Rogue River Writing Workshop
Join us for a four-day, three-night rafting trip/writing workshop on Oregon's beautiful Rogue River. The workshop will be led by Ellen Waterston, an award-winning writer, poet, and speaker whose books include Where the Crooked River Rises, a collection of essays about central Oregon; Then There Was No Mountain, a memoir; and Between Desert Seasons and I am Madagascar, collections of poetry.
She is also the founder and director of The Nature of Words and the Writing Ranch, institutions dedicated to the teaching of writing. She has the special gift of being able to listen closely, and to deliver both constructive criticism and inspiration to writers of all levels.
Ellen Waterston
"Writing with Ellen is an illuminating experience. She’s a perceptive workshop leader; her suggestions are insightful, and the benefit of her instruction last long after the workshop has ended."
- Michel DeSilva, winner of the Nature of Words Rising Star Award in 2007 and 2009
"When Ellen commented on what I had written she made me feel that I might have some talent, yet at the same time showed me how I could be better. That’s an amazing skill."
- Dick Linford, workshop participant
Ellen will begin each day with a “writing prompt”, or a topic that we can focus on as we float the river and explore side canyons. At lunch and in camp before dinner we will have an opportunity to put our thoughts and ideas on paper. After dinner we can present our material to the group.
Camping at Doe on the Rogue River
The Rogue River winds though the coastal mountains of southern Oregon and offers much in the way of inspiration for our workshop. Its exciting rapids, warm weather and water, scenic beauty and abundant wildlife combine to make it one of the finest rafting rivers in America. Bald eagles, osprey, Great Blue herons, snowy egrets and deer are common, and it is not unusual to see back bears (too timid to be a threat) and river otters. There are beavers living across from one camp, although they are very shy.
This is camping at its most comfortable. ECHO supplies tents, sleeping bags and air mattresses. The guides do all the cooking and cleaning up, and you will be amazed at the quality of the meals. ECHO furnishes beer and wine to complement the appetizers and meals.
Egret Flying Above the Rogue River
This workshop is for writers of all levels, and is based on the premise that we all have interesting things to say.
