First Thought, Best Thought – Writing Retreat with Anton Krueger

Retreat Overview

Drawing on his wide range of experience, Anton will be exploring mindfulness as a creative practice, as a way of encouraging awareness and spontaneity, a way of being present. Workshops are geared towards sparking creativity, inspiration and reflection; using writing as a tool of discovery. The emphasis here is not on technical skill, but on appreciating and enjoying our creative selves.

You need to begin to explore another way to write, to build awareness to write from…To create from joy, to create from wonder, demands a continual discipline, a great compassion…”
Thuksey Rinpoche, in Andrew Harvey’s Journey to Ladakh (1983)

Feedback from past participants:

“Anton was completely involved and prepared, good-humored and relevant”.

“Everything worked out beautifully, TRC is amazing!”

“One brilliant experience, Amazing people. Staff are the embodiment of friendly compassion, Thank you, guys!”

“Loved all of it! Wish I could stay longer.”

“The retreat was exactly what I wanted and more! I learnt so much.”

“Thanks so much, Anton – not just for the readings, but for the whole retreat. I’m inspired and energized.”

“By skillfully combining meditation and creative writing the workshops gently but decisively help one produce pieces of writing in different genres, leaving one with a feeling of: ‘”Awesome, I forgot I can do that!”” Ben

Retreat Options

The retreat takes place over four nights, with a shorter weekend option of 2 nights.

Starts Wed 8 September 2021, 18:00 for the 4-night option;

Or Friday 10 September 2021, 18:00 for the weekend option;

Ends Sunday 12 September 2021 at 13:00

Those staying for the longer option will get a one-on-one session with Anton for feedback on a work in progress of up to 20 000 words. Writers who have an existing project as well as those just starting out are equally welcome.

Retreat Facilitator

Anton Krueger is an acclaimed writer who has won numerous awards for his plays, poems and critical writing. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Drama, Rhodes University, and also helps to run a Samye Kagyu Buddhist centre in Grahamstown. Besides teaching Creative Writing at undergrad and postgraduate level, he’s also taught children at home schools and at the Michael Mount Waldorf School.
Anton is a member of Mindfulness Africa and has presented papers on Mindfulness and Creativity in Shanghai, Chicago, India, Sweden and Scotland. He’s also attended the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute in New York as well as Naropa’s Summer Writing Program at the Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.

Retreat Costs

There is the option to join either for two nights or four nights, with different costs depending on your choice of accommodation. These rates include all meals, refreshments and facilitator fees. Non-participating partners who wish to accompany participants are also welcome at reduced rates. If you would like to come but can’t afford it, there is the opportunity to do a work exchange.

To book, please use our online Booking Form. A 50% deposit will secure your choice of accommodation. This is not refundable but is transferable to another TRC retreat within a year.

For more general information about our retreats, please click on this link.

Catch yourself thinking…
Allen Ginsberg