What exactly is this?
This site is a clearinghouse for the work of Nerissa Nields, a musician and writer who plays in a band called The Nields, runs writing workshops and retreats out of her home in Northampton MA, and tries to have a good life, full of mess and the occasional epiphany. Here, you will find information about her workshops, retreats, books, music and random thoughts about life. For more information about The Nields, go here.
Big Yellow Writing Retreats
Nerissa has hosted writing retreats from her home in Northampton since 2004. The house (affectionately dubbed “Big Yellow” by retreatants) is magical, as anyone who’s written there will tell you.
She also brings the “Big Yellow” spirit to retreats in other locations.
Current retreat details are below.
current events
Big Yellow Weekend Retreats
Retreat Schedule 2017 November 10-12 Northampton MA Nerissa has been hosting writing retreats from her home in Northampton since 2004. The house (affectionately dubbed “Big Yellow” by retreatants) is magical, as...
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Weekly Writing Workshops
Date: Regular, 10-week Courses
Time: Fall 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Cost: $350
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Nerissa Nields holds amazing writing workshops out of her home in Northampton. Write. Be entertained. Laugh. Cry. Foster community. Drink hot beverages. All kinds of writers are welcome. We are poets, novelists, songwriters, memoirists, journalers and scribblers.
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Local Chorus
Date: 10 weeks starting September 18, 2017
Time: Mondays from 4-4:45pm
Location: Jackson St School, Room 206
Cost: $125/$200
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...
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November Retreat
Date: Nov. 10-12, 2017
Time: 5:30 Friday-5pm Sunday
Location: Big Yellow, Northampton MA
Cost: $300
Join Nerissa for a three-day intensive writing weekend from Friday November 10 to Sunday November 12. We will start Friday at 5:30 with a hot dinner, after which we will...
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March Spring Equinox Retreat
Date: March 17-19, 2017
Time: 5:30pm Friday - 5pm Sunday
Location: Northampton, MA
Cost: $300
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...
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Adirondack Retreat
Date: Friday June 30 - Saturday July 1, 2017
Time: 9am Friday - 5pm Saturday
Location: Keene, NY
Cost: $200
Come write with Nerissa Nields in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY! Two hours north of Albany, Nerissa has been running retreats in the lovely town of Keene NY, nestled in the High Peaks. Write, hike, enjoy wonderful food and music and company!
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Summer Writing Camp
Date: July 10 - 14, 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Cost: $400
Finally--give yourself to your writing for one delicious week! We will meet from 9am-4pm. Mornings will be dedicated to writing in my beautiful house, inside or out on the porch, or patio, or in the secret spot in the center of my labyrinth...or even on the second floor of my barn.
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HooteNanny Parent Guitar
Date: Next Session Starts in September 2017
Cost: $250
All levels welcome! Singing encouraged! 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...
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