• Program Description
• Authors Scheduled To Appear
• Schedule of Events
• Location
• Registration and Cost
• What To Bring
• Praise from Past Participants

Program Description

Into the Fire
The Sun Magazine Celebrates Personal Writing

To write about ourselves in a way that touches others and reminds them of our fundamental connectedness we must be willing to take a leap — with all our passion, fear, and longing — into the fire. And that fire is not just a metaphor. It’s as real as our own mysterious existence; as real as a painful moment that has broken, and maybe opened, our hearts.

For thirty-six years The Sun has published the kind of brave, revealing writing that lives up to the magazine’s motto, a line from concentration-camp survivor Viktor Frankl: “What is to give light must endure burning.” We invite you to join Sun readers, authors, and staff — including editor and publisher Sy Safransky — for a weekend of investigating our lives through the written word. The Sun will come to life in a retreat that mirrors the magazine’s format. We’ll discuss essays, fiction, and poems with their authors, who will lead exercises geared to bring forth similar elements in your own writing. Readers Write–style writing sessions will help get your pen moving. (You don’t have to be a writer to attend. Our aim is simply to create a space in which people can tell their stories from the heart.) The weekend will conclude with Sy Safransky reading from his Notebook and all of us sharing our favorite quotations at a Sunbeams open mic.

Of course, the best part of a Sun gathering is getting to meet everyone: staff, writers, and other people who love the magazine and share its compassionate, unflinching view of the world. We hope you’ll join us.

A large enrollment is expected; we recommend registering early.

Schedule of Events

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Friday

Registration, 4–6 p.m.    
Dinner, 6–7:30 p.m. 
Orientation for first-time Esalen visitors, 7:45 p.m. 

Opening Session, Dance Dome, 8:30–10:00 p.m.
Welcome and Orientation
Contributors Notes (introductions, please see what to bring)
Author Reading

Saturday

Breakfast, 8:30–9:45 a.m.

Workshop Session I, 10 A.M.–12 P.M. (choose one of the following)

Metaphor: What Is It Like?
Ellen Bass (Poetry), Big Yurt
Poetry is rooted in metaphor, in which we see the similarity in disparate things. Using her poem “In Praise of Four-Letter Words” [December 2004], Ellen will demonstrate how metaphor works to create emotional authenticity, to make order from chaos, and to forge a bond between the poet and the reader. She’ll also provide practical advice for writing more vivid metaphors.

Writing Honestly
Stephen Elliott (Fiction / Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories), Rolf
What do we mean when we talk about honesty in writing? Do we mean not lying, or do we mean something deeper having to do with knowledge of self? Being honest, it turns out, is more complicated than we think, and deciding what to include and what to leave out is more about understanding what the reader needs to know and less about staying within our comfort zones. Stephen will discuss honesty in memoir and fiction writing and lead a writing exercise.

Writing Transformative Fiction
Pat MacEnulty (Fiction), Dance Dome
When John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath, he wanted to transform the way mainstream society thought about and treated people on the margins. His book actually brought about changes in legislation. Pat will demonstrate some specific steps for creating transformative fiction using her story “When I Get to Key West” [April 2001] as an example.

The Art of the Interview
Michael Shapiro (Interviews), Little House
The long-form interview has been a hallmark of The Sun for decades. Interviewing is something most writers do, and doing it well is challenging. A successful interview combines thoughtful questions, rapt attention, and deft spontaneity. Michael will talk about preparing for and conducting interviews. If you’re writing a memoir, interviewing in advance the people you’re writing about can reveal their perspectives and create a stronger narrative. Ultimately, the key to interviewing is attentiveness, a practice that will enrich our writing.

Perspective on the Page
Cheryl Strayed (Essays, Memoirs & True Stories), Big House
How do we write about the past and our former selves most effectively? From what distance or vantage point should a given story be narrated? When do we let what happened stand without interpretation, and when do we disclose new wisdom about old ways? Cheryl will read passages from her essays “The Boy with Blue Hair” [January 2006] and “The Love of My Life” [September 2002] by way of discussing narrative stance and the way a writer’s voice reveals perspective on the page. She will also lead participants in writing exercises to bring narrative stance into focus.

Readers Write
Hosted by Tim McKee, managing editor

Individual meetings with Sy Safransky

Lunch, 12:30–1:45 P.M.

Workshop Session II, 2–4 P.M. (choose one of the following)

The List Poem
Ellen Bass (Poetry), Big Yurt
Lists are irresistible: from the Bible to Homer, from the Elizabethans to Walt Whitman, from Cole Porter to us. Writing a list poem can be fun, because once you’ve got your theme, you can just keep thinking up more and more and more examples. Using her poem “Pray for Peace” [June 2003], Ellen will demonstrate techniques to keep the tension high and the poem alive.

