Journal
Dear America, It’s Time to Grow Up
One day in late April, when The Mask Wars were just beginning, my daughter and I went for a walk in our park. Just as we were turning into our…
July 3, 2020
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 3-5 2020
- March 20-22, 2020 Equinox Retreat
- June 26-28 2020 ADK Retreat in Keene NY
- July 13-17 2020 Summer Writing Camp
- September 2020 Fall Equinox Retreat TBD
- November Women’s Kali Retreat TBD
Weekly Writing Workshops
On Mondays, 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)
- Autumn 2020
- Northampton, MA
COST: $350.00
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…)
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…)
- 15 wks starting February 25, 2020
- Tuesday from 4 – 4:45 pm
- Montessori School of Northampton
COST: $225.00
ADK Retreat
Come for an Adirondack weekend and write in 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 is a fantastic opportunity (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 10 years, on and off, via teleconference. (more…)
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 delicious home-cooked lunches on Saturday and Sunday. We will write from 9am-4pm, and then share new work from 4-5pm. (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…)
Summer Guitar Workshop
Nerissa teaches guitarists and would-be guitarists of all levels. In a warm, encouraging group setting, teens, adults, 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…)
