"Mining the Personal" with Pamela Sneed Tuesday, October 6 - Friday, October 23, 2026 This residency is comprised of a (4+) day workshop with author, poet, performance artist, watercolorist and Columbia University professor ... Pamela Sneed. It will be followed by a (6) night writing retreat at a forest estate in MIchoacan and then back to Ajijic for the final few days of the residency.

What kind of creatives can come?

This workshop is for writers at all levels who are interested in deepening their practice and learning in a beautiful workshop setting. Our physical bodies, our spirits, lived experiences and our minds are treasure troves holding vast amounts of information and knowledge. In this four-day workshop we will explore new ways of mining the personal for poetry, memoir and mixed-form writing. In addition to my own work, we will survey and read together writers such as Robin Coste Lewis, June Jordan, Ocean Vuong, Dionne Brand, Layli Long soldier and more. In addition to examining the personal and political and ways of weaving the personal and current events together, we will look also look at the autobiographical as both landscape and collage. The aim is for writers to develop new ways of seeing, and awareness leading to greater voice, confidence, technique and skill.

House rules

We are accepting (9) residents for the residency. Accommodations in Ajijic at the 360 XQMX headquARTers will be a private suite with a KING bed, sofa, private bath with modern plumbing, WIFI, a​/​c, smart TV, blackout curtains and a private kitchen. A stone-tiled pool, gym equipment, studio space and breakfast daily are included. When in Michoacan, accommodations are at a dreamy mountain estate, perfectly suited for a writing retreat. Rooms will be shared, and between the guest suites and main lodge you will find a plethora of locations to comfortably write. The main lodge is comprised of a fabulous kitchen for meal prep, a formal dining room, a two-story living room, a tv room, outdoor bancos and dining ... and every room with a stone fireplaces for roaring fires.

Important things to note

INCLUDED: Round trip airport transportation between the Guadalajara Intl Airport and 360 XQMX in Ajijic All gratuities for staff and services (17) Breakfasts, Welcome Dinner, Salon Dinner & Closing Dinner (2) hour Opening Session & (2) hour Follow-Up session with Pamela Sneed (4) four-hour workshop sessions with Pamela Sneed Inclusion in the 360 XQMX Artistas Juntos Salon Series - an opportunity to share your writing ACCOMMODATIONS: (11) nights in Ajijic, Jalisco ... Private suite at our incredible 360 XQMX headquARTers in Centro Ajijic Free time in Ajijic including (2) mornings to wander the weekly street market (tiangues) Optional participation in local trivia night as part of the “360 Artistas” team Art Exhibition Closing Reception party AND (6) nights in Tlalpuhajua, Michoacán ... (2) stops in Morelia for lunch and exploring the city Shared rooms at the fabulous, forest retreat in Michoacan (5) days of uninterrupted writing Optional excursions: - Tlalpuhajua (eternal Christmas village with fun ornament shops) - El Oro de Hidalgo (nearby town) - Estanzuela Ceramics (workshop, gallery​/​shop) adjacent to our property