Uncategorized – Peninsula Writers

Elk Lake Retreat (“Writing Camp Heaven”) New for September 2025, our favorite week-long summer retreat will be moving to Wandawood Resort, on the shores of Elk Lake, just north of the city of Elk Rapids,MI. Our PW Writing Camp Heaven will now be known as the Elk Lake Retreat, hence the new name for the retreat information page.

The Peninsula Writers Winter Retreat 2025 at W.K. Kellogg Manor/ MSU Biological Station on Gull Lake will be February 13-16, 2025. with an optional first night (at extra cost) of February 12. Find more details and download the archived 2024 brochure, for informational purposes only, still available on the Winter Retreat page.

PW Salons A new feature, wherein writers gather by invitation at someone’s home or other location for quiet writing time. Some details available here.

Peninsula Writers — Who We Are

Peninsula Writers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to, you guessed it, writing! We are located in Michigan (hence the Peninsula part of our name), and we host several events each year. Links to information about these conferences can be found on the tabs above. We also help organize and support small writing groups throughout the state where people can gather to discuss and workshop their writing. We help connect writers across the state and provide opportunities to be part of a larger writing community as well as to work on the craft of writing.

Peninsula Writers Mission Statement

The mission of Peninsula Writers is to associate for the benefit of all writers seeking to improve their own work and willing to help others improve theirs in a supportive environment that values the writing process, individual discovery and growth.

Ask to join our Facebook group

Download a PW Member Brochure here. Downloadable PDF forms for member applications, scholarship applications, and scholarship and general fund donations can be found on the ABOUT page.

Calendar of Events

PW Anthology. Submissions deadline is December 31. Open to all current dues-paying members. See the GUIDELINES FOR PW ANTHOLOGY here. (Guidelines haven’t changed, only the deadline.) Email peninsulawriters@att.net for more information.

Also for current members: the latest edition of the Member Directory is on the Members Only page. Current members wanting access can email the web manager at peninsulawriters@att.net

* Members Only page login password reminder will no longer be posted in the PW Newsletter. Members should email the webmanager for a reminder. PW email address: peninsulawriters@att.net

Website update notice: Be advised that our previous website on free WordPress is closed down. A notice has been posted there redirecting any hits there to this website here. Eventually it will be deleted.

Winter Retreat 2020

Thirteen Peninsula Writers gathered at Kettunen in February for the annual Winter Retreat. There was much writing, sharing, laughing, and educating. The Kettunen staff made us a wonderful cake and, of course, fantastic food. Read around, fabulous as always, was attended by some of the Sun Bonnet Sue quilters who share the Center with us during the retreat.

Our presenters this year were PW members. On Friday, Shirley Neitzel’s discussion was “What I Learned from Rejection.” She told us how to read letters from editors without becoming terminally depressed. Then Angela Christian-Sweet presented “Balderdash–the Game that Cures Writer’s Block (maybe).” With a challenge to write a convincing response to a prompt in 60 seconds– with prizes!

And on Saturday PW’s Sarah McElrath discussed ways to design, describe and develop characters in “Must Have Character,” followed by Dick Tipton and “Wholistic Framework for Conflict,” with ways to approach the many elements involved in conflicts.

Even the staff at Kettunen got into the spirit of the weekend, following Cerise’s lead in celebrating National Frozen Yogurt Day, National Wear Red Day, National Kite-Flying Day (we didn’t try that outdoors), and ending with National Pizza Day (there were hints of breakfast pizza on that departure Sunday, but alas it was not to be).

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s retreat. Mark your calendars for the 2020 Winter Retreat—February 10 (pre-conference day), February 11—14, 2021 for the conference.

PW Art-a-Day Final Show and Tell 2019

Around fifteen Peninsula Writers and guests gathered at Schuler Books and Music in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Feb. 2, for the Art-a-Day Final Show and Tell. There was much variety in the art that people did during the month. Quilting, painting, writing, journaling, and other endeavors were shared. And we were well represented from the various parts of the state where PW members reside: Spring Lake, Grand Rapids, Hubbardston, Mason, East Lansing, Middleville.

Many of us gathered for lunch before the event at Schuler’s Café. It was an enjoyable day, and once again showcased the multi-talented group the PW members are.

Look for Art-a-Day to again in January, 2020

PW 2019 Winter Retreat

The weather outside was frightening, but Kettunen was so inviting.

Despite the ice storm, all but one of the 2019 Winter Retreat participants managed to wend their way to Tustin and the Kettunen Center for the 2019 Winter Retreat. In fact, this was the first year that the majority of winter retreat goers arrived on Wednesday. We also were, unfortunately, down one due to a family emergency, so our group dwindled to thirteen. However, even with our reduced numbers, there was still much writing, sharing, laughing, educating, and good eating. Read around, fabulous as always, was also attended by some of the Sun Bonnet Sue quilters, who managed to sew and listen at the same time. Too bad writers can’t write and listen at the same time. Think of all the eavesdropped conversations we could transcribe!

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s retreat. Mark your calendars for the 2020 Winter Retreat—February 5 (pre-conference day), February 6—9 for the conference.

PW Spring Fling Writing Thing of April 21, 2018

The PW Spring Fling Writing Thing was a discussion and demonstration on how to form, conduct and maintain small writing groups at Schuler Books, Meridian Mall, Okemos MI.

We hosted a small but enthusiastic group of experienced writers looking for insights to small group organization and conduct.