Fall Virtual
The Story Starter Retreat
Get step-by-step instructions, practice, gentle feedback, and a structure that turns research into living stories.
What You'll Walk Away With!
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A complete 800–1200‑story scene you’re proud to share.
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A reusable 5‑moment story structure for every story.
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Dialogue + character tools that bring people on the page to life — without inventing.
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A practical revision toolkit (cut clutter, upgrade verbs, fix pacing).
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A 4‑week writing plan to keep momentum after the retreat.
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Perfect for memoirists, family historians and new writers.
THE 3-DAY PLAN
Day 1 — Foundations: From Spark to Scene
Defining scene vs story vs summary
Identifying your ancestor's character
Worldbuilding
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Story Structure and Scene Structure
Day 3 — Revision for Power & Next Steps
Polish for clarity and resonance.
Live edit demo, a Scissors Pass (trim 10%, upgrade verbs, remove filters),
Thematic threads
Ending & title lab
4‑week plan
Day 2 — Craft: Structure, Dialogue & Subtext
Setting & Description
Dialogue
Emotion
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Tension & Suspense
Deliverable
In three days, you’ll have a titled, polished story scene and a plan to keep writing.
What's Included
Our 3-Day Intensive Retreat comes complete with everything you need to begin your journey writing your family history stories.
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Live Teaching
Learn the foundations of writing family history stories with 10 hours of teaching time.
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Write a Story with Guidance
Learn how to put words on the page and build out a complete story scene with templates you can use over and again.
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Gentle Feedback
Receive feedback that is constructive and kind and will grow your writing confidence.
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Lesson Recordings and Handouts
Walk away with access to lesson recordings and handouts so you can review at your own pace for the next 60 days.
Story Starter Retreat
3 Days, One Story
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Who Is It For? And Not For
Perfect For
- Absolute beginners
- Returning Writers
- Family historians and memoirists
Writers who want structure + accountability
Not a Fit If
- You want advanced experimental techniques or deep publication strategy.
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You haven't started your family research.
Meet Your Coach
Lynn Palermo
Lynn helps beginners move from research and memory into compelling scenes with warmth, clarity, and practical tools. Her workshops focus on theme, subtext, and emotional arc — without losing the facts that matter.
Accessibility & Tech
- Live
- Recordings available for 60 days post retreat
- Zoom on desktop or tablet recommended
- Google Docs for sharing (optional)
Email: lynn@familyhistorywritingstudio.com if you have any questions.
F.A.Q
What if I can't attend all the sessions.
All the sessions will be recorded so should you miss a session you can watch it in your own time to catch up.
What if I have no writing experience?
Perfect, we love to show brand new writers how to get started. This virtual retreat is perfect for you.
I have some writing experience already will I still benefit?
If you already have some writing experience but would love to spend some focused time on writing a scene while elevating your skills then you can definitely benefit from this virtual retreat.
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