New Jersey Writers' Conference NJ Winter Getaway Writer's Conference
  January 13-16, 2012     Not your typical writers' conference
           
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Murphy Writing Seminars
Peter E. Murphy, Director
Stockton College
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About the Getaway
Frequently Asked Questions

Workshops | Tutorials | General | Logistics / Location | Contact Us

Workshops

  1. What if I've never taken a writing workshop before?
  2. I have an M.F.A. and lots of experience in workshops. Will I still benefit?
  3. How many people are in the workshops?
  4. How much will I write?
  5. What if I don't know which poetry workshop to take?
  6. Which memoir workshop should I take?
  7. I registered for one workshop and would like to switch to another. Can I do that?

Tutorials

  1. Tell me about tutorials.
  2. Can I choose which faculty member my tutorial will be with?
  3. Do I need to purchase tutorials ahead of time?

General

  1. Who comes to the Getaway?
  2. What if I don't know anybody?
  3. Have any Getaway participants been published?
  4. What can I do during my free time?
  5. Can I attend just part of the weekend?
  6. What if I don't have a car?
  7. What is the meaning of life?

Logistics / Location

  1. What amenities does the hotel provide?
  2. How's the food?
  3. I want to go for the Double Room Package to save money. Can you find me a roommate?
  4. Can I bring a guest?
  5. I've got kids. Can they come too?
  6. I registered as a commuter but have decided I want to stay at the hotel.
    What do I do?
  7. Is there parking available? What's the cost?
  8. What kind of weather should I be prepared for?
  9. I'm concerned about the weather. What happens if it snows?




Workshops

  1. What if I've never taken a writing workshop before?
    Welcome to the Getaway. With its supportive environment, this is a great place to start. For example, in Poetry Writing, you will receive prompts for starting new poems, followed by time to write. Then you will receive encouraging and constructive feedback identifying your new poem's strengths and offering suggestions to improve it. If you take a non-poetry workshop, you can expect a similar positive experience.
     
  2. I have an M.F.A. and lots of experience in workshops. Will I still benefit?
    Absolutely. Many of our participants who have advanced degrees use the Getaway to start new work or develop work in progress. Our award winning faculty is experienced at working with poets and writers of all levels.
     
  3. How many people are in the workshops?
    While most of our workshops are capped at eight, nine or ten, some are as small as five. See the individual descriptions for specifics. The small sizes guarantee attention to your work while providing a large enough group to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas.
     
  4. How much will I write?
    In our poetry writing workshops, you will have the opportunity begin and receive feedback on three new poems. Our other workshops involve a combination of writing and re-writing. See the individual descriptions for a better idea.
     
  5. What if I don't know which poetry workshop to take?
    Go to the "Your Poetry Level" page and take Peter's quick. Presto!
     
  6. Which memoir workshop should I take?
    If you're new to memoir or getting started on a new piece, take Turning Memory into Memoir which will offer readings and prompts to get you going. If you have already started on a project, Reimagining Memoir will offer you feedback and techniques to help you develop it.
     
  7. I registered for one workshop and would like to switch to another. Can I do that?
    If there's room in the workshop you would like to switch to, sure. Please do not use the online registration system which will require that you pay an additional tuition. Contact us so we can make the switch, and we will refund any money we owe you, or invoice you for money you may owe us. After Dec. 10, a $25 change fee will be charged to switch your workshop, room package, tutorial(s) and/or add-ons.
     

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Tutorials

  1. Tell me about tutorials.
    Tutorials are your chance to get one-on-one feedback from a member of our faculty. If you are in either the Beginning or Advanced Poetry Writing workshops, your tuition includes one 20 minute tutorial. Want more? You can add-on a second one. Other participants can purchase prose or poetry tutorials, or both.
     
  2. Can I choose which faculty member my tutorial will be with?
    Poetry - Yes. On Saturday morning, we will post sign up sheets and you'll choose which tutor to sign up with. Check the list of poetry faculty—each will lead either workshops or tutorials.
    Prose - It depends. If you have a preference, email us, info@wintergetaway.com, and we'll do what we can.
     