The Importance of Memory
Stephen Elliott (Fiction / Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories), Rolf
How can we access memory and use it to develop fiction and creative nonfiction? Often the writing that comes easiest is our best writing. Using his story “A Life without Consequences” [April 2000] and sections from his memoir, The Adderall Diaries, as examples, Stephen will help participants turn memories into stories.

The Narrator in Your Head
Pat MacEnulty (Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories), Dance Dome
When you are going through a difficult experience, is there a voice that describes the events to you, tries to make sense of it all, and notices those details that at first seem random but later may be fraught with significance? Pat will discuss how her interior narrator influenced her essay “At Her Feet” [May 2008] and offer tips for accessing the narrator in your head.

The Magic of Studs Terkel
Michael Shapiro (Interviews), Little House
The preeminent oral historian of the twentieth century, Studs Terkel was a working-class guy from Chicago who could barely operate a tape recorder. He made his subjects, who ranged from world-renowned musicians to the waitress at the local diner, come to life and steal our hearts. When Terkel was ninety-three, he spoke to Michael Shapiro, and the interview was published in The Sun in November 2006. Michael will discuss the almost accidental technique of one of the masters of the form, using Terkel’s methods as a guide for how we can all become better interviewers and more attentive people.

The Art of Revelation
Cheryl Strayed (Essays, Memoirs & True Stories), Big House
The moment when the narrator understands a truth that was previously unknown is perhaps the most important scene in any essay or story, and for that reason it’s often the hardest one to write. Cheryl will read excerpts from her essay “The Boy with Blue Hair” [January 2006] and will lead participants in exercises to help them write complex and meaningful revelations.

Readers Write
Hosted by Krista Bremer, associate publisher

Individual meetings with Sy Safransky

Workshop Session III, 4:15–6:15 P.M. (choose one of the following)

Location, Location, Location: The Poetry of Place
Ellen Bass (Poetry), Big Yurt
Not all poems need a specific setting, but many narrative poems can benefit from having a strong foundation in a particular landscape. A poem that has coordinates in time and space is rooted in this world. You need to know where you are before you can go somewhere else. Using her poem “Winter Solstice” [January 2006], Ellen will discuss ways to achieve a detailed, accurate, and evocative sense of place.

Issues, Moral and Otherwise
Stephen Elliott (Fiction / Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories), Rolf
Who owns a story that involves more than one person? Both fiction and nonfiction writers deal with loved ones in their writing. Using his memoir, The Adderall Diaries, Stephen will discuss how to build a moral framework for our writing that includes personal responsibility.

Enriching Your Fiction through Imagery and Symbol
Pat MacEnulty (Fiction), Dance Dome
Striking images and subtle symbols both have an emotional impact on the reader. Pat will talk about adding layers of meaning to your fiction and discuss her own use of symbols and images in her story “Floating on the Darkness” [September 1998]. 

The Art of the Interview
Michael Shapiro (Interviews), Little House
The long-form interview has been a hallmark of The Sun for decades. Interviewing is something most writers do, and doing it well is challenging. A successful interview combines thoughtful questions, rapt attention, and deft spontaneity. Michael will talk about preparing for and conducting interviews. If you’re writing a memoir, interviewing in advance the people you’re writing about can reveal their perspectives and create a stronger narrative. Ultimately, the key to interviewing is attentiveness, a practice that will enrich our writing.

Literary Excavation
Cheryl Strayed (Essays, Memoirs & True Stories), Big House
Powerful stories dig deep and range wide. Often the story is not one story, but many arranged in layers. It’s the writer’s job to excavate those layers, to figure out how this is connected to that, and to make it all meaningful to the reader. Cheryl will use her essay “The Love of My Life” [September 2002] to discuss how several stories can be woven together to create one powerful tale. She will also lead us in a series of exercises aimed at uncovering the hidden layers of our own stories.

Readers Write
Hosted by Luc Saunders, editorial associate, and Seth Mirsky, proofreader

Individual meetings with Sy Safransky

Dinner, 6:30–7:45 P.M.

Workshop Session IV, 8–10 P.M. (choose one of the following)

The Making of the Magazine
Sy Safransky and Editorial Staff, Dance Dome
We’ll describe the journey of a submission from receipt to response to publication. We’ll talk about our editorial-review process as well as what The Sun looks for in a submission. (If photographers are in attendance, we’ll review our submission and selection process for photos, too.) We’ll also discuss how we approach editing and how we assemble an issue, and we’ll answer your questions.

