The Motherlode Retreat:
Mastering the Art of Writing About our Mothers
A Facilitated Writing Retreat
Co-led with Novelist Amy Shearn
April 27-May 1, 2025, The Barns at Boyd’s Mill
Milanville, Pennsylvania
What is the Motherlode? Is it the gift of love, creativity, compassion and strength we receive from our mothers that we carry through our lives? Or is the Motherlode more of a Motherload; a weight or sadness passed down to us through the motherline from our mothers who could not, for whatever reason, properly mother us?
At Writing the Motherlode we’ll explore these questions as we gather in community to unpack our understanding of the Motherlode/Motherload so that we can better write about our complex relationships with our mothers. No matter where you are in your writing journey, and whether you are writing non-fiction, fiction, poetry, plays, screenplays, or songs, please join us for this five-day writing retreat where via safe facilitated sessions we’ll learn to strengthen the writing skills we need to bring our Motherlode material to the page.
What We Explore at The Motherlode Retreat
The Mother wound–what is it, how does it manifest, and how do we write about it?
What are the treasures and pains we’ve received from our mothers?
How do unhelpful and unbalanced narratives from our mothers haunt us and how do we move past them in our writing?
How has our specific Motherload/Motherlode story shaped our own relationships with parenting?
How can we bring our mothers to life on the page, when we remain emotionally connected to and activated by them?
How do we/can we move from the Motherload to the Motherlode?
Reviews from Diana's Other Retreats
Diana’s craft teachings, readings, and the way she inspires group interaction creates a safe, warm space. Breakthroughs, newly crystallized awareness, and directions for the next part of my writing journey are the gifts I carried home.
All of my needs were met so that I could relax and focus on my creative work in an inspiring setting. I got a lot of writing done, and I will be back. The writing sessions, both generative and instructional, were perfect. Diana is an excellent instructor and literary guide.
The classes, facilitated by Diana Friedman, were impressive. I admired Diana’s knowledge of craft and her ability to create a captivating space of comfort and safety for everyone. The classes were structured and well-thought-through, down to the last writing prompt.
What we Offer at the Motherlode Retreat
Generative writing time designed to push us deeper into writing honestly about our own Motherlode/Motherload.
Craft instruction to help us to see and create our mothers as three-dimensional people.
Techniques for creating enough space between our child wounds and our adult self to write about the motherlode “from the ceiling.”
Time for you to work on your own writing-in-progress as well as opportunities to create new work.
Informal discussions after dinner on publishing, research, and other topics that arise during the week.
Location
The Motherlode Retreat is held at the Barn At Boyds Mills, located in the Upper Delaware River Valley, in the Pocono Mountain foothills. Surrounded by a 1,300-acre forest, Boyds Mills is a couple of hours from both New York City and Philadelphia. At Boyds, you’ll find cabins nestled among the trees, a Lodge at the top of a small hill, and a beautifully restored modern Barn space at the center of it all. Please click here to see more information about the rooms and venue. All rooms–both cabin and lodge–have private bathrooms. There is a small kitchen in the lodge to store snacks. Please reach out here to Boyds Mill with questions or to inquire about room shares, transportation or food accommodations.
Food
Food is farm-style and sourced from local ingredients: everything from herbs snipped fresh from the garden, to eggs from nearby farms, to bread and pastries from local bakeries. Meals are prepared fresh on-site and served buffet style in The Barn. We will eat together in the barn, or, outside, (weather permitting), or, if you are in a writing groove, you can take your meal to your room or another private place. The Barn is open around the clock for snacks, beverages, and ice cream. Beer and wine are available during appetizers and dinner, and you are welcome to bring your own too. Boyds can accommodate most food requests..
Price: 1920 Dollars Includes all food, lodging and writing instruction. Discounts available for shared rooms.
Writing the Motherlode
A Facilitated Writing Retreat led by Diana Friedman and Amy Shearn
April 27-May 1, 2025