A Writer's Art: Creative Writing – Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

If good writing requires inspiration, concentration, and solitude, then Ghost Ranch, New Mexico is a writer’s paradise. Located in a high desert landscape, the ranch features canyons, red rock mesas, and an ever-changing variety of colorful sunsets. Artist Georgia O’Keeffe once said of Ghost Ranch, “All the earth colors of the painter’s palette are out there in the many miles of badlands.” This field study offers students the opportunity to enjoy two weeks of creative discovery in this serene and beautiful location.

Notable Attractions and Excursions:

• Experiment with many different writing techniques
• Hike to natural wonders such as Chimney Rock and Box Canyon
• Experience the local history and culture
• Visit the National Folk Art Museum
• View a spectacular sunset during an evening journal session

The Site

Ghost Ranch encompasses 21,000 acres in a remote desert region between Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Once the longtime home of painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the subject of many of her famous works, the site now hosts individuals and groups from diverse cultural backgrounds who come for a variety of educational and arts programs. In addition to a dining hall, swimming pool, library, and meeting rooms, the ranch has two museums and miles of hiking trails.

The Course

Nurtured by the solitude and beauty of Ghost Ranch, students will have the time and freedom to develop their creative writing style, learn professional writing techniques, and experience the process of writing. In addition, students will participate in outdoor adventures, take field trips to regional cultural sites, and visit with local artists and writers. The framework of this course is based on daily readings of works by contemporary authors as well as students’ own prose and poetry. Through guided writing exercises, students will acquire strategies for developing characters, setting, and plot; hone descriptive techniques; and learn to read with a writer’s eye. Students will participate in supportive critique workshops with their peers and instructors, writing independently and revising their work in response to constructive feedback.

A Typical Day

A typical day may begin with an early breakfast, followed by an hour of independent journal writing. Students will usually spend mornings enjoying the outdoors and participating in activities such as writing exercises, discussions, and draft sharing. Afternoons provide plenty of free time for contemplation, recreation, and often a field trip or hike. Evenings at Ghost Ranch may include a class session or social activity such as music around the fire, storytelling, artistic endeavors, dinner in town, or a movie. Weekends will permit more time for students to complete revisions and polish their writings for critique workshops and the final authors’ reading. Students will participate in numerous hikes over desert terrain in search of inspiration, so be sure to bring your hiking boots! Those who are eager to learn in a collaborative environment, write independently, listen carefully, and contribute to creative decision-making are encouraged to apply.

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