About the 2025 Virtual Summer Retreat
Starting June 8th, 2025, Abode Press is returning with our virtual retreat experience! With the success of our first retreat, we are coming back bigger and better than ever with more weekly offerings and two new cohorts: speculative fiction and one additional poetry cohort. We will also have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and attendees will also be able to attend 2-3 craft talks and lectures throughout the week (x2 as much than our first retreat).
Most retreat experiences are costly, tending to be upwards to $2000. At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $250-$400 (sliding scale), but because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from December 15th to January 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-March. All funds will go towards paying our presenters, press operations, and paying Retreat admins.
Nonfiction Faculty Leader: KB Brookins
KB Brookins is a Black queer and trans writer, cultural worker, and visual artist from Texas. KB’s chapbook How To Identify Yourself with a Wound won the Saguaro Poetry Prize, a Writer’s League of Texas Discovery Prize, and a Stonewall Honor Book Award. Their debut poetry collection Freedom House won the American Library Association Barbara Gittings Literature Award and the Texas Institute of Letters Award for the Best First Book of Poetry. KB’s debut memoir Pretty released in May 2024 with Alfred A. Knopf. Follow them online at @earthtokb.
Application Guidelines
Since it is free to apply, we ask that applicants only apply to one genre to help lessen the reading load.
For fiction/speculative fiction/nonfiction, only one story, 4,000 words max.
For poetry, three to five poems, no more than 10 pages.
Once admitted, you can workshop a manuscript different from the one you applied with.
In addition to the writing sample, the application asks for an author bio and artist statement.
Applicants must be 21 years of age by March 1st, 2025 to apply.
International writers are welcome to apply as long as the dates/times for the workshops work for your schedule.
Scholarships
One person from each cohort will be granted a partial scholarship. In order to apply for this, all you must do is click "Yes" to the scholarship question on the Submittable application.
Cost and Dates
At Abode Press, we work tirelessly to provide accessible and affordable opportunities to writers at all stages. This is why we are pricing our virtual retreat at a reasonable cost. Please note that this means that all applicants who apply should be able to pay the Retreat cost. One partial scholarship will be granted to one person from each cohort, but all applicants should only apply if they can attend the Retreat.
Application Fee: Free! (Though donations are appreciated.)
Cost: $250 - $400, sliding scale. $250 is recommended for writers in need, and if writers are able, they are encouraged to pay more on the scale as this allows for fair pay towards presenters, admins, increasing Retreat offerings, and so much more.
Mandatory Workshop Dates from 11am-2pm CST
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday, June 22nd
Sunday, June 29th
Please note, throughout the week attendees will have access to 2-3 weekly lectures, craft talks, and more from workshop leaders and renowned writers. There will also be multiple open mic opportunities for attendees to read their works, and friends and family are encouraged to attend! A comprehensive guide of Retreat Programming will be provided to accepted attendees.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@abodepress.com
About the 2025 Virtual Summer Retreat
Starting June 8th, 2025, Abode Press is returning with our virtual retreat experience! With the success of our first retreat, we are coming back bigger and better than ever with more weekly offerings and two new cohorts: speculative fiction and one additional poetry cohort. We will also have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and attendees will also be able to attend 2-3 craft talks and lectures throughout the week (x2 as much than our first retreat).
Most retreat experiences are costly, tending to be upwards to $2000. At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $250-$400 (sliding scale), but because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from December 15th to January 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-March. All funds will go towards paying our presenters, press operations, and paying Retreat admins.
Speculative Fiction Faculty Leader: Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya is a lesbian writer of essays, short stories, and pop culture criticism living in Orlando. Her queer horror novelette Helen House (Burrow Press) was named one of the Best LGBTQ Books of 2022 by NBC News. She is the managing editor of Autostraddle and the former managing editor of TriQuarterly. Her short stories appear in McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Catapult, The Offing, Joyland, Foglifter, and others. Some of her culture writing can be found in The Cut, The A.V. Club, Vulture, Refinery29, and Vice, and she previously worked as a restaurant reporter for Eater NY. She was a 2023-2024 Tin House Reading Fellow and a 2023 Lambda writer in residence. Her fiction will be featured in the upcoming anthology Be Gay, Do Crimes, out from Dzanc Books in 2025.
Application Guidelines
Since it is free to apply, we ask that applicants only apply to one genre to help lessen the reading load.
