What Participants in the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop said about their experience:

As a veteran of writerly confabs large and small, I can say without reservation that my experience with Joyce Maynard, Bob Bausch and Jane Hirshfield on Lake Atitlan was by far the most exceptional and profound of the lot -- in ways I could not have predicted or imagined. It wasn’t just the daily lessons in craft that even an old hand like me found insightful, but the openness of my fellow attendees, the generosity of our hosts at Casa Azul who looked after us so mindfully, the gentle people of San Marcos -- Mayans, expatriate gypsies, volunteer vagabonds from around the world -- who greeted this sudden onslaught of scribblers with warmth and goodwill. I will never forget my week on the lake, with the cloud-veiled volcano keeping watch. I’m a different man now, and I miss the people I met there.

-- David Corbett, author of Blood of Paradise

My experience at the workshop was truly transforming. Your meticulous preparations made it easy for me to join in whenever I wished to. Your hospitality to me was so kind and inclusive and I really became part of the group in my own way.

Thank you very, very much for embracing me there. The workshop produced profound work in a safe atmosphere that I have never experienced before.

-- Lona Piatakorsky, Baltimore, Maryland

I am still reeling (in the best possible way) from the trip. Your generosity and love is much appreciated. I am daydreaming of the sunrise swim.

-- Lynn Untz, Eugene, Oregon

What a spectacular week that was, for me, in all ways. Still savoring, digesting....

-- Dawn Farber, Berkeley, California

I'm hanging on to lingering aromas of San Marcos that conjure wild swatches of Guatemalan color. They will always remindmeof the power of the human spirit to prevail over any misfortune no matter the scale. That strength reigned in our group of courageous memoirists. It has reassembled me into the joyous and strong person I was months ago.

A writer friend asked me, "So, if you had to give a theme to your workshop, what would it be?" I replied, Redemption.

-- Caroline Lechaux, Virginia

I was moved by the support and compassion of the group and the instructors. San marcos was charming, a real adventure. Both Joyce and Bob were wonderful; they made each person feel important and welcomed.

-- Ronelle Grier, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

I have felt completely different since I spent time in San Marcos. It seemed like the most magical place. I will never forget it. For me, it turned out that the writing workshop was really the way of getting me to a place I might never have considered or even heard about otherwise. Because of this I am so grateful that Joyce chooses to do this course in Guatemala, and for all of the hard work that you all put into making it so special for us. I was really serious when I said I have never felt so taken care of on a trip before. I really appreciate everything from the organization, to the yummy food, the incredible yoga, to Ed's stories, the show put on by the children for us, the shopping trip and your generosity... I could go on and on... It was unforgettable.

-- Casey Campbell, Ontario , Canada

Not everyone in the world gets to experience the nurturing combination of warmth, acceptance, creativity and laughter that Joyce, Bob, Christina, Ed and all the other fabulous people in San Marcos created for us. Pretty amazing stuff . . . I did not expect to be as affected by it all as I was and am trying hard to hang on to that powerful feeling.

-- Lisa Berg, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The best workshop I ever took. I am so impressed and so inspired. You two are a perfect team.

-- Andrea Askowitz, Miami, Florida

This is a welcoming and nurturing place for everyone from the casual writer to aspiring novelists. Everyone is welcome. I’m grateful beyond words to experience the rare and cleansing opportunity. A mere thank you is insufficient. I feel empowered like never before.

-- Lynn Buckley, Tampa, Florida

This trip has changed how I’m seeing things. I want to go home and write.

-- Shannon Fitzgerald, New York, NewYork

Having the two points of view, Joyce and Bob, was good. The format of fiction of course fits well with memoir, finding the narrative story line, etc. And I loved all the massage and health treatments.

-- Liz Van Ingen, Denver, Colorado

I could not think of a single thing you could have done to make it any better for us.

-- Joe De Young, Virginia

As a journalist for many years, I decided to write a memoir about surviving a personal crisis. How hard can it be? I thought. After months of struggle, I learned the answer: very hard. Thus humbled, I had the good fortune to attend the Walloon Writers' Retreat with Joyce Maynard. Through her readings, talks and editing of my work, I found her to be smart, funny, insightful, generous and supportive. Without destroying my (need I say fragile?) ego, she helped me see what was wrong with my work and how to fix it.

