Retreat Policies & Important Information | Personal Narrative Writing Retreat | November 7–13, 2027 | North Adams, Massachusetts

We're looking forward to creating a thoughtful, generous, and inspiring week of writing together. Please review the following policies before registering. They help us care for the retreat community while making the arrangements necessary to host a residential experience.

1. Registration & Payment

Registration reserves your place in the retreat. Enrollment is limited to support an intimate experience and meaningful engagement with the retreat leaders.

Your registration is confirmed once payment arrangements have been completed according to the terms provided at registration. Any applicable deposit, payment deadlines, and installment arrangements will be communicated during the registration process.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that all required payments are made by the stated deadlines. Please contact us if you have questions about registration or payment.

2. What's Included

The retreat fee includes:

• Six nights of lodging at the FreshGrass Institute at Porches Inn at MASS MoCA.

• Most meals throughout the week, including designated group meals and dinners out.

• Workshops and creative programming led by Erin Hallagan Clare and Sebastian Matthews.

• Opportunities for individual consultations with the retreat leaders.

• Scheduled group activities, including story circles and a participant reading.

• Planned opportunities to experience MASS MoCA and explore the surrounding area.

Specific lodging arrangements, meal details, and programming information will be shared with registered participants in advance.

The retreat fee does not include transportation to or from North Adams, meals designated as independent or on-your-own, alcoholic beverages unless expressly included, personal expenses, or travel insurance.

3. Travel & Transportation

Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation to and from North Adams, Massachusetts, including airfare, train tickets, rental cars, and ground transportation.

We encourage participants to research their travel options and allow sufficient time to arrive for the retreat's opening activities on Sunday, November 7, and depart after the retreat concludes on Saturday, November 13.

Participants are responsible for their own travel reservations, identification, tickets, and any other documentation required for their journey.

Please consider purchasing travel insurance before making nonrefundable travel arrangements. Story Parlor cannot reimburse airfare, transportation, independently booked lodging, or other personal travel expenses if the retreat is changed or canceled.

We will share additional travel guidance with registered participants as the retreat approaches.

4. Lodging & Meals

Lodging for six nights is included in the retreat fee. Information about room arrangements and any relevant accommodation details will be provided before the retreat.

Most meals are included, though some meals will be independent or on your own. Participants are responsible for the cost of meals and personal expenses not expressly included in the retreat fee.

Please communicate dietary restrictions, food allergies, and relevant accommodation needs during registration or as early as possible. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests, though we cannot guarantee that every dietary need or preference can be met.

Participants are responsible for respecting the lodging facilities, shared spaces, and the comfort of fellow attendees.

5. Cancellation & Refund Policy

We understand that plans can change. Because this residential retreat requires advance commitments for lodging, meals, and programming, our cancellation policy balances flexibility for participants with the costs of planning and hosting the experience.

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to erin@storyparloravl.com. Refund eligibility is determined by the date and time the written request is received.

• 90 or more days before the retreat: Refund of payments made, less a 15% cancellation fee.

• 60–89 days before the retreat: Refund of payments made, less a 25% cancellation fee.

• 45–59 days before the retreat: Refund of payments made, less a 50% cancellation fee.

• Fewer than 45 days before the retreat: No refunds or transfers are available.

Cancellation fees are calculated as a percentage of the amount paid to Story Parlor at the time of cancellation.

If a participant cancels, Story Parlor may, at its discretion, offer a partial refund if the vacated place is filled by another participant. Such a refund is not guaranteed.

No refunds are available for participants who arrive late, depart early, miss activities, or choose not to participate in some or all of the retreat. This policy also applies to cancellations due to illness, personal emergencies, or travel disruptions. We strongly recommend travel insurance that specifically covers retreat fees and trip cancellation or interruption.

6. Transfers

Requests to transfer a registration to another individual must be submitted in writing to erin@storyparloravl.com and are subject to Story Parlor's approval and availability.

Any approved replacement participant must complete the required registration process and agree to the retreat policies before attending. A transfer is not complete until it has been confirmed in writing by Story Parlor.