For fiction/speculative fiction/nonfiction, only one story, 4,000 words max.
For poetry, three to five poems, no more than 10 pages.
Once admitted, you can workshop a manuscript different from the one you applied with.
In addition to the writing sample, the application asks for an author bio and artist statement.
Applicants must be 21 years of age by March 1st, 2025 to apply.
International writers are welcome to apply as long as the dates/times for the workshops work for your schedule.
Scholarships
One person from each cohort will be granted a partial scholarship. In order to apply for this, all you must do is click "Yes" to the scholarship question on the Submittable application.
Cost and Dates
At Abode Press, we work tirelessly to provide accessible and affordable opportunities to writers at all stages. This is why we are pricing our virtual retreat at a reasonable cost. Please note that this means that all applicants who apply should be able to pay the Retreat cost. One partial scholarship will be granted to one person from each cohort, but all applicants should only apply if they can attend the Retreat.
Application Fee: Free! (Though donations are appreciated.)
Cost: $250 - $400, sliding scale. $250 is recommended for writers in need, and if writers are able, they are encouraged to pay more on the scale as this allows for fair pay towards presenters, admins, increasing Retreat offerings, and so much more.
Mandatory Workshop Dates from 11am-2pm CST
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday, June 22nd
Sunday, June 29th
Please note, throughout the week attendees will have access to 2-3 weekly lectures, craft talks, and more from workshop leaders and renowned writers. There will also be multiple open mic opportunities for attendees to read their works, and friends and family are encouraged to attend! A comprehensive guide of Retreat Programming will be provided to accepted attendees.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@abodepress.com
About the 2025 Virtual Summer Retreat
Starting June 8th, 2025, Abode Press is returning with our virtual retreat experience! With the success of our first retreat, we are coming back bigger and better than ever with more weekly offerings and two new cohorts: speculative fiction and one additional poetry cohort. We will also have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and attendees will also be able to attend 2-3 craft talks and lectures throughout the week (x2 as much than our first retreat).
Most retreat experiences are costly, tending to be upwards to $2000. At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $250-$400 (sliding scale), but because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from December 15th to January 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-March. All funds will go towards paying our presenters, press operations, and paying Retreat admins.
Short Fiction Faculty Leader: Stephanie Macias
Stephanie Macias is a musician, writer, and artist based in Austin, TX. She has been performing since 2000. From 2011 to 2018 she performed under the name Little Brave. She has an MFA from the New Writers Project at the University of Texas. Her stories have been a finalist for the Jesmyn Ward Prize in Fiction and longlisted for the DISQUIET Prize. Her work has appeared and is forthcoming in Brink, No Tokens, Southern Humanities Review, and more. Between the years of 2003 and 2016, she made her living as a touring singer-songwriter, an illustrator, a photographer, and a painter. She is the managing editor at American Short Fiction and is currently working on a novel and a collection of short stories.
Application Guidelines
Since it is free to apply, we ask that applicants only apply to one genre to help lessen the reading load.
For fiction/speculative fiction/nonfiction, only one story, 4,000 words max.
For poetry, three to five poems, no more than 10 pages.
Once admitted, you can workshop a manuscript different from the one you applied with.
In addition to the writing sample, the application asks for an author bio and artist statement.
Applicants must be 21 years of age by March 1st, 2025 to apply.
International writers are welcome to apply as long as the dates/times for the workshops work for your schedule.
Scholarships
One person from each cohort will be granted a partial scholarship. In order to apply for this, all you must do is click "Yes" to the scholarship question on the Submittable application.
Cost and Dates
At Abode Press, we work tirelessly to provide accessible and affordable opportunities to writers at all stages. This is why we are pricing our virtual retreat at a reasonable cost. Please note that this means that all applicants who apply should be able to pay the Retreat cost. One partial scholarship will be granted to one person from each cohort, but all applicants should only apply if they can attend the Retreat.
Application Fee: Free! (Though donations are appreciated.)
Cost: $250 - $400, sliding scale. $250 is recommended for writers in need, and if writers are able, they are encouraged to pay more on the scale as this allows for fair pay towards presenters, admins, increasing Retreat offerings, and so much more.
