Sweet Retreats: Chiang Mai, Thailand
June 1-8, 2025
Application Deadline December 1, 2024 – Applicants will be notified in January 2025
Sweet began as an online literary journal in 2007, with the goal to create an inclusive space for all writers, from all parts of the world. In our mission to go beyond borders and boundaries, we seek to cultivate and expand the infinite possibilities of the world. Now, in our 17th year, we bring a new venture: Sweet Retreats Chiang Mai.
Sweet Retreats Chiang Mai will give writers the opportunity to disconnect from their everyday life, immerse themselves in their creative practice, and experience Northern Thailand’s rich and ancient culture. Sweet Retreat’s main goal is to encourage an international writing community through generative writing workshops and conversation, offer a luxurious space to write and create, and foster opportunities for inspiration.
Participants will meet/write/share in two-hour writing generative workshops, take part in various cultural experiences, and most importantly, be attuned to the artistic self. Applicants must submit a cover letter, which should include why this particular one in Chiang Mai is of interest, 5-10 pages of creative samples of any genre, and a $10 application fee through Submittable.
Chiang Mai Abridged
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, about 435 miles north of Bangkok, and is located in the mountainous region of the country. The city fulfills every urban need whilst still containing what Thai people call the “chill feel,” making it a laid-back counterpart to the frenetic–and sometimes overwhelming–energy of Bangkok. Chiang Mai has become the eco-tourism capital of Thailand and is famous for its northern Thai cuisine with its rich and earthy curries, fresh ingredients, and intricate flavor profiles. Chiang Mai is the perfect example of Thailand’s balance between a modern evolving world and a culture steeped in ancient traditions.
Host Ira Sukrungruang has visited Thailand, his second home, throughout his life. Out of all the many beautiful places he has been in this country, Chiang Mai is where his heart is. With his intimate knowledge of the city and its history, Sukrungruang is able to guide participants through Chiang Mai in-person as well as on the page.
Generative Workshops
Every afternoon participants will meet in an intimate, small group setting to talk about writing and explore topics like home, travel, and belonging. Hosts will provide writing ideas and exercises, many of which will be inspired by the activities done during the day. The goal of the generative workshop is to help spark new writing projects or invigorate projects in process.
Readings and Talks
Some evenings Sukrungruang and Risak will host readings where they share their work and hold informal conversations about the literary world. These evening events are designed to be opportunities for participants to ask questions and share their own writing in a welcoming and encouraging environment.
Activities
Participants will attend a daily two-hour generative workshop. Activities such as Thai temple hopping, a night market excursion, a visit to an artist’s village, and a cooking class are scheduled each day. The majority of these activities are optional, allowing participants the flexibility to create a routine that best suits their artistic needs. There will be nightly readings for participants and hosts in which drinks and refreshments are provided. Finally, included in the retreat are a celebratory dinner, a khantoke dinner and show, and a dinner cruise along the Mae Ping River.
Lodging
Guests will stay at Smile Lanna, a five-star hotel located near many attractions, including Wat Chedi Luang, a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai. Rooms are beautifully designed in contemporary Lanna decor, and on hotel grounds, there is a pool, coffee shop, fitness center, and restaurant. The retreat provides breakfast, and all rooms come with free wifi, room service, and a writing desk where you can shape the inspirations from your days into words.
Your Hosts
Ira Sukrungruang
Ira Sukrungruang is the author of four nonfiction books: This Jade World, Buddha’s Dog & other Meditations, Southside Buddhist, and Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy; the short story collection The Melting Season; and the poetry collection In Thailand It Is Night. He is the recipient of the 2022 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year in Nonfiction, a 2015 American Book Award, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Nonfiction Literature, an Arts and Letters Fellowship, and the Anita Claire Scharf Award in Poetry. His work has appeared in many literary journals, including The Rumpus, American Poetry Review, The Sun, and Creative Nonfiction. He is one of the founding editors of Sweet: A Literary Confection (sweetlit.com), and is the Richard L. Thomas Professor of Creative Writing at Kenyon College. For more information about him, please visit: www.buddhistboy.com.
Sam Risak
Sam Risak is SweetLit’s creative nonfiction and graphic essays editor. Previously, she served as an editorial assistant for TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics, the art & marketing assistant and editor for craft essays and interviews at CRAFT Literary, a copyeditor for the independent publishing house Two Dollar Radio, as well as a freelance editor for manuscripts of both poetry and prose. Her own writing has appeared in outlets such as The Sun, Los Angeles Review of Books, Writer’s Digest, AWP’s The Writer’s Chronicle, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, and elsewhere. Currently residing in Columbus, Ohio, she is a PhD candidate at The Ohio State University and is finishing work on a novel inspired by her upbringing in rural Central Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an application fee?
Yes. There is a $10 application fee. Waivers will be considered for recent undergraduate degree holders (Must graduate by May 2025 and no earlier than May 2022.)
What is the fee for the retreat?
The fee is $2200 USD, which includes workshops, hotel, some dining, and some activities. Flights to Chiang Mai will be the responsibility of the participant. Optional activities and dining will be available for an additional fee. Details will follow upon selection.
When is the retreat?
June 1-8, 2025
Will I need a VISA?
US travelers will not need a VISA, but you will be required to have a passport.
Can I bring my partner?
Yes, but there will be an additional charge for an upgraded room as well for activities and meals selected.
Have more questions? Contact us via email admin@sweetlit.com
