WOW NYC 2024
International Writing Retreat & Manhattan Culture Tour
New York, New York
October 28 to November 2, 2024
From Skylines to Storylines
Everyone has the desire to tell a story or two. WOW helps you put your story into words on a page.
Virtual meet-ups, classes, and networking will expand your mind.
But to truly open up, stepping away from the comfort of your space or local yoga studio to fully immerse yourself in a new culture will unlock a grander vision than you ever dreamed possible.
Traveling to a captivating place will take you further.
Explore your next-level transformation right alongside an intimate group of creative adventurers and kindred spirits.
The most engaging storytellers in the world have one thing in common.
They value the power of pressing pause on the busyness of their lives and stepping back to reflect on where they’ve evolved, what they’re making next, and how they want to create the next chapter.
Writing On Water (WOW) is a live retreat and cultural experience that’s been purposefully designed to propel the curious to their next level of story writing accomplishment.
That’s why we’re setting aside six days so you can unplug from your day-to-day and tap into unexplored territories of your inner terrain while immersing yourself in a new culture.
The WOW NYC Sojourn
Cultural and Storytelling Immersion.
A sojourn is a creative writing retreat experience.
A temporary stay in a space and time stolen from our ordinary days.
A sacred time spent discovering, living, and connecting as a local in a foreign culture.
Join us for 6 inspiration-filled days of culturally immersive tours, mindful movement, guided creative writing workshops, storytelling salons, and plenty of free time.
A traditional writing retreat would mean quiet, alone on a beach, or isolated in a mountain-top cabin.
But this is WOW NYC.
Where we write WITH the noise.
Learning to write while life goes on around you is a skill you'll take with you forever.
Here’s a taste of what to expect over your 6-day cultural sojourn…
A lightly structured, focused, and spacious schedule, giving you dedicated time for learning, writing, connecting… and resting, recalibrating, and recharging. Perfect for introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.
Relax, sip champagne while circumnavigating the Big Apple. Awaken your creative spirit, outdoors in the wide open spaces of a city park, or within a beautiful brick-walled spacious sanctuary, at the heart of bustling Manhattan.
Changing your creative writing scenery unlocks fresh ideas.
You’ll inhale vibrant city art, music, and life and exhale your fresh inspiration onto the page. Balancing it all with the abundance of nature and flowing with creativity while surrounded by interlacing waterways and walkways and good company.
Cut to the Core of Your Story.
The WOW NYC Cultural and Story Writing Experience is for you if…
You’re tired of your hum-drum day-to-day and just want a good time
You love your quiet writing practice but if you’re being honest, you’re feeling a little isolated and craving connection
You have the freedom to travel, and are tentative about solo journeys
You’ve just begun and are bumping into some storytelling blocks and have a sense it’s time to shake things up and change your scenery
Your curious mind wants to see new things, uncover surprises, and enjoy exciting experiences
Prepare to be WOW-ed:
Create meaning in your life
Find adventure
Fulfill your need for curiosity
Enjoy group travel
Deeper layers of self-expression
Relaxation and an unrushed experience
Let our team look after everything
Stretch your individual experience out to the wider world, reconnect with nature and return home to yourself with a deeper understanding of life.
Your WOW NYC Retreat Includes:
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Manhattan Accommodations
6 nights in a 4-star hotel at the heart of the city .*
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Delicious Healthy Meal Selections
Savor global fare like a Big Apple local.**
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Movement & Meditation
Guided gentle exercises and stillness indoors, and outdoors in nature.
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Writing & Storytelling
Creative workshops and salons to find, develop, and start telling your untold stories.
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Catch a Broadway play
Dinner and a show: you’re in New York, New York!**
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Sail the Hudson River
Discover natural & innovatively designed habitats.**
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Stroll a bustling urban park
A pretzel and a hot dog, while nature bathing in a city oasis .**
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Free Time
One open day on your own; explore & live like a New Yorker.
*The WOW NYC 2024 Platinum package includes single-occupancy hotel accommodations, plus all of the Standard package offerings.
**The WOW NYC 2024 Standard package includes all sojourn workshops (each served with hearty refreshments); and expenses of the cultural tours (one meal, transportation to/from, and required fees).
The Itinerary
Day 1: Monday
Welcome session and Guest Artist reading.
Group lunch and a guided walking park tour workshop.
Day 2-6: Tuesday to Saturday
Each day includes creative expert-led storytelling and prompt, served with refreshments.
Stops at local libraries, bookstores and cafes to read and write.
Guided cultural experiences are scheduled for Wednesday (Oct 30) and Friday (Nov 1).
Free time is built into each day plus one open day (Thursday, Oct 31).
Also available upon request: One-on-one 45-minute WOW advisory sessions
Meet Your WOW Sojourn Experience Facilitators
New York City Lead Facilitator
Rose Marie Sabangan is WOW’s Creative Director and the smiling face you’ll greet upon arrival in NYC.
Rose migrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1972 but spent her early childhood years schooled under the British in North Borneo.
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Goddard College (MFA, Creative Writing), Rose launched Writing On Water (WOW) in 2016 to indulge her passion for storytelling, travel, and community.