Mandatory Workshop Dates from 11am-2pm CST
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday, June 22nd
Sunday, June 29th
Please note, throughout the week attendees will have access to 2-3 weekly lectures, craft talks, and more from workshop leaders and renowned writers. There will also be multiple open mic opportunities for attendees to read their works, and friends and family are encouraged to attend! A comprehensive guide of Retreat Programming will be provided to accepted attendees.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@abodepress.com
About the 2025 Virtual Summer Retreat
Starting June 8th, 2025, Abode Press is returning with our virtual retreat experience! With the success of our first retreat, we are coming back bigger and better than ever with more weekly offerings and two new cohorts: speculative fiction and one additional poetry cohort. We will also have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and attendees will also be able to attend 2-3 craft talks and lectures throughout the week (x2 as much than our first retreat).
Most retreat experiences are costly, tending to be upwards to $2000. At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $250-$400 (sliding scale), but because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from December 15th to January 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-March. All funds will go towards paying our presenters, press operations, and paying Retreat admins.
Poetry Faculty Leader: mónica teresa ortiz
mónica teresa ortiz is a poet, memory worker, and critic born, raised, and based in Texas. Their work has appeared in Scalawag Magazine, The Tiny, Mizna, and the Brooklyn Rail. Their poetry collection, Book of Provocations (Host Publications) was published in 2024. Find them on Instagram @ridingwiththepoet. They call for the liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea, and believe empire will fall in our lifetime.
Application Guidelines
Since it is free to apply, we ask that applicants only apply to one genre to help lessen the reading load.
For fiction/speculative fiction/nonfiction, only one story, 4,000 words max.
For poetry, three to five poems, no more than 10 pages.
Once admitted, you can workshop a manuscript different from the one you applied with.
In addition to the writing sample, the application asks for an author bio and artist statement.
Applicants must be 21 years of age by March 1st, 2025 to apply.
International writers are welcome to apply as long as the dates/times for the workshops work for your schedule.
Scholarships
One person from each cohort will be granted a partial scholarship. In order to apply for this, all you must do is click "Yes" to the scholarship question on the Submittable application.
Cost and Dates
At Abode Press, we work tirelessly to provide accessible and affordable opportunities to writers at all stages. This is why we are pricing our virtual retreat at a reasonable cost. Please note that this means that all applicants who apply should be able to pay the Retreat cost. One partial scholarship will be granted to one person from each cohort, but all applicants should only apply if they can attend the Retreat.
Application Fee: Free! (Though donations are appreciated.)
Cost: $250 - $400, sliding scale. $250 is recommended for writers in need, and if writers are able, they are encouraged to pay more on the scale as this allows for fair pay towards presenters, admins, increasing Retreat offerings, and so much more.
Mandatory Workshop Dates from 11am-2pm CST
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday, June 22nd
Sunday, June 29th
Please note, throughout the week attendees will have access to 2-3 weekly lectures, craft talks, and more from workshop leaders and renowned writers. There will also be multiple open mic opportunities for attendees to read their works, and friends and family are encouraged to attend! A comprehensive guide of Retreat Programming will be provided to accepted attendees.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@abodepress.com
About the 2025 Virtual Summer Retreat (Read this in all its entirety!)
Starting June 8th, 2025, Abode Press is returning with our virtual retreat experience! With the success of our first retreat, we are coming back bigger and better than ever with more weekly offerings and two new cohorts: speculative fiction and one additional poetry cohort. We will also have workshops available in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and attendees will also be able to attend 2-3 craft talks and lectures throughout the week (x2 as much than our first retreat).
Most retreat experiences are costly, tending to be upwards to $2000. At Abode, we are working tirelessly to increase accessibility for writers to attend much needed spaces to work on their craft and build connections without compromising their livelihood. This is why the retreat will only cost $250-$400 (sliding scale), but because of this low price, applicants will be selected based off the strength of their application and alignment with our press.
Applications will open via Submittable from December 15th to January 30th. It is FREE to apply (though we do appreciate donations!) and applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-March. All funds will go towards paying our presenters, press operations, and paying Retreat admins.
Poetry Faculty Leader: Ariana Brown
Ariana Brown is a queer Black Mexican American writer and the author of We Are Owed. (Grieveland, 2021) and Sana Sana (Game Over Books, 2020). A national collegiate poetry slam champion, Ariana holds a B.A. in African Diaspora Studies and Mexican American Studies, an M.F.A. in Poetry, and M.S. in Library Science. She lives and works in Houston, TX, where she teaches creative writing to teens. She has been writing, performing, and teaching poetry for over a decade.
