, and rejection. This inspires writers to step into their creative gifting, their kingdom identity, and fulfilling their writing purpose.
4:15–5:45 pm – Reflective Time
Write, pray, fellowship, brainstorm, take a Guided Prayer Walk, visit the prayer chapel … whatever the Lord leads you to do to get what He wants you to get from this retreat.
6:00–6:30 pm – Dinner
6:45–9:00 pm – Book Sales and Signings


Sunday
6:00 am – Walk to the Cross
Meet Bill Fernald at the Mount Hermon post office. He’ll lead us on a fairly easy hike up to the cross and get there just before dawn. We’ll have some sharing, singing, and prayer, and then … sunrise!
8:00–9:00 am – Breakfast
9:15–10:15 am – Sunday service with worship and communion
10:30–11:00 am – Closing spiritual session
11:15 am–12:15 pm – Sharing Time
12:30–1:30 pm – Lunch
1:45–2:15 pm – Pack up and farewells
2:30 pm – Deadline to check out of lodging rooms