Atalissa Wells
In twelve hours, a lot can happen. 720 minutes, 43,200 seconds. Imagine having the space to devote 12 hours to writing amidst the craziness of an overwhelming schedule. The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild 12-Hour Writers Retreat is designed to do just that! Envelop yourself in a community of other writers from the area who are ready and willing to work and refine their craft, setting aside distractions and the inevitable writer’s block to spend time writing.
With the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild’s 12-Hour Writers Retreat on May 13th from 9 am – 9 pm, writers will get the opportunity to devote 12 hours to their craft–discussing with other writers in the community, engaging in guided writing exercises, and getting direct support from the retreat’s writer-in-residence, Amy Fleury, the author of two published poetry collections with more work on the way.
Amy Fleury is relatively new to the Eau Claire area but has deep ties to the community through her husband and his family. They moved to the Chippewa Valley in August 2022 after an extended time in Louisiana where Fleury was the director of the M.F.A. creative writing program at McNeese State University. In the 90s, she was a student in the program and then had the opportunity to take over her mentor’s position. “That meant a lot to me because he was very inspiring and influential,” she says. “I cared a lot about the program, and I welcomed the opportunity to perpetuate something so important to me.”
While at McNeese State, Fleury published two poetry collections: Beautiful Trouble, focusing on the intricacies and intimacies of life in the Midwest, and Sympathetic Magic, which centers on the idea that all things that come into contact with each other are bound across space and time. She’s currently working on a manuscript called Stardust and Luck. One poem from this yet unpublished collection is PICU Pietà. Another sample of Fleury’s work is The Summer of Small Boys.
“Being a poet helps with prose writing because it makes me concentrate on my choices on a microlevel. Writing prose can help expand the storytelling aspect of poetry.”
In addition to poetry, Fleury is currently working on a memoir titled What We Call Home, about the short but incredible life of her son, Graham. With her experience in multiple genres of writing, Fleury utilizes skills needed for prose and poetry to amplify her art. “Being a poet helps with prose writing because it makes me concentrate on my choices on a microlevel,” she says. “Writing prose can help expand the storytelling aspect of poetry.”
Even Fleury’s writing process pays homage to her skill sets in both prose and poetry. She comments on being language-driven, keeping a notebook on her so she can write down phrases or individual words that spark inspiration throughout the day. “As a poet, I’m a line writer. As a prose writer I’m a sentence writer,” Fleury says. “I tend to follow one link after the other.”
“Let the material find the genre.”
Due to Fleury’s multi-faceted interests in genre, writers of all kinds will be able to find something helpful and encouraging by working with Amy Fleury. “Let the material find the genre,” she says. “The way I talk about writing applies to prose and poetry both.”
At the 12-Hour Writers Retreat, Fleury aims to achieve a spirit of curiosity, exploration, and openness, supporting individual writers and the community of writers in attendance. There will be a focus on appreciating language with writing activities and intentional freewriting time. Amy Fleury’s advice for writers who are considering attending is to take the leap. “We are often the biggest obstacles to our own writing and openness to the process,” she says. “Get out of your own way.”
January 2023 Retreat
Take Amy’s advice and register for the 12-Hour Writers Retreat on May 13th from 9 am – 9 pm at Forage. She is excited for this opportunity to work with fellow writers. “It makes me happy to have moved to this community and found such a vibrant group of people who are interested in writing,” she says. Don’t let this invaluable writing community and experience go to waste and register starting March 31st at 8 am. There are only 20 spots so sign up to secure yours. The cost is $85 which includes meals throughout the day, reservation of space, and instruction from Amy Fleury. Writers 21+ are encouraged to apply.