Growing a team of international professional creatives, Rose is thrilled to bring you opportunities to explore creative cultural sojourns in stunning spaces.
Learn from Guest Artists
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James Minniear
Playwright & Author
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Jessica Gaynor
International Choreographer, Performer & Teacher
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Beryl Goldberg
International Photojournalist & Educator
Write On Water With Us
Why water?
Water is the foundation of all life on Earth.
Water and its creatures have retained all memories from our planet’s beginning, and we find them flowing freely in our oceans, lakes, rivers, and human bodies.
As a fetus, we're 99% water
At old age, we're about 50% water*
* Emoto, Masaru. The Hidden Messages in Water. Hillsboro: Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., 2001. pp. xv-xviii.
Treat Yourself to the WOW Sojourn Cultural Experience
Traveling with WOW, we realize we belong to a way of life larger than we have been accustomed.
We learn and absorb stories outside of our own, ancient and new.
We grow our own stories.
We look after all the details so you can recharge. The retreat schedule allows plenty of spaciousness to slow down — to nap, to read, to have a stretch, people-watch at a café, and to make new life-long friends. Stroll and soak in energetic street art, historical sites, wafts of musical variety, and even a spa treatment before retiring.
Return home buzzing with new ideas, feeling refreshed and revitalized.
WOW NYC Experience Investment
Space is limited to 10 participants.
WOW activities and meals are listed in the Itinerary.
A. WOW organizers will meet you at NYC Locations to facilitate your travels in Manhattan.
PLATINUM PACKAGE
WOW NYC 2024
October 28 to November 2, 2024
Includes HOTEL Accommodations
Price: US$ 5,777
8 Spots Left
STANDARD PACKAGE
WOW NYC 2024
October 28 to November 2, 2024
No HOTEL Accommodations
Price: US$ 2,777
8 Spots Left
Are you ready for your WOW NYC adventure?
Here’s how to sign up:
Step 1: Click the WOW With Us button below and submit your payment.
Step 2: You’ll receive an email confirmation with your receipt within a few minutes of registration and sending payment.
Step 3: You’ll get all your next steps and an official welcome from the WOW team, including all the details you need to prepare for an exceptional sojourn experience. You’ll also hear from our creative team with an invitation to share an optional writing sample 30 days before we begin.
To grow and foster a new sense of self expression that honors all life on our planet, the WOW experience may push, challenge, and change your perspectives — in the most beautiful way.
Questions about Writing On Water NYC?
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We meet you where you are and are completely inclusive. That goes for your story writing level and interests. We’re open to participants from all walks of life. We welcome all storytelling writers, creatives, artists, photographers, and anyone with an open mind to the page.
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If a double occupancy room is still available, we’d love to welcome your guest too! Double occupancy rooms feature one double-sized bed.
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All meals are locally sourced and organic when possible. Please let us know if you have any allergies or preferences.
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Wear comfortable clothes that feel good to you. Loose or flexible clothes are best for meditation and gentle movement sessions. The average temperatures in May are from 72° F (22° C) to 82° F (27° C).
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A light jacket or sweater for evenings
Short and long-sleeved shirts for layering — it can get cool at night, so layer up!
Comfortable shoes for walking in the city, a nice flat or boot with cushioning support
You may also need:
Sunscreen
A camera
Water bottle
A rain cover
Charger adapter – In Berlin, the power plugs and sockets are type C and F. The standard voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Spending money – To purchase souvenirs or gifts. Let’s not forget spa treatments!
Berlin is part of the European Union, and vendors and stores accept Euros as the preferred currency. Credit cards are accepted by some vendors. There are ATMs all over the city, so Euros can be easily accessed via a debit card.
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Movement sessions are tailored to participants. Daily movement is designed to be gentle and inclusive. Our expert movement guide will work with you on any modifications needed. You’re welcome to participate in all activities or only a few.
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You are not required to pack anything besides your favorite writing tools, such as your laptop, tablet, or notebook.
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You may receive a full refund of your payment to your original payment method if you send a refund request to inquiries@writingonwater.net at least 90 days before the first day of the event you paid for.
After that:
60 days before the paid event: 50% refund of payment
During the event: A 100% refund if you’re present during the first day of the event paid for, but the event is canceled by Writing on Water (WOW) Corporation.
Please note that there are no refunds for leaving a Writing on Water (WOW) experience early, arriving late, or skipping meals. All activities are optional; however, if you choose to opt out of any of our activities or offerings, that is your choice, and you will not receive a refund of any part of your registration fee.
Still have questions?
Email us; we’re happy to help:
hello@writingonwater.net.
“I ate Wiener Schnitzel, real Wiener Schnitzel, and potato salad. It was a little too cool. I spent time on the river, walked along the remnants of the Berlin Wall and the East Side Gallery, climbed halfway up the Victory Tower, and found a badass goddess to take a photo with. And I met a great author, Martin Jankowski. And I'm with my new friends. Yes indeed… thank you very much!”
—MaryBeth Jarvis Clarke, Salt Lake City, Utah