Registrations cannot be transferred to a different retreat or future event unless expressly approved in writing by Story Parlor. Transfers are not available within 45 days of the retreat start date.

7. Cancellation or Changes by Story Parlor

We make every effort to deliver the retreat as described, but circumstances may occasionally require changes.

If Story Parlor must cancel the entire retreat, participants will receive a full refund of retreat fees paid directly to Story Parlor. Refunds will not include airfare, transportation, independently booked lodging, travel insurance, or other personal expenses.

If the retreat must be postponed or rescheduled, participants will be informed as soon as reasonably possible and provided with available options.

Circumstances outside our reasonable control—including severe weather, natural disasters, public health emergencies, government restrictions, venue closures, or other significant disruptions—may affect the retreat or its programming. Where possible, Story Parlor will seek reasonable alternatives or adjustments. If such circumstances make it necessary to cancel the entire retreat, the full-refund policy above will apply to retreat fees paid directly to Story Parlor.

Story Parlor is not responsible for additional costs or losses associated with travel arrangements or other third-party expenses. Nothing in this policy limits any rights participants may have under applicable law.

8. Schedule & Programming

The published schedule provides an overview of the retreat's planned activities. A more detailed itinerary will be provided to registered participants shortly before the retreat.

The schedule may be adjusted as needed to accommodate weather, venue availability, facilitator needs, group dynamics, or other logistical considerations. Workshops, excursions, meal arrangements, and activities may be modified or substituted when reasonably necessary.

We will make every effort to preserve the retreat's overall character and learning experience. Reasonable adjustments to individual activities or the daily schedule do not entitle participants to a refund.

9. Participation & Community Care

This retreat is intended to be an immersive experience for writers interested in exploring personal narrative and creative practice. Participants are encouraged to engage in workshops, writing sessions, consultations, and group activities in ways that support their own work and the shared experience.

We aim to create a respectful, inclusive environment in which participants can take creative risks, share work in progress, and engage with one another thoughtfully.

Participants are expected to respect the boundaries, identities, perspectives, and contributions of fellow attendees. Disruptive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening behavior will not be tolerated. Story Parlor reserves the right to address conduct that compromises the safety or integrity of the retreat community, including ending a participant's involvement when necessary. No refund will be provided in the event of removal for serious misconduct.

10. Confidentiality & Sharing of Work

Personal narrative can involve intimate experiences, memories, and unfinished creative work. We ask all participants to treat stories, writing, and personal information shared in workshops, consultations, and group discussions with care and discretion.

Please do not share another participant's personal story, unpublished writing, or identifying information outside the retreat without their explicit permission.

Participants retain ownership of their own writing and creative work. Sharing work during the retreat does not grant Story Parlor, the retreat leaders, or other participants permission to reproduce, publish, distribute, or otherwise use that work.

11. Photography & Documentation

Participants may wish to photograph the setting, artwork, or shared experiences during the retreat. Please be considerate of fellow attendees and respect requests not to be photographed or recorded.

Do not photograph, record, or distribute another participant's image, voice, or creative work without their permission. Any official photography or promotional use by Story Parlor will be communicated separately, and participants will be given an opportunity to indicate their preferences.

12. Accessibility, Health & Personal Responsibility

Please let us know about accessibility needs or other accommodations as early as possible so we can discuss available arrangements. We will share relevant information about the venue and planned activities in advance.

Participants are responsible for their own health, well-being, personal belongings, and travel arrangements. The retreat is a creative and educational experience, not a substitute for medical care or mental health treatment.

If you have questions about whether the retreat setting or activities will meet your needs, please contact us before registering so we can discuss them with you.

13. Travel Insurance

Because participants are traveling to attend a residential retreat, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers nonrefundable retreat fees, trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, and medical emergencies, as appropriate.

Please review the policy terms carefully, including exclusions and eligibility requirements. Not all policies cover every reason for cancellation, and coverage may need to be purchased within a specific period after your initial payment.

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Questions?

We're happy to answer questions about the retreat, registration, lodging, travel, or policies before you commit.

Contact: Erin Hallagan Clare
Email: erin@storyparloravl.com