Retreat!

(withdraw to a quiet or secluded place)

It’s been difficult to find creative space. Work, kids, pets, personal difficulties to navigate, the overall stress and pressures of…well, the world. It’s been a lot. It can be hard to find the literal or figurative space to create.

Six years ago, I had the pleasure and privilege of going on a science fiction and fantasy writers retreat in Morro Bay, California. Not only did the setting inspire, but I met the most wonderful writers, a few of whom I’ve remained in touch with. I had the luck to learn from great agents and also to get fantastic advice from one of the best science fiction editors in the world. We met and learned from two New York Times bestselling authors, Jason M. Hough, author of so many great sci fi action novel, including my favorite series, The Dire Earth Cycles, and Pierce Brown, world famous author of the Red Rising saga. (Years later, Jason was kind enough to endorse ReInception!). Not only did a learn a lot and form some wonderful, lasting friendships and connection, I wrote SO much.

The last few months, I’ve found myself desperate to again share the company of my fellow writers. To learn from professionals, to give and receive support, encouragement and feedback, and to be somewhere else that is peaceful and purposeful.

Webster’s Dictionary defines retreat (other than in the military sense) as:

• an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

• the process of receding from a position or state attained

• a place of privacy or safety : REFUGE

• a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

This is how I feel. I need to withdraw from what is difficult to a refuge with a group in order to study under a director. In other words, I need to retreat to a retreat for a retreat.

I was so fortunate to be accepted this year to the NorCal Writer’s Retreat. This coming April, I will be joining a small group of like-minded writers along with authors, agents and editors to write in peace, joy and seclusion. April cannot come soon enough and I can’t wait to share my experience with all of you.

In the meanwhile, if you, too are craving the company of other writers, here are some other programs I’ve either attended or that are on my wishlist.

If you’ve attended retreats that you want to recommend to others, for writing or anything else, please share in the comments—I know I’ll be adding some of your great recommendations to my list as well!

Retreats

There are so many retreats out there, domestically and all over the world.

Unfortunately, the specific retreat I went to Morro Bay with is no longer running, but Algonkin Writer Conferences are still running to other locations. This year’s lineup looks amazing (including Portugal!!!):

 February 23 - 26, 2024 : St. Augustine Author-Mentor, FL. $1289 

- March 14 - 7, 2023 : Write to Pitch 2024, LIVE IN NEW YORK, $895

- March 20 - 24, 2024 : Algonkian Park Novel Workshop, $1195

- April 3 - 7, 2024 : Monterey Writer Retreat, $1095

- April 22 - 27, 2024 : "The Thriller and Mystery Finishing School Retreat" in Lisbon, Portugal

I’ve also attended some of their pitch workshops and they are a fantastic way to hone and perfect your pitch and to get feedback from agents.

For Sci Fi writers like me, Clarion and Viable Paradise are the holy grail. Clarion is a 5 week workshop at UC San Diego that runs from the end of June to the start of August. I’ll never be able to attend, at least not until I’m retired and an empty nester, but if I could….Viable Paradise is definitely on my wish list. Applications are open now for the October retreat on Martha’s Vineyard.

I’ve also attended an excellent pitch workshop with New York Writers. I don’t see any currently scheduled, but they sponsor all kinds of other wonderful workshops and retreats and they are the most lovely, supportive people.

Two other retreats on my dream list are the Iceland Writers Retreat, also generally held in April, and Kauai Writers Conferences, held in November.

If you can’t afford to go on a retreat, look around anyhow. Many of these programs offer scholarships and funding for those that need it.

Again, there are so many excellent programs out there for authors to escape and enjoy each other’s support and company. Please share your favorite retreats and your dream list below! I’ll take non-writing retreats, too—food, health, anything that gets you in a happy head space.