Stone + Wildflower Writing Retreat
Fleinvær-Sørvær, Norway | September 18-21, 2020
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 Freyja, 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.
cancelled due to covid-19
day ONE
Hop on the scenic ferry in Bødo. Take in views of fjords en route to the Arctic Hideaway. Upon arrival, we'll introduce you to your cabin then sit for 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 an exercise in reimagining 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. Upon return, we’ll pause for meditation at sunset. Over the evening meal, 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 mindful 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. Sit still under the setting sun for a group meditation session. Our evening ends with dinner and a poetry reading by our chef.
day four
We’ll break bread one last time and conclude our retreat by setting intentions for the return home. After farewells, we’ll take the morning ferry back to Bødo and onward.
What’s Included?
Workshops
Activities & Excursions
Choice of Accommodation
Meals, Beverages & Snacks
Access to the Sauna House
Boat to and from Hustad
Welcome Gift Inspired by the Locale
What’s Not Included
Flight to Bødo, Norway
Pre-Retreat Hotel + Expenses in Bødo
Ferry to Sørvær
Return Ferry to Bødo
Health & Travel Insurance
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 Skinny 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. €3790 Investment Per Person. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire.
The Shared Skinny Cabin/Ground Level: Perfect for travelers arriving solo - we’ll pair you with another guest. €3890 Investment Per Person. The option to cover the cost in monthly installments is always available, if interested inquire.
The Private Skinny Cabin: Perfect for travelers arriving solo who want space all to themselves. €3990 Investment Per Person.
A Private Shower And Private Toilets Are Located In Separate Cabins And Shared Amongst All Participants.
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 BFA from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and an MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles. She 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
“This was the highlight of my year - exploring the creative process with a poet, novelist, architect, set designer, and other filmmakers.”
“Traveling with Story Rebels allowed me to have the time and space to be creative. With all the details sorted, I could relax and focus on writing, surrounded by others with a similar drive.”
“...a storybook experience..paths through bamboo, palm and cactus...creating our own meals over coals...every detail carefully thought out. These retreats are soul food.”
“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.”
“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.”