WRITING RETREATS October 28-30, 2009: "Crossing Genres" with Evan Fallenberg (novel-writing); Jenny Feldman (poetry); Madelyn Kent (playwriting); Sherri Mandell (creative nonfiction). Click here. Beginning in 2004, Evan and writing/mentoring colleague Judy Labensohn have hosted three-day writing retreats attended by English-speakers from around Israel. Each retreat focuses on a particular aspect of writing and includes workshops, discussions, writing exercises, readings and, where appropriate, guest artists.  Please scroll down for information on previous retreats and testimonials from participants. RETREATS November 2004: "Voice" at Beit Oren on Mount Carmel May 2005: "Writing from the Senses" at Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea February 2006: "Vision and Revision" at Maaleh Hachamishah in the Judean Hills November 2006: "Characterization" at Maaleh Hachamishah in the Judean Hills November 2007: "Talk to Me" (Dialogue in Fiction and Non-Fiction) at Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam Guest House in the Judean foothills.   SELECTED TESTIMONIALS: The best part of the retreat was the spirited instruction. -Henning Schwarz, Copenhagen Thank you for introducing me to a new circle of talented, thoughtful people. -Tamara Mendelson, Raanana Wow! What a three day literary adventure you and Judy threw for 32 grateful wannabe writers. I loved every minute. As an educator, I think I can guess the hours and hours you put into forming the seminar. It was all outstanding, interesting - at times I thought my brain would burst from so much information. Not to mention the hours asleep when I got home. We are so lucky that we have the two of you to guide us. -Nancy Tamir, Caesarea What a resounding success. I can't describe the sense of satisfaction and excited fulfillment with which I headed back home. You arranged the whole thing marvelously, taking care of each detail – though to the outsider it might just appear that everything flowed "effortlessly". I know how much effort goes into that "effortlessness". And what a delicious mix of people. Talent and desire and earnestness and respect were just some of the qualities I enjoyed. So many stories, such rich life experiences, such a variety, and all lovers of the word. All striving to articulate something deeply personal, seeking to hone their skills. Thank you, thank you, more than I can say. How lucky to have found you… -Ruth Abraham, Herzliya Pituah Many, many thanks to both you and Judy for the hard work and planning which went into the retreat. I am sure you were really delighted to get all the positive feed-backs. It was indeed illuminating, thought provoking, as well as encouraging and stimulating. Met so many interesting gals and made some new connections. -Barbara Abraham, Upper Galilee I am still floating! Can't seem to nor do I want to, come down to earth. I spent a wonderful Shabbat in the magnificent Holy City recounting my experiences of the last couple of days, to all who wanted to listen (and probably to several who didn't!). It was just great. You have given so many people so many things, including inspiration, confidence, ideas, knowledge, and a great deal of friendship and support. What a lot of mitzvot, all in three days! You'd better start planning the next one. -Judy Hammond, Caesarea Thank you once again for the wonderful writing retreat last week. As usual, everything flowed beautifully. I returned home feeling again how important writing is to me and the need to set aside time to do so. I really appreciate all your efforts that go into planning, organizing and teaching. I continue to learn so much from you both. I also gained so much from the opportunity to be with other writers on the retreat. -Judy Gray, Jerusalem I was reading a short story in The New Yorker yesterday. Found myself asking all kinds of questions - what is the point? Who is the main character? What is redundant? Seems I learnt something. It was great, both humbling and stimulating. Looking forward to next time!!! -Prof Boaz Porter, Beersheva I have lots of wonderful friends but most of them have mystified looks on their faces when I tell them about going away on a writing retreat. They just don’t get it. So it’s good being with people who understand, and don’t ask, so what do you DO there? As a long-time congress organizer, I was pleased, but not really surprised, to see that you made every person at the retreat feel wanted and special. We all relished the obvious interest you both took in our work as well as in our wellbeing. You were so calm and self-assured that you passed that feeling on to your participants; this helped us to write those twelve-minute exercises and even the pesky forty five-minute one. There was no burden of stress which might have held us back - instead, we were able to focus on the task and do the job we'd come to do. -Meera Jacobson, Netanya If you're anything like me, you're still on the high on which I left Ein Gedi. It was a wonderful experience, enlightening on the practical aspects of the craft of writing, but also hugely successful on a social level. I felt strongly that the smaller number of participants contributed a lot to the intimacy and cohesiveness of the group, which in turn encouraged some people to feel safe and secure and to venture where maybe they would not have dared to go otherwise. Thank you so much for all the effort you clearly put in to make the retreats so successful and something that I - along with many others, I'm sure - look forward to being a part of for a long time to come. -Vera Freudmann, Raanana I've just finished going over all the "stuff" from the Retreat. I had to list all the exercises in the order we did them, just to sort out the jumble in my head. It was such a fantastically enriching experience and has given me so much food for thought, and so many starting points for essays, memoirs, creative fiction, etc., that it's going to take a very long time to absorb it all and produce something tangible. I could probably spend a week, writing from morning till night and still not get to the end of the list of things I could write if I had the time! - Dr. Jenni Tsafrir, Petah Tikva Clearly you put a lot of thought, time and effort into the organization. You did everything possible to make people feel comfortable. And you are a great team. The sub-plot of the retreat was, for me, respect. The respect you showed each other, the respect you both showed for the efforts people made, respect for the schedule that you set, and finally, respect for the written word. -Laurie Bisberg, Haifa Thanks to the retreat, I started working on an essay I want to read out at a memorial service for my father, about a very early childhood memory involving him. I am trying to incorporate tips and techniques you and Judy imparted. Very optimistically I am setting this writing goal for myself. Thank you for your guidance and encouragement. -Nechama Golan, Mevasseret Zion