Group Field Studies

Group Field Studies are small, carefully designed research journeys for writers who value shared observation and conversation—without workshops, critiques, or performance pressure.

These are not writing retreats. They are immersive travel experiences built around a specific place and lens, where writers learn by moving through the world together and paying attention to what unfolds.

Writing is welcome. It’s never required.

What a Group Field Study Is

A Group Field Study is an intentionally small journey—typically no more than a handful of writers—designed around a shared destination and inquiry.

Each Group Field Study is shaped by:

• A place that rewards slow attention
• A thematic lens rather than a fixed agenda
• Thoughtful pacing with room to wander
• Time for writing as reflection, not production

Experiences are curated, but not constant. Conversation emerges naturally, often over meals or walks. Some moments are guided. Others are deliberately left open. Not everything is explained.

Who Group Field Studies Are For

Group Field Studies are designed for writers who:

• Value shared experience without forced collaboration
• Enjoy listening as much as speaking
• Want exposure to how others notice and interpret place
• Prefer conversation over instruction

They’re a good fit for writers who want structure without rigidity, community without obligation, and depth without performance.

How Group Field Studies Work

Each Group Field Study is built around a specific destination and lens—such as place and identity, movement and borders, or layered histories.

Early & Away designs the framework of the journey: pacing, logistics, and shared experiences that support collective observation. The group moves together at key moments and separates at others, allowing for both shared context and individual processing.

There are no workshops, lectures, or formal discussions. Any conversation that happens does so organically, shaped by the place and the people in it.

What’s Included

Each Group Field Study typically includes:

• A carefully designed itinerary shaped by place and lens
• Lodging selected to support focus and rest
• Transportation planning and coordination
• Curated shared experiences
• Built-in time for independent exploration and writing

Exact inclusions vary by destination and duration.

What This Is Not

Group Field Studies are not:

• Writing workshops
• Critique groups
• Productivity-driven retreats
• Sightseeing tours

There are no assignments, readings, or expectations about what you produce.

The work is attention. Everything else is optional.

Upcoming Group Field Studies

Early & Away offers a small number of Group Field Studies each year, announced individually.

Each one is distinct, shaped by its destination and inquiry rather than a repeatable format.