Journal
Supposed to be Writing a Song and instead…
I have: some chords, a prompt from Katryna, and the usual conceit that this needs to be the best song I’ve ever written. This is not helpful. Better by far…
May 12, 2019
Recent Posts
Big Yellow/Little Blue Writing Retreats
Nerissa has hosted writing retreats from her home in Northampton since 2004. The writing space is magical, as anyone who’s written there will tell you.
- January 18-20, 2019 MLK Retreat
- March 22-24, 2019 Equinox Retreat
- July 8-12, 2019 Summer Writing Camp
- July 15-19, 2019 Summer Writing Camp
- September 13-15, 2019 First Little Blue Weekend Retreat!
- November 8-10, 2019 Kali Retreat
Focus Chorus
Focus Chorus is a high level singing group composed of 10-15 year olds. An offshoot of the highly successful Local Chorus (kids aged 5-15), Focus Chorus is for advanced singers who are willing to work hard and learn 3-4 part harmony songs. (more…)
Local Chorus
Local Chorus is a privately run chorus for kids aged 5-13. We sing a wide repertoire of folk, pop, rock and classical music in one-, two- and three-part arrangements. When possible, we incorporate strings played by the students, as well as guitar and percussion played by adults and students. (more…)
- 10 wks starting 4/9/2019
- Tuesday from 4 – 4:45 pm
- Montessori School of Northampton
COST: $150.00
September Little Blue Retreat
Late Summer/Fall Equinox Retreat starts at 5:30 Friday with dinner, introductions and a short writing session. Then two days of writing, with a delicious home-cooked dinner on Saturday night, sharing after dinner. On Sunday, we will write 9-5 with lunch in between. (more…)
Weeding & Pruning
Weeding & Pruning is a manuscript group composed of six Writing It Up in the Garden writers. We have been meeting for the past 9 years, on and off, via teleconference. (more…)
November Kali Retreat
Join Nerissa for a three-day intensive writing weekend from Friday November 8 to Sunday November 10. We will start Friday at 5:30 with a hot dinner, after which we will gather for introductions and a first writing session. (more…)
March Spring Equinox Retreat
Come to Northampton MA and tap into your spring reserves for a weekend of writing, laughing, learning and growing. This yearly event is one of the favorites for aficionados of the Big Yellow retreats. Springtime is a great time to start a new project or go deeper into an existing one. (more…)
Weekly Writing Workshops
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Nerissa Nields holds amazing writing workshops out of her home in Northampton. She created these groups in 2003 when, as a single woman, she bought a Big Yellow House that was a bit beyond reach. (more…)
- Regular, 10-week Courses
- Generative (first draft) writing
- Manuscript group (by invitation only)
- Spring 2019
- Northampton, MA
COST: $350.00
Hootenanny Parent Guitar
Nerissa teaches parents how to bring HooteNanny home. In a warm, encouraging group setting, parents and grandparents strum together, learn chords, finger-picking patterns, rudimentary music theory, sing together, laugh, share their struggles with practicing after bedtime, and make amazing progress. (more…)
ADK Retreat
Nerissa is resurrecting her popular writing retreat in the mountains of the Adirondacks! Come for a weekend to a beautiful home in Keene, NY with views of the mountains, peace and quiet, old birch trees and small tree frogs. Pick wild blueberries and laugh with delightful people as your poems, stories, songs and memories take shape. (more…)
Summer Writing Retreat
Finally–give yourself to your writing for one delicious week! This year, we will start on a Wednesday and end on a Sunday, so that folks who can’t take time off from work can join the group on Friday and have a regular weekend retreat. This is a fantastic opportunity (more…)
- Book 1 or more sessions
- discount w/ code camp for 5 days
- July 24-28, 2019
- price per day
COST: $100.00
January MLK Weekend Retreat
By popular demand, we’re going to have a mini-replica of the Summer Writing Camp in the deep midwinter! Join Nerissa for a three-day intensive writing weekend from Friday January 18 to Sunday January 20 2019. (more…)