A few months later, I raced to Guatemala for the chance to work with her a second time. My writing skills sharpened again. Working with Joyce is like working with the best physical trainer. Only where your muscles take months to develop, your writing ability strengthens overnight with Joyce's help. A seminar with Joyce Maynard is the best gift I ever gave myself as a writer. And she bakes a helluva good peach pie.

-- Suzy Farbman, Detroit, Michigan
author of Back From Betrayal: Saving a
Marriage, a Family, a Life (April 2004)

I knew Joyce as a captivating writer. In San Marcos I discovered a gifted and engaging teacher. I never anticipated how much I would learn, nor how much fun I would have. The breathtaking scenery of Lake Atitlan, the enthusiasm and wit of the other participants, combined with Joyce's sensitivity, knowledge, and unflagging energy made for an extraordinarily rich and rewarding seven days. I felt privileged to be there, and grateful for all I learned. It all ended too soon. I'm looking forward to returning.

-- Paul Eisenberg, Berkeley California

I characterize those eight amazing days as a pivotal event in the formation of my skill as a writer. I began the week writing carefully and guardedly, over emphasizing description and ardently avoiding the blood and guts of the pieces I attempted. Before I arrived, a friend accused me of flying above the material and not allowing myself to get down into the real and messy things lurking there. Joyce seemed to concur. She said things like, "Don't say passed away, say died," and, "Don't tell us about the wallpaper, show us how the protagonist felt standing at the deathbed of her father." Joyce yelled (albeit with great care and respect) at me and brutally red penned my beloved stories. The instruction was simultaneously profoundly painful and incredibly liberating. I stayed up all night one night arguing in my head about her theories and style while still struggling with my fragile and wounded ego. With the dawn's first rays, I angrily wrote the most heartfelt, honest, and real thing I had ever attempted.

After that, I felt as if the veil had been lifted from my eyes both in terms of my life as well as my writing. My writing changed dramatically and became both more fun and more real. My life felt cleaner and simpler. Arbitrary schedules, make believe deadlines, and endless to do lists I previously agonized over miraculously became trivialities. I began giving myself permission to say no. I re-examined the idea of "wasted time," which now became rich and precious "me time."

As if the inspiration and instruction weren't enough in itself, they almost paled in comparison to the privilege of experiencing the biggest, most beautiful full moon I have ever seen, meeting many fascinating people, eating much fabulous food, and spending a week in a slow motion paradise.

I loved all the mostly wonderful and sometimes very difficult things I learned and experienced in Guatemala with Joyce and eagerly look forward to doing it all again.

-- Nancy Brodhead, Florida

Joyce Maynard is enthusiastic, relentless, and fearless in hr approach to writing instruction. Using the material from workshop participants as well as her own work, she weaves in the essentials of good writing into her sessions as together participants analyze and critique one another's work. Her expertise is only outweighed by her passion for the work.

Our setting in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, was ideal. Cool mornings warming up to bright sunny days chilling into evenings that lent themselves to reading around a campfire. Novice travelers can be assured that Joyce takes care of everything from airport pick-up to delicious healthy meals and a charming place to stay. I would repeat this experience in a flash; in fact most likely I will.

-- Janie Starr, Vashon Island, Washington

"A Week in Atitlan with Joyce took my love for travel and my love for writing to a whole new level. It was one of those weeks that will stay with me for the rest of my life - a months worth of experience packed into 7 days. Despite my best efforts, since the food was SO good, I lost weight and grew a tad bit fitter, as well. The most inspiring aspect of the week was the excitement that grew for my writing. My greatest fear, that I was too green for such an workshop, was quickly calmed when I met the 13 other members of our workshop. Everyone was so cool and open to learning and sharing their process and passion for writing. I really enjoyed the lovely balance Joyce created of fact-packed writing instruction, using the original work of our group members, combined with breaks for sightseeing and spiritual healing opportunities, uniquely available in the village of San Marcos. And the glue that made it all stick together was our illustrious hosts Ed and Christina of Casa Azul. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity which I hope to repeat!"

-- Anya Spielberg

Joyce -- Life "at home" has been both boring and exciting but not as visually stimulating as being in San Marcos.

Below are 4 paragraphs in response to your requested info for workshop testimonials. Please use any parts that work for your purposes. The entire week was fabulous. This group bonded in a very supportive way. I think that we were scattered across the small community aided in that bonding. We walked in small groups and caught a meal with another or few. Thus our experiences became both more personal and shared.

