Stone + Wildflower Writing Retreat
Fleinvær-Sørvær, Norway | September 18-21, 2020 w/extended stay option
Photo Credits: Jesse Beamen, Martin Losvik, Kathrin Sørgård, Malika Ali Harding
“Traveling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
Escape With Us
Let’s go where Norse gods roam. Where Freya, mother of passion and pleasure, stands as muse. Where nature bears witness to all things miraculous. Here, we’ll gather seaside to make poems from wildflowers, short stories from stone, and reimagine Nordic fairytales by the fire. Join like minds, diverse in experience, from every corner of the globe for lively discourse, fresh air, communal solitude, and cultural inspiration at the Arctic Hideaway.
Discover Quietude
Here, peace is guaranteed. We take care of you so you can nourish your creativity. Here, you’ll indulge in meaningful reflection. We make space for savory ideation. Here, you can dive into a new project or find clarity on an old one. Our itinerary is thoroughly researched and thoughtfully designed, and we highly respect our impact on the places we visit. So pack your bags, choose your flight, and meet us there.
Get Back to the Wild
We go outdoors in style. Our Norwegian retreat is curated with nature in mind. For writers who take their cues from the wild. For visual storytellers who revere the beauty found in an untamed world. For screenwriters longing to pull away from their busy city lives. And for authors-to-be wanting to inhale fresh inspiration. All are welcome to meet us under the Scandinavian open sky.
accommodates SIX participants
day ONE
Hop on the scenic ferry in Bødo. Take in views of fjords en route to the Arctic Hideaway. Upon arrival, you'll be introduced to your cabin then partake in a welcome luncheon prepared in your honor. Late afternoon beckons a visit to the local artist’s studio to converse about his practice and inspirations. Post sunset, enjoy dinner fireside, and reimagine classic Nordic fairytales. The evening ends with personal journaling sessions followed by rest and relaxation.
day two
A Norwegian breakfast is set at the table each morning. We'll boat to the village of Hustad and witness native wildlife through the eyes of a nature photographer. Lunch is hosted on a neighboring island. Over the evening meal, we’ll take in stories roused by adventures at sea. The night ends with a group journaling session.
day three
After breakfast, we'll gather for a wildflower poetry workshop. If the wind is gentle, we can enjoy a picnic style lunch outdoors, then engage in the meditative practice of pebble stacking, being diligent to return the shore back to its original state. In the late afternoon, we’ll craft very short stories, taking cues from our time with stones. Our evening ends with dinner and a poetry reading by our chef.
day four | INITIAL Departures | extended stays
After breakfast, we’ll conclude our retreat by setting intentions for the return home. We’ll say farewell to those who are ferry-bound. Once lunch is served, we’ll take advantage of the Nordic landscape to create editorial style Writer Portraits. The evening offers time for a bonus Travel Blogging Workshop followed by dinner and dessert.
day five | FINAL Departures
Let’s break bread one last time then take the morning ferry back to Bødo and onward.
September 18-21, 2020
Extended Stay Option: September 21-22, 2020
Itinerary subject to vary
AccomModations
The Arctic Hideaway is the gift of jazz composer Håvard Lund and a team of renown Norwegian architects. Desiring an open space for creative contemplation, Lund designed each minimalist cabin with sustainability and solitude in mind. The Hideaway rests hillside and invites writers to explore the island on which it sits, as well as take in the views of the sea over which it hovers.
The Shared Cabin/Loft: Perfect for travelers arriving solo - we’ll pair you with another guest. Must be comfortable climbing a wall ladder to reach the loft area. Early Registration €3590 Per Person if reserved before November 30, 2019. General Registration €3690 Per Person if reserved before February 28, 2020. Late Registration €3790 Per Person if reserved before May 31, 2020. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire here. Extended Stay Option - Add €525 Per Person. Only two Loft accommodations available.
The Shared Cabin/Ground Level: Perfect for travelers arriving solo - we’ll pair you with another guest. Early Registration €3690 Per Person if reserved before November 30, 2019. General Registration €3790 Per Person if reserved before February 28, 2020. Late Registration €3890 Per Person if reserved before May 31, 2020. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire here. Extended Stay Option - Add €525 Per Person. Only two Ground Level accommodations available.
The Private Cabin: Perfect for travelers arriving solo who want space all to themselves. Early Registration €3790 Per Person if reserved before November 30, 2019. General Registration €3890 Per Person if reserved before February 28, 2020. Late Registration €3990 Per Person if reserved before May 31, 2020. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire here. Extended Stay Option - Add €525 Per Person. Only two Private accommodations available.
The Couples/Friendship Cabin: Perfect for travelers arriving as a pair. Early Registration €6190 Per Pair, if reserved before November 30, 2019. General Registration €6290 Per Pair, if reserved before February 28, 2020. Late Registration €6390 Per Pair, if reserved before May 31, 2020. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire here. Extended Stay Option - Add €525 Per Person. Only one Couple/Friendship accommodation available.
A Private Shower And Private Toilets Are Located In Separate Cabins And Shared Amongst All Participants.
A Promotional Code Is Available to Writers Who Have Joined Us On Previous Retreats. Inquire HERE.
What’s Included?
Meals, Beverages & Snacks
Workshops
Activities & Excursions
Boat to and from Hustad
Choice of Accommodation
Access to the Sauna House
Welcome Gift Inspired by the Locale
What’s Not Included
Flight to Bødo, Norway
Pre-Retreat Expense in Bødo
Ferry to Sørvær
Return Ferry to Bødo
Health & Travel Insurance
Meet Your Host
Each Story Rebels experience is designed by founder Malika Ali Harding, an American writer and photographer based in Amsterdam. At the heart of her services is a desire to guide the world’s creative class toward greater well-being. She traverses the globe, making visual narratives inspired by her curiosity. When you book a retreat, you also give back to organizations fighting the epidemic of mass incarceration in the United States. Malika earned her MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles and has spent the greater part of her adult life crafting indie films, organizing art exhibitions, and raising babies.
Meet Your Chef
Poet Dante Micheaux is author of Circus (Indolent Books, 2018), which won the 2019 Four Quartets Prize and Amorous Shepherd (Sheep Meadow Press, 2010) His other honors include fellowships from Cave Canem Foundation and The New York Times Foundation. Initially under the guidance of his maternal grandmother, Micheaux has been cooking since age 11 and is passionate about food. “Eating is more than necessity; it is a pleasurable, cultural act."
Testimonials
“The retreat felt like a dream and it was really fun being transported. I loved the writing exercises and special time for reflection. I’d rather spend money on experiences like this than just a bunch of wasteful stuff.”
“This was the highlight of my year - exploring the creative process with a poet, novelist, architect, set designer, and other filmmakers.”
“...a storybook experience..paths through bamboo, palm and cactus...creating our own meals over coals...every detail carefully thought out. I would go again and again and again.”
“The best traveling experience I’ve ever had. Once I booked the retreat all the details were taken care of and all I had to do was show up, be present, and live in the moment.”
“Culinary feasts, sweet treats, sacred patterns, chamber of dreams, couscous, pompons, rebelicious.”