There will be a Truth and Beauty workshop also held in December 2026. Marie and Ellen will teach the same program during this 2027 workshop as they will be in the December 2026 workshop. Please only sign up for one of these workshops and not both.

Although this workshop is appropriate for beginning poets, with much support and encouragement offered, it is also recommended for experienced poets, including those who have published books or chapbooks, are teaching poetry, or have simply been working at the craft for a long time.

This workshop is oriented toward generating new work. We’ll start each day with a group discussion about some aspect of the craft of writing.

Then there will be time devoted to writing. Unlike workshops where there are multiple short writing prompts, we prefer to schedule longer writing sessions so that there’s time to go deeply into your writing. You may not be writing that entire time, but there’s space for writing, reflection, starting off on a whole new topic, maybe taking a short break to refresh yourself and begin again.

Then we’ll meet to share our work. For these sessions, we’ll divide into smaller groups, one led by each teacher (you’ll have the opportunity to work with both teachers in the small groups). Everyone will have a chance to read and to receive responses, encouragement, and support. Marie and Ellen will also provide guidance and suggestions for those who need or want that.

Though the majority of the workshop is in person at Bishop’s House at Healdsburg, CA, the final feedback session will be online via Zoom a week and a half later. This will give you time to revise a poem before presenting it to the group.

The mission of Bishop’s Ranch is to share a place of rare beauty through hospitality that nourishes spirit, body, and mind.

The Ranch was founded in 1947 and provides hospitality for retreats, conferences, and other gatherings to the Diocese of California, as well as spiritual and secular community groups and non-profit organizations.

Located in Sonoma County, at the convergence of three major wine-producing regions, the grounds include a solar-heated pool, picnic area, meditation labyrinth, and miles of hiking trails, from easy hikes through orchards and pastures to more challenging hikes with spectacular panoramic views and dense redwood groves.

Bishop’s Ranch offers a range of cozy accommodations, adaptable meeting spaces, and an abundance of areas to enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings.

Our group will be housed in two buildings on the ranch: The Ranch House and Webb Lodge. The Ranch House is a gracious two-story, Spanish-style building built in 1930. It has 15 unique bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a large living room, full kitchen, outdoor courtyard, and more. Webb Lodge is a two-story building with ten private rooms. Each room includes a private bathroom and a balcony overlooking rolling hills and stately oaks.

Some Notes on Accessibility:

Please be aware that our workshop makes use of several different buildings on Bishop’s Ranch campus, and your rooms may be a short distance away from the dining or meeting rooms.

There are a limited number of ADA accessible rooms; if you need one of these rooms, please tell us on the form you will be directed to after your registration payment is made.

The Bishop’s Ranch Kitchen invites guests to slow down and enjoy a meal together. They serve three buffet-style meals a day in their light-filled Refectory, featuring seasonal ingredients from their two Ranch Gardens and fruit trees. What they don’t grow themselves, they source from local farmers and family businesses. Their grains and flour are often sourced from local, organic, fair-trade companies. They make as much as possible from scratch and limit the amount of processed foods in our dishes.

Meals at The Ranch Kitchen aim to transport guests home with dishes ranging from homemade focaccia to tandoori chicken. They strive to keep their menus innovative with creative new vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, coupled with the timeless Ranch Recipes that countless guests have come to know and love.

To help ensure the health and well-being of our participants, any participant found to have a communicable disease will not be allowed to attend the retreat.

We are asking that you bring 2 Covid tests and a thermometer with you. Anyone with symptoms of a communicable disease will be asked to test themselves. It would be wise to test yourself before you leave for the retreat.

There will be no refunds for those asked to leave the retreat.

We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover the workshop fees, the costs of travel, and medical and housing expenses. Even if you are local or not traveling far, travel insurance purchased within 14 days of your first payment for this retreat will be your best way to recoup your money in case you need to cancel or are found to have a communicable disease while on the retreat.

Pricing is per person.

Single Occupancy Room: USD $4,200
(The majority of these rooms have multiple beds, but only one person will be lodged in these rooms.)

Small Single Occupancy Room: USD $3,700
(These rooms are exclusively in The Ranch House on the second floor.)

Double Occupancy Room: USD $3,200

The pricing includes the workshop fee, room, and board. All rooms have a private bathroom.