Why You Should Give Yourself the Gift of a Writing Retreat.
In-person, remote, or DIY, retreats invigorate and inspire. Plus, you'll make new friends!
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Last weekend, I taught a class called “Join the Conversation: The Art of Op-Ed Writing” at Write Doe Bay, a writing retreat held twice a year on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington. Other teachers included novelist Jennie Shortridge, lyrical memoirist Erin Rose Belair, and super-talented musician Drew Martin.
Friends, it was life changing. Twenty-plus writers came together in a cozy, candlelit space to learn about fiction, nonfiction, and songwriting. We shared stories and laughter and gourmet meals sourced from the San Juan Islands. And I realized something: a writing retreat is very, very different from a writing conference.
I teach at plenty of writing conferences, and I love them. They’re typically fast-paced, urgent events with workshops and panels and pitch sessions and open-mics and keynotes. Sometimes they last only a day or two. Often, to keep costs down, they take place in rather generic hotels or college campus auditoriums. They’re tons of fun.
A writing retreat bears almost no resemblance to the party I’m describing above. Instead, they’re often held in an intimate space with no more than two dozen participants. For example, the Montana Ranch 2025 — Wide Open Writing retreat takes place on a ranch near Glacier National Park, with yoga classes and a hot tub and opportunities to walk outdoors in nature as you think about your stories. Across the country, the Poconos Spring Writers Retreat in Pennsylvania offers a similar experience.
During and after Write Doe Bay, I felt incredibly relaxed and inspired. Something about sitting in a circle in a warm, safe, beautiful space with kind, generous writers opened up my heart to both teaching and learning. I came away from the experience with many new friends, and many new stories.
Think you can’t afford a retreat? Many, many retreat organizers offer financial aid. If you don’t see a link on the retreat’s website, contact the organizer directly and ask if you can volunteer at the event for a discounted—or free—registration!
Maybe you’re not able to travel, or you write better solo. Check out this smart article from The Good Trade! How To Plan A DIY Writing Retreat to Spark Creativity - The Good Trade
Want to learn more about writing retreats? Look at 25+ Incredible Writers Retreats to Attend in 2024 (thewritelife.com) and click on each retreat website to find details about the 2025 event.
What I’m Publishing
· I tend to avoid writing about presidential politics, but when Trump called Kamala the “R-word”—the word that I and my younger brother with Down syndrome have been fighting for decades—I wrote this piece: Donald Trump Reportedly Called Harris 'Retarded.' Here's The Truth. | HuffPost HuffPost Personal .
· After one of the three fluffy chicks my daughter and I adopted last spring revealed himself to be a rooster--an illegal rooster—I took a deep dive into my naivete and learned about chicken diapers in the process. Here’s my story about how the backyard chicken industry perpetuates trauma in both humans and birds. “No Person Shall Keep Roosters” - Ambrook Research
My newest book, Down Syndrome Out Loud: 20+ Stories to Change Your Mind about Disability, comes out next year. Here’s the link for pre-order!
A Few Cool Resources for Writers
· At Write Doe Bay, I got to hang out with Seattle novelist Jennie Shortridge who taught writers tips for organic story building. She let us know about two fantastic resources: Tips: Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling - The Masters Review, and Storytelling Advice from the Creators of South Park (nathanbweller.com)
· I have a retired friend who takes ceramics at the community college and creates stunning works of art. As a writer who revises between three and five times, I was interested in this personal essay: The Weight of a Sentence: What Ceramics Teaches Me about Revision (preview) (writerschronicle.org)
· Well, hot damn, it’s about time we recognize older characters in literature! Check this out: 7 Novels Featuring Protagonists Over 70 - Electric Literature. And while you’re at it, pick up a copy of Priscilla Long’s marvelous book Dancing with the Muse in Old Age. It’ll change your perception of aging, and your life.
· This is a thought-provoking personal essay; you should be able to read it for free: Opinion | I Was a Best-Selling Novelist. Then I Went Back to School. - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
· Need a break from election news? Me, too. Ologies is my favorite science podcast, featuring lively interviews with experts offering insights on everything from otters and axolotls to mummies and this marvelous episode on how to have more fun!
Retreats, Grants & Calls for Submissions
· Speaking of writing retreats, some of you will want to check out 2025 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices - Lambda Literary
· BIPOC writers may be interested in one of the retreats on this list: A Delicious List of Writing Retreats for BIPOC Writers — Reed, Write, & Create (reedwriteandcreate.com)
· Hard hit by hurricanes? We Need Diverse Books offers emergency $500-$1000 grants to diverse authors and illustrators, publishing professionals, and educators who are experiencing financial need because of extreme weather and/or war.
· Melissa at Remote Writing Jobs is looking for personal essays about your experience of being a writer. Want to be a (paid) guest writer for RWJ? | Patreon
· Conz at Business Insider wants personal essays from people who’ve chosen not to have children, and how that choice has affected their relationships. She’s also interested in stories about parenting teenagers, and about American families who moved abroad. Email cpreti@insider.com. Pays $230.
· NONLINEAR LOVE wants first-person essays about “divorces and remarriages; dating horrors or delights; lovers who cropped back up years later; or even an unexpected thing you learned from your partner within a traditional marriage or relationship structure.” 800-1,000 words, $150 per essay. Submit to ariella@superposition-stories.com by November 15th.
· Remember October’s Storycellar and my focus on magazines that publish positive news? Positive.News Magazine is looking for submissions. See their pitching guide right here!
· If you write for readers between the ages of infant and young adult, you’ll want to attend—in-person or remote—the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators 2025 Winter Conference In New York City – SCBWI.
Okay, that’s all for now. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!
—Melissa
P.S. Here’s me at Doe Bay, taking a break from writing to search for slime molds.
Not pictured: Me swimming in chilly Doe Bay and emerging like a wet rat.