May 15th-18th
Witty Women Writing Retreat
Inspired by Mississippi's own,
Eudora Welty
"The first act of insight is to throw away the labels."
Eudora Welty
Let's break barriers, tell stories, & change the narrative!
Applications Closed
Leave your email to get alerts for our next retreat in October!
Women make up only 23% of published authors who write humor or satire.
Witty Women's Retreat and the Perkins Fellowship exist to close these gaps—one story at a time
What to Expect:
Structured Writing Time & Forest Bathing
The 12-acre property is serene all year round. Take in the views from the porches or walk the trails.
Tour-Eudora Welty's Home & National Landmark
Discover what inspired a Pulitzer Prize-winning author through a guided tour of her home, interpretive museum exhibits, and a walk through her historic botanical garden.
Story Structure Workshop, Panels, and more.
One-on-one consult, storytelling secrets with Billie Bates, writer of the horror/comedy "Spirit Halloween," and laugh with local funny women. (TBA).
BECAUSE SHE CAN
Are you a busy
girl?
Where's your
time to write?
I'll tell you where...
Raymond, MS, home state
of the most
famous Southern writers.
Quality time & quality company!
Empowering Community of Women Writers
Fellowship
& scholarships available
$20 Application Fee -
Waivers Available
All applicants may opt in for:
Perkins Fellowship: Elevating Women’s Voices
Here's how it works
✔️ Applications are open from March 1st-April 2nd.
✔️ Applicants may opt-in to apply to fellowship on the application
✔️ $20 application fee for administration and processing of applications. Fee waivers are available. Please request waiver at Perkinsfellowship@writeme.com
✔️ Notifications on a rolling basis--all results by April 20th. Applicants may be asked to a Zoom call.
✔️ Fellow(s) and participants announced April 25th
Questions?
See accommodation options in the FAQ's
Itinerary Includes:
Structured Writing Sessions
Community Reads
One-on-one with story structure consultant
Industry-led discussions on securing literary representation
Insider insight on carving out a unique path.
Meet local comedian and learn about their writing process
Eudora Welty Home and Garden Tour; learn what inspired this Pulitzer Prize Winner.
Benefits
One fellowship is available for an outstanding female writer. (Free tuition, housing, and meals.)
Scholarships available (TBA) for finalists
One-on-one sessions with a professional plotting coach
Workshops on mastering comedy, breaking into the industry, and forging your own unique path.
A community of peers and a network of relationships
Resources and year-round supplemental workshops
Enjoy...
Nestled on 12 acres of breathtaking hardwoods, our retreat offers structured writing hours, guided meditation, one-on-one story coaching, and industry discussions on navigating the publishing world. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or still learning your craft, this retreat is your chance to disconnect from the noise and focus on your craft. Give yourself the gift of solitude and community.
Projects eligible to apply:
All comedy genres and subgenres. That means anything from satire to comedy/horror and all in between.
We are looking for novelists, memoirists, screenwriters, or playwrights who want to further their craft.
Team
Michele M. Shiflett
Michele studied screenwriting at UCLA and has been what she describes as a "worker bee writer" since--helping others plot and structure their story. She's worked with writers and industry professionals all over the world.
After a two-year journey developing a TV series, she transformed her vision into a novel set to release in late 2025. She's got two short films under her belt and a children's book, Don't Be A Buzzard.
Billie Bates
Billie Bates is an Australian-born screenwriter who shares her time between Colorado and California. She has multiple projects set up at various studios, and her debut film, Spirit Halloween, was released in October 2022.
She has won or placed in several film festivals, spoken on panels, and was accepted into the prestigious Writer’s Lab, created by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.
Break barriers, tell stories, make change
Our fiscal sponsor:
Project Blackbird
is a powerhouse nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness and driving transformative change through the power of storytelling.
As my fiscal sponsor, they provide the financial and legal framework that ensures every donation to my women’s retreat is tax-deductible.
Partnering with Project Blackbird brings credibility, transparency, and a mission-driven approach to this retreat, giving donors confidence that their support is not just meaningful, but also recognized by the IRS.
Support Women's Voices
Empower Community
If you know anyone who would like to donate to the Perkins Fellowship please direct them to:
Storyworx Sudio
Website: Storyworxstudio.com
Email: Perkinsfellowship@writeme.com
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