As one of the few non-memoir participants in the '06 Guatemala workshop, I felt that my understanding of the strengths, flaws and fixes for my writing received pertinent attention and greatly benefited from your generosity with your extensive knowledge and your time and the thoughtful comments and suggestions of the other writers. Over the course of the week, I began to understood better the story arc and the importance of the beats of my story.

The Casa Azul surroundings, your thoughtfulness and honesty as well as the broad diversity of ages, homeplaces, occupations and backgrounds of the group created a supportive atmosphere where each participant could face their writing and their life with courage. What a wonderful experience! I saw, or rather heard in the evening fireside readings, tremendous growth as writers.

My favorite moments, as you can imagine, were the lancha trips back and forth across the lake. Being on the water or lying on your dock listening to the water splash on the shore rocks provided moments of great calm for me. Returning from calm, I'd look at the lakeshore volcanoes and know that beauty is exciting.

"Arc" and "beats" flash like neon signs (remember I am Queen of Metaphors --Bromley '05) in my brain each time I sit at my computer and open one of my story files. And each story that I work on is better. Thank you.

Although I forgot to include this in the above paragraphs, continuous favorite moments were those spent walking to and from Casa Azul on the small cobblestone "streets" and dusty paths of San Marcos. Each morning journey held greetings to and from friendly people whose town I had invaded, dogs as intent on their destination as I was on mine, and free-roaming roosters (yard birds to southerners and midwesterners) who pecked beneath each leaf on their haphazard search for a tasty seed or insect. What a joy.

-- Carol Hurst. Lawrence, Kansas

AND FINALLY, THIS…..

I first had the pleasure of working with Joyce Maynard at the Summer Intensive Program for Writers at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. I arrived with an idea about a story - and left with something true and precious, a story that was waiting to be told, but had been previously hiding in my heart. Joyce helped me to move from superficial prose to something sweet, and real, and electric – and the entire process gave me courage. In the five days I spent working with Joyce, my writing also became tighter, more polished, and more honest. Joyce encouraged me to write without pretense - and without doubt. When we parted ways, she offered me the opportunity of a lifetime: to join her in San Marcos, Guatemala.

It is that very trip that I have only recently returned from - and while meeting Joyce at Sarah Lawrence in 2005 may have changed my writing - working with Joyce in Guatemala in 2007 changed my life...

There is something very special about one of Joyce's workshops. Anyone who has attended one can tell you - it is not like anything you could expect. There are no trite or contrived graduate seminar responses; nor are there aimless discussions about vague themes. The piece you bring to workshop will be read closely and critiqued with incredible precision - and feelings will be unearthed, shared, and worked through - but the point of these exercises is to bring something exact and absolute to your work. You will not deal with the "about-ness" of your writing without dealing with the "about-ness" of your person. The two are inextricable in memoir workshops - and when only the authentic voice will be believable, or make your piece accessible - Joyce will help you in her firm but gentle way to get through to each and every thread your story might contain.

Working with Joyce is a very special experience for any writer - but working with Joyce in San Marcos encompassed so much more than writing... Just the other day, I explained my time in Guatemala to a friend by saying that I made some beautiful and vibrant friendships in San Marcos, with people whom I will know for the rest of my life – and that I cleared my head, heart, body, and soul of debris – to find a lightness in my way of being I hadn't remembered feeling - ever... When I woke, I was greeted by the sun on Lake Atitlan. I ate delicious, fresh food made with love and care. I attended workshops, lectures, holistic body treatments, and even went open water swimming and had a breath-based massage. I worked with Ed and Cristina at Casa Azul to prepare breakfast in the mornings, and was immediately welcomed – not simply as a worker, but as part of their family. When I had free time, I would explore the village of San Marcos, take photographs, and wander the hiking trails. By the time I left, I knew short-cuts, had learned the names and stories of my neighbors, and even had a favorite spot to sit and read. The day I left, I vowed to return - and I know that I will.

Yes, there is incredible value to be found in any of Joyce Maynard's readings, lectures, or workshops - but to join her as a guest in a place she calls home; to be welcomed by the village of San Marcos, and participate fully in its beauty; and to know that I had experiences that will be with me for a life-time, and upon which I will build the next time I return… It is unlike anything I could have dreamed or imagined. It changed me, for the better, forever. I will always be grateful...

-- Andrea Sciacca, New York

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