I drove home from the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat just over 24 hours ago and I am still processing the experience. What
has created in this one-of-a-kind, home-baked Midwestern event is truly special. It’s smart and inspiring and so much fun, somehow managing to balance the staggering genius of authors, songwriters, filmmakers, poets, and other creatives from all over the world with the warmth and welcome of rural Northwest Iowa. What an unexpected joy.If you haven’t had the chance to attend, please put OWR IV on your calendar for next year. And if you were there, thanks so much for coming. Spending a few days with you at Lakeside Labs was one of the highlights of my entire year. You all inspire me.
Hungry for more Iowa magic? The
with at the helm hosts a once-a-month Zoom meeting as a perk for paid subscribers to any of the collaborative’s Substacks. That means if you’ve contributed financially to (or any of the other 60+ IWC newsletters), you’re invited! We would love to see you there as we introduce you to some new Collaborative members, talk about all things Iowa, and (I’m sure) discuss the past few days in Okoboji. Please email me at nicolebaart@gmail.com if you would like the link—because my Substack is free to all, I can’t post it here. And if you’d like to become a paying subscriber and support my work, just click the link below and I’ll see you tomorrow!As always, thanks for reading, friends! So grateful to be in community with you all. xoxo - Nicole
I’m a proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative!
It was so lovely to meet you finally!
I wanted to go so badly this year but we had some big expenses that put the kibosh on those plans. Hopefully next year.