Word and Wind: A Yearlong Writing Cohort

Word and Wind: A Yearlong Writing Cohort is an opportunity to breathe life into the stories and imaginations you carry and call them by name. Writing is often sacred, solitary work. Through this cohort, we invite you to nourish that work by holding it with land and community. This year will offer participants writing time on the mountain, support in creating regular writing rhythms, and a community of writers to journey alongside.

Who is this for?
This year-long writing cohort is for writers in search of a writing community and gentle accountability. You are welcome to join if you have published ten books or if you have no intention of ever publishing. We are asking that you bring with you a project (or projects) to focus on throughout the year.  We will not be giving you writing projects. We will support your creative process by offering some sacred space and containers, as well as occasional prompts to exercise your imagination.

What are the values we hold?
As with all Kirkridge programming, this cohort will be committed to…

• Affirming queer space and queering the words
• Letting the land be a voice in the work
• Working joy and imagination into everything
• Creating space for grief and rage
• Leaning into ritual and spiritual practice as ways to enhance our writing
• Welcoming messiness and resisting perfectionism
• Understanding our stories, our poetry, our words are part of the work of liberation

Cohort rhythm
The program includes…

• An opening and closing weekend retreat at Kirkridge
• A mid- year mini-retreat (3 hours) over zoom to check in on the status of our projects 
• Monthly zoom gatherings to read and celebrate pieces of our writing 
• Weekly optional zoom writing spaces

Important Dates
Pre-Program dates:

• November 1, 2026- Applications due
• December 1, 2026- Announcements of cohort
• December 15- Confirmation and First Payment Due. This payment is nonrefundable. 

Program schedule and dates:

• February 26-28, 2027- Opening Retreat
• February 25-27, 2028- Closing Retreat
• One Thursday a month, 7-8:30pm ET- An Evening of Readings and Celebration (TBD by participants)
• Tuesdays 12-1pm ET- Open Writing times over zoom (optional)
• Mid-year Zoom Retreat (TBD by participants)

Payment Details and Schedule
The cost of the writing cohort is sliding scale- $1,800, $1,500, and $1,200.
This includes the total cost of two retreats (room, board, programming) and all the zoom programs throughout the year.

Kirkridge is sliding-scale for all programs. When our programs are accessible across social and economic classes, everyone benefits from the breadth of wisdom in the room. Please pay at the highest rate you can afford. The base rate of $1,500 is the lowest we can offer and still break even. Some additional scholarship funds are available.

December 15, 2026- First Payment Due (first half, nonrefundable)
February 15, 2027- Second payment (second half)