The Casual Union is a one-year program. Your access to the member space ends on December 31.

Holly has been gathering people for over 25 years, centering the values of welcome, belonging, friendship and solidarity. She knows how to cultivate and sustain community.

Casual Union members range from lifelong journal writers and creative writers, to newly publishing poets, and those with books and teaching practices of their own. Many of us are just beginning to recognize the importance of poetry in their personal lives and still others are fondly referred to as Secret Poets.

Everyone in the union has participated in at least one course or retreat with Holly, so we have some common ground from the very beginning. The warmth and conviviality of this group is unlike any other. You will belong.

Sharing is optional. You’re always welcome to simply listen, write privately, or participate in the chat. At the end of each year, we have a celebratory reading where we present finished work, which is something to work toward, and tends to feel good. Anytime there is an opportunity for feedback, it is carefully facilitated to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.

You are encouraged to find your own rhythm by attending when it suits you, without worrying if you can’t be with us every time. Many members find that the regular cadence of the Union helps them return to writing after a pause, (for example, in the height of summer)—but without feeling that they’ve fallen behind. Conversely, some members use this space to maintain a commitment to their writing during those times when it is most likely to fall by the wayside (for example, when kids are home for vacation).  There is no missing, or behind. There is only returning to the work, and enjoying when that feels right. I will no longer be recording Live sessions as an incentive to appreciate the specialness and ephemerality of each gathering when it happens. You can think of it the way you might think about a gym membership. 

Holly opens the space on the Third Thursday of the month with a poem and a gentle invitation to write something new, for those eager to do so. Alternatively, you are encouraged to seize this opportunity to return to an existing draft that may be calling to you, perhaps incorporating some aspect of her provocation, to help you return to the page.

During the final 20 minutes of Studio Time, we hear from members' work in progress. This is optional and does not include critique: only positive support, often in the form of favorite lines and outstanding imagery or music, which is shared in the Zoom chat. Periodically we use breakout rooms to encourage conversations and organic collaborations between members, about current projects.

All of this is facilitated with a sense of safety and belonging in mind.

This time is devoted to writing something new. Holly will open the session with a brief reading, often related to that month's theme, followed by a creative writing provocation and craft focus. We'll use much of the session to move this work forward. Then we'll step back to reflect on the process, and give voice to what's exciting about our early drafts. You can count on this time to energize your practice, even if you haven't written in a while. In 2026 we're adding extra time to make this feel as spacious as possible but if you need to leave early for any reason, you never need to feel bad about slipping out. These workshops take on the First Friday of the month, Noon-1:15 pm Eastern (with one exception: note the calendar dates on this webpage).

Beginning in March 2026, we’ll spend a portion of every other workshop giving a close reading to a poem that has been nominated by someone in our group. We’ll learn to annotate and talk about the work we admire, identifying writing strategies to support our individual writing goals.

We will gently hold the idea of the grower's year as we move through the seasons, planning and tending our writing as if they were tender crops. You'll sense how the themes are woven into our reading selections, craft discussions, and creative and reflective writing provocations.

Our Friday workshops will be recorded for you, and kept within the member portal for you to enjoy at your convenience.

Yes, always. You can always reach out directly to Holly if you need a different payment plan than the one that is offered on this webpage.

The only way to work with Holly in a private capacity in 2026 is in one of these sessions, which are priced at $150/hour for CUWP members. We'll meet on Zoom to review and edit individual poems or your manuscript in progress, and/or to address any challenges or questions related to your creative process or writing project. These flexible, high impact sessions will leave you feeling encouraged and supported and clear about your next steps. Reach out at any time to schedule your session.

There aren't plans for a retreat in 2027 however I am keen to choose a date and a location for an optional, low-cost reunion that would give members the opportunity to meet up in Maine, and enjoy each other's company. The idea is for this to be a co-created experience, where we host each other by sharing in the labor or preparing meals, guiding conversations, and treating the whole thing like a community art project. Finding affordable lodging is the first step. Member interest will be a determining factor in whether this happens this year.