Being a writer is lonely. Especially when the voice in your head tells you you’re not really a writer. We feel it too, so we created a space for writers who want to break free from creative ruts, refine their voice, and connect with others who share the same passion.
We’ve designed this Retreat with you in mind, for you to write in the way, time, and place that works best for you while still being able to engage in meaningful ways with writers who may end up being your community for years to come!
In July of 2023, this witty, genuine, warm woman crossed our path on another project. We found Megan’s presence to be irreplaceable: her sarcasm was a humorous reminder not to take ourselves so seriously–perfectly honed to awaken but not sting. Her warmth started with her smile, extended through her cooking, and radiated through her words penned to page. And her hugs were like none other! Megan heard that we really needed another person on the Raw Heart team and volunteered. Our June ’24 retreat solidified Megan’s irreplaceable spot on the team: We can’t imagine doing Raw Heart without her! She brings a warmth and energy we need and we know you’ll enjoy. So, from all three of us, welcome to the Raw Heart family: We look forward to walking through your story with you!
Angie Mallory is a writer, wild mustang tamer mom who is delighted when people comment with shock, "You're a PhD!? You don't seem like it!" (Whether this occurs so often because she sounds less than smart or because she can always be found shoveling some form of crap on her ranch is irrelevant.) She is a researcher focused on rhetorical actions in austere environments. In the winter months when the ranch is buried in snow, she secretly writes "healing erotica" novels–stories meant to give sexual assault survivers a genuine and playful image of what moving forward can be. Tired of titles and pretentiousness, her passion is creating growth spaces for vulnerability where humans can interact with nature, horses, and each other.
Aaron Yost is a stoke poet and adventure writer dad with piles of rejection slips to prove his worth. He teaches writing at Montana State University and provides professional development for teachers around the state of Montana on writing instruction and authentic dialogue in classrooms. His winters are spent backcountry skiing and his summers in a kayak. He is a hopeless romantic with very few marketable skills.
Megan, a native Texan, makes decent biscuits and gravy but doesn’t know how to line dance. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at the Permian Basin while working full time and raising five children with her husband, Dylan. Megan is passionate about parenting, emotional intelligence, and birds. At retreats, she brings a welcoming spirit, good vibes, and warm banana bread to the table.
To preserve the intimate and focused environment that defines this retreat, we limit the number of participants. Spaces tend to fill up fast, so make sure to secure your spot early if you’d like to be a part of this experience!
Absolutely! We do have a refund policy in place to help you commit to your retreat experience. Once you have applied, had your interview, and been accepted, we ask for a nonrefundable deposit of $500 to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due on Oct 11, 2024. The deposit is nonrefundable, but the rest of the payment is refundable up until the day of the retreat.
Our goal in the interview is to get to know each other better and for you to ask any questions you may have. We really want to understand what you’re looking for in the Retreat, what vulnerability and empowerment mean to you in a writing community, and to see if the retreat feels like a good match for you—and for us too! Let’s have a chat and see if we’re a fit together.