The List Poem
Ellen Bass (Poetry), Big Yurt
Lists are irresistible: from the Bible to Homer, from the Elizabethans to Walt Whitman, from Cole Porter to us. Writing a list poem can be fun, because once you’ve got your theme, you can just keep thinking up more and more and more examples. Using her poem “Pray for Peace” [June 2003], Ellen will demonstrate techniques to keep the tension high and the poem alive.

The Protagonist-Author
Stephen Elliott (Fiction), Rolf
In generationally defining American fiction of the twentieth century, such as the novels On The Road, The Bell Jar, and The Sun Also Rises, the protagonist has been a stand-in for the author. Using his stories “A Coward and a Thief” [August 1996] and “Stalking Gracie” [February 2003], Stephen will lead a discussion and a series of exercises on the protagonist-author in fiction and how it can result in more powerful work, if we avoid the pitfalls.

Writing for Planetary Transformation
Pat MacEnulty (Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories), Maslow
Personal writing can be a means for understanding larger issues and changing the way others understand them. Pat will examine how larger social concerns inform even an essay as personal as her “Kitty’s Smile” [June 2001] and will open a discussion of the political and personal in your work.

The Magic of Studs Terkel
Michael Shapiro (Interviews), Little House
The preeminent oral historian of the twentieth century, Studs Terkel was a working-class guy from Chicago who could barely operate a tape recorder. He made his subjects, who ranged from world-renowned musicians to the waitress at the local diner, come to life and steal our hearts. When Terkel was ninety-three, he spoke to Michael Shapiro, and the interview was published in The Sun in November 2006. Michael will discuss the almost accidental technique of one of the masters of the form, using Terkel’s methods as a guide for how we can all become better interviewers and more attentive people.

The Fearless Place
Cheryl Strayed (Essays, Memoirs & True Stories), Big House
The best writers dare to tell the whole, complicated, beautiful, and ugly truth. Cheryl will discuss how and why she went to the fearless place in writing her essay “The Love of My Life” [September 2002] and will lead participants in writing exercises that push us beyond our comfort zones.

Sunday

Breakfast, 8:30–9:15 a.m.

* Important: Please remove your belongings from your room before the Sunday-morning sessions.

Digging the Well, Dance Dome, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
The authors will discuss their individual writing practices and share ideas for stimulating creativity and inspiration or just developing the discipline to sit down with pen and paper or laptop. What methods work best for getting started and staying the course? How can you avoid distraction and manage your time?

Sy Safransky’s Notebook, Dance Dome, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
Sy will read from his Notebook, talk about his writing practice, and discuss how he approaches revising his own work versus the writing of magazine contributors. He’ll discuss the evolution of his writing as well as The Sun as a magazine, and he’ll answer your questions.

Sunbeams Open Mic and Closing Session, Dance Dome, 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m.
Participants are invited to bring their favorite quotations to read aloud. Everyone will get to read a quote or two, time permitting. Then we’ll wrap up and make our goodbyes.

Brunch, 12:15–1:30 p.m.

Departure

Location

Esalen Institute, 55000 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920, (831) 667-3005, info@esalen.org.

Esalen is situated on twenty-seven acres of spectacular Big Sur coastline with the Santa Lucia Mountains rising sharply behind. The institute is known for its blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, and its offerings include access to natural hot springs, a massage area, and a swimming pool. (Swimsuits are optional and nudity is common in these areas.)

Registration and Cost

Cost: Esalen’s weekend cost is based on the type of lodging you select; it includes tuition, meals, and accommodations. For details, visit Esalen’s Reservation Information page.

Registration: Call Esalen at (831) 667-3005, or register online.

What To Bring

Please bring the following items with you to Esalen:

• A notebook or journal in which to write.
• Your favorite pen or pencil.
• Your bio written in the form of a contributor’s note — 40 words maximum. See The Sun’s inside front cover for examples. Since we’re all contributors for the weekend, we’ll read our notes aloud during the introductions on Friday night.
  
  To help you get started, here’s what we ask Sun contributors to consider as they write their notes:
  

  In addition to the usual information — where you live, your occupation, any previous publications — tell us something unique about you. What are your hobbies, pet projects, bad habits? What are you most proud of, or most embarrassed by? Is there something special about where you live, or with whom you live? Or think of one or two things about yourself that are not true of anyone else you know, and tell us what they are.

  
  Please note: The 40-word limit is strict.
• One or more of your favorite quotations spoken or written by someone else. We’ll end the weekend with a Sunbeams open mic. Everyone will get to read a quote or two, time permitting.
• Copies of the workshop handouts (available to download here).
• Esalen recommends that you bring: a flashlight, ear plugs, comfortable shoes, an alarm clock, and casual, layered clothes for 40-70 degree weather.

Praise from Past Participants