Ariana Brown's Workshop Description
Unlike traditional MFA style workshops, Ariana Brown’s Poetry Workshop is an anti-elitist, community building space that discourages writers from feeding into self-doubt and outsourcing validation. In this workshop, we will prioritize self-trust, clarity of vision, and support toward helping each writer make their creative vision a reality.
To achieve this goal, we will use the Critical Response Process to workshop poems. The CRP model, developed by choreographer Liz Lerman to give and receive feedback on creative works-in-progress, encourages the artist to take an active role in the feedback process. The focus of CRP is not to “fix” the work in question, it is to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the artist so they can better understand the goals of their work and how best to achieve them.
The Critical Response Process, when done correctly, takes more time than the traditional MFA workshop model. Ariana encourages you to bring 2-3 poems-in-progress that you find frustrating, confusing, and complicated. We will workshop your 2-3 poems-in-progress in great depth during your dedicated hour. Please bring detailed questions you have about your poems-in-progress and a written goal for each poem (ex: What do I want this poem to do? How do I want the reader to feel? What message do I want to communicate?)
Want to further understand The Critical Response workshop model? Watch the video below to where Ariana Brown breaks down the process.
In Ariana Brown's workshop, participants can expect to receive the following:
- Detailed instructions from Ariana Brown about engaging in the Critical Response Process
- An expertly facilitated workshop with emphasis on thoughtful, compassionate feedback
- One full hour devoted to workshopping 2-3 of your poems-in-progress
- Verbal feedback provided in an organic, generative setting that you are allowed to discuss, disagree with, and contribute to, plus a page of personalized writing prompts from Ariana to help you further explore your work
- Intimate workshop setting with a maximum of 12 students, with 3 students workshopped per week
Brown's Workshop Requirements
- Attendance is mandatory at all workshop sessions. The Critical Response Process requires the presence of all participant voices to function as organically as possible. If you are absent from a workshop session, you forfeit the chance to receive feedback on your work.
- No asking for general feedback. You are already a worthy and talented writer! Ariana encourages you to ask for specific feedback and get clear on the goals of your poems so we can help you figure out how to achieve those goals.
- Participants must be willing to unlearn the traditional, elitist ways we have been trained to give and receive feedback. Critique is a skill we will work together to build.
- Due to the intimate nature of the workshop, participants are required to keep their cameras on during all sessions to promote transparency and reciprocity.
- Reciprocity is a core value of this workshop; thus, enthusiastic participation is required for all participants.
Application Guidelines
Since it is free to apply, we ask that applicants only apply to one genre to help lessen the reading load.
For fiction/speculative fiction/nonfiction, only one story, 4,000 words max.
For poetry, three to five poems, no more than 10 pages.
Once admitted, you can workshop a manuscript different from the one you applied with.
In addition to the writing sample, the application asks for an author bio and artist statement.
Applicants must be 21 years of age by March 1st, 2025 to apply.
International writers are welcome to apply as long as the dates/times for the workshops work for your schedule.
Scholarships
One person from each cohort will be granted a partial scholarship. In order to apply for this, all you must do is click "Yes" to the scholarship question on the Submittable application.
Cost and Dates
At Abode Press, we work tirelessly to provide accessible and affordable opportunities to writers at all stages. This is why we are pricing our virtual retreat at a reasonable cost. Please note that this means that all applicants who apply should be able to pay the Retreat cost. One partial scholarship will be granted to one person from each cohort, but all applicants should only apply if they can attend the Retreat.
Application Fee: Free! (Though donations are appreciated.)
Cost: $250 - $400, sliding scale. $250 is recommended for writers in need, and if writers are able, they are encouraged to pay more on the scale as this allows for fair pay towards presenters, admins, increasing Retreat offerings, and so much more.
Mandatory Workshop Dates from 11am-2pm CST
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday, June 22nd
Sunday, June 29th
Please note, throughout the week attendees will have access to 2-3 weekly lectures, craft talks, and more from workshop leaders and renowned writers. There will also be multiple open mic opportunities for attendees to read their works, and friends and family are encouraged to attend! A comprehensive guide of Retreat Programming will be provided to accepted attendees.
If you have additional questions, please email us at info@abodepress.com