  3. Do I need to purchase tutorials ahead of time?
    We strongly recommend it.
     

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General

  1. Who comes to the Getaway?
    200 people from across the country gather at the Jersey Shore each January. While about half take poetry workshops, the rest spend their time writing prose or songs. Although many return year after year, we go out of our way to make people new to the Getaway to feel like old friends.
     
  2. What if I don't know anybody?
    Once you come to the Getaway, it's hard not to return year after year. Although it shouldn't be the main reason to attend, many of our participants have made life-long friends. The Getaway is a unique community in which everyone feels both welcomed and encouraged. Breakfast and lunch provide a relaxed setting to get to know participants and faculty. For dinner we schedule "Meet and Eat" areas where people gather to form parties to go to local restaurants. This is especially helpful for those who are new and those who come without cars.
     
  3. Have any Getaway participants been published?
    Lots! Hundreds of our alumni have been published in journals, anthologies and received book contracts. While we don't keep up with all of them, many have credited the Getaway for their success. For example, Michelle Cameron's novel, The Fruit of Her Hands, was published by Simon & Schuster in September 2009, and Kathleen Graber‘s book of poems, The Eternal City, was nominated for both the 2010 National Book Award and the National Book Critic’s Award. Read their Success Stories.
     
  4. What can I do during my free time?
    Pool, continue writing, walk in the woods, work out in the exercise room, tutorial, pool, open mic, game room, pool, panel discussion, Getaway disco, sleep...
     
  5. Can I attend just part of the weekend?
    Probably not, but depending on the workshop you are interested in, we may be able to work something out. Call Peter to discuss it, 609-823-5076.
     
  6. What if I don't have a car?
    Once you get to the Getaway, you don't have to leave the building if you don't want to. Should you wish to go out to dinner one night, you can take advantage of our "Meet and Eat" areas where people gather to form groups to go out to eat.
     
  7. What is the meaning of life?
    TBD.
     

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Logistics / Location

  1. What amenities does the hotel provide?
    You can look forward to:
         ● Luxury accommodations with free wi-fi
         ● Spacious comfortable common areas, perfect for writing
         ● Art gallery curated by The Noyes Museum of Art
         ● Indoor pool and fitness center
         ● Walking paths and championship golf course
         ● Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa
         ● Gift Shop with Starbucks
         ● Restaurant & game room on-site
    See our "Hotel &Travel" page for more details.
     
  2. How's the food?
    It's hard to get 200 people to agree on anything, but most will concur that the hotel goes out of its way to serve plentiful, delicious food which appeals to diverse tastes, including vegetarians and those with special dietary needs.
     
  3. I want to go for the Double Room Package to save money. Can you find me a roommate?
    Yes, just indicate that on your registration form and we will do our best.
     
  4. Can I bring a guest?
    Yes, register for a Shared Room Package and your guest may join you for meals, afternoon and evening activities. While you are in your workshop, s/he will be free to use the hotel's facilities and explore the area with its many exciting attractions.
     
  5. I've got kids. Can they come too?
    Call Peter, who will help you work out a reasonably priced meal package and do his best to upgrade you to a roomy suite. 609-823-5076.
     
  6. I registered as a commuter but have decided I want to stay at the hotel. What do I do?
    Please do not use the online registration system which will require that you pay an additional tuition. Call or email us and we can add a Room Package for you. You can pay the new balance by check.
     
  7. Is there parking available? What's the cost?
    The hotel has a free parking lot and valet parking is available too for those who would like to splurge.
     
  8. What kind of weather should I be prepared for?
    Some years it can be balmy, while other years it's quite cold. The average daytime temperature for the Atlantic City area in January is 45 degrees.
     
  9. I'm concerned about the weather. What happens if it snows?
    In our 18 year history, we've never had to cancel the Getaway. Our venues have served us beautifully, even during blizzards, ice storms and flooding. If that Friday’s weather looks threatening, consider arriving a day early or coming a day late. The hotel is offering us a special rate for the few days before and after which will make this easier. We'll send out an email to registered participants in the beginning of January with details on how to reserve those extra days and other last minute information like that.
     

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Contact Us

Have other questions?
Contact us at 609-823-5076 or info@wintergetaway.com.

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The Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway is a Program of Murphy Writing Seminars, LLC
New Jersey Department of Education Professional Development Provider #539
609-823-5076 • 888-887-2105 • info@wintergetaway.com
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