Dream of getting away to write, but need some guidance on the next steps for your novel?
Want to meet and work with other writers, but in a more intimate setting than a writing conference?
A writing retreat might be just the ticket.
And while some of these retreats might still be on hold due to the pandemic, many are getting back into hosting.
Discover writing retreats in:
Why you might want to attend a writer’s retreat
Whereas writing residencies are mostly about working in solitude, conferences focus on networking and lectures, writing retreats fall somewhere in between.
Most are in beautiful locations (where, presumably, your creative juices will flow more easily), and offer a combination of workshops, tours and interaction with a small group of writers.
They’re a great way to combine a vacation with inspiration, networking — and, of course, lots of writing.
They can be pricey, but some offer scholarships (so always ask!), or consider creating your own writing retreat with friends.
And remember: A writer’s retreat is an investment in your career, as well as an opportunity to get away. If they’re out of your price range, then perhaps a writing residency would be a better fit. Or, check out this list of grants for writers.
Looking for a women-only retreat? Some of the retreats on this list fit the bill, and you can also hop over to our post on women’s writing retreats.
Incredible writers’ retreats to attend in 2024
The writing retreats below take place in the remainder of 2024 and many have plans to continue in 2025 — and are organized by location, in order from least to most expensive.
(Hint: If there’s a particular country or month that works best for you, command-F to search the page for it.)
Unless otherwise noted, the prices include workshops, shared accommodation, activities, and most meals. None include airfare to and from the destination.
Though we have done our best to remove those retreats that are either completed, or dissolved, due to the pandemic, many of these retreats have moved online completely or offer both online and in-person options.
Please keep in mind that The Write Life team has not attended these retreats. While we’ve gathered as much information as possible to share with you, consider this a starting point, and do your own research before committing. To ensure you’ll have an enjoyable experience, we recommend reading testimonials and reviews, or asking the host to connect you with past participants.
USA & Canada
1. Wake Up and Write Writers Retreat Workshop
For three decades, this retreat — in one form or another — has been providing an immersive learning experience for people writing novels.
After taking a hiatus due to the pandemic, the Wake Up and Write Writer’s Retreat is getting started again on a smaller scale. This year it will be held in Cedar Park, Texas a community of Greater Austin. Don’t let the summer heat get you down, there’s plenty of A/C in the Jason Stitzes’ back studio and shady places to write in the great outdoors.
Cost: $250 with $50 deposit. Dates August 22nd – 25th
Most of the retreats and courses available are now online, though some are in person and local to the United States currently – the Pines, Florida, and New England. To keep up to date with upcoming programs and places, it’s best to sign up for their newsletter.
Murphy Writing at Stockton University offers a variety of workshops and retreats both online and in-person. Learn about their new offerings by signing up for their newsletter or follow them on social media.
Cost: $350 – $450 on average for their online writing events.
This is now an online only retreat and prices have been updated accordingly.
Willow Writers’ Retreat is facilitated by Susan Isaak Lolis, a published and award-winning writer. Attendees have access to workshops, including one with creative writing instructor Margaret Harrington, plus a reading on the last evening to celebrate your work.
Cost: TBD; 2022 rate was $350.
This event was already held from July 10-14, 2022. Keep an eye out for more detailed information about next year’s location, costs and more.
Disclosure: Willow Writers’ Retreat is a partner of The Write Life. We hold our advertisers to high standards and vetted this retreat just like the others on this list.
4. Good Contrivance Farm Writer’s Retreat
Located 25 miles north of Baltimore on a six-acre property in historic Reisterstown, Maryland, this writer’s retreat is open to writers of all levels, plus it operates on a first-come, first-served, non-competitive basis. (Although, you still need to submit a resume and one writing sample for admission.)
Good Contrivance Farm is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and restoration of small, historic farms in Maryland, and it offers the retreat as part of public outreach efforts.
Directed by Pushcart Prize writer (plus a ton of others) Ron Tanner and his wife Jill Eicher, the retreat offers workshops and readings as well as plenty of alone time for you in the farm’s contemporary loft apartment.
There aren’t any Facebook reviews, but Harlan Roberts wrote a Google Review, saying, “My wife and I just spent a week here and we both got a LOT of work done! She managed to edit half of her current novel and I finished editing a book of my short stories. Ron Tanner has put together the perfect writing retreat. It’s quiet, comforting and very accessible.”
Cost: $570 for one person for a weeklong stay (meals and beverages not provided); $670 for two. Discounts are available for longer stays up to four weeks.
5. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Retreat
This retreat is now available online only, however, their 2022 Colorado Gold Conference is being held in person September 9 – 11, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver.
This conference offers Round Table Critiques, Pitch-Prep Coaching, and One-on-One Mentor appointments. There will also be a Publishing Professionals Panel Luncheon and Reading Brunch.
Cost: Registration for the conference ranges from $439 member fee to $489 non-member fee until August 18th; $499 member to $549 non-member until August 31st; and $549 member to $599 non-member until September 5th.
Until August 31st there are two self-paced courses with Pam Novak and cost is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.
6. Find Your Story: A Therapeutic Life Writing Retreat for Older Women
Are you in the second half of your life? Are you a newbie writer who wants to tell your story? Then this women-only retreat in Dallas, Texas was designed for you.
Over the weekend, psychotherapist and writing coach Jennifer Westrom will help you get started (or unstuck) when it comes to your memoir.
After attending Westrom’s writing class in 2018, Cherri Julia Maker Ridingin wrote on Facebook: “Jennifer is a strong leader in a soft way, highly intuitive, and an outstanding teacher. Class three is next week, and already I feel that I have released some blocks that were preventing me from moving forward in my writing. Her lessons have touched me deeply.”
This event happened in the Spring of 2022. Keep an eye out for next year’s event details.
Cost: TBD; 2022 rate was $799 per person.
7. The White Mountain Book Writing Retreat
Editor’s note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this retreat now offers an online option.
This retreat in the mountains of New Hampshire focuses on two things: self-nurturing and nonfiction book writing. If you keep putting off your book because of, well, life then host Dorothy Holtermann might say this retreat is for you.
From September 25 – 29, you’ll learn her “Birth a Book system” through group classes and private coaching, all while feeding your body with farm-to-table organic food and daily yoga classes. If you’re Zooming, you can still join the fun: receive “healthy food goodies” by mail, enjoy live meditation classes and book writing and performance classes that are sure to be interactive.
Cost: $995 per person to attend from home, $2,455 per person for a private room, or $1,495 per person for tuition only.
In November, writer and poet Julie Maloney will bring her women’s retreat home to Lenox, MA at the Brook Farm Inn just one mile from The Mount, Edith Wharton’s house.
After a tour of Edith Wharton’s estate, attendees will have a writing workshop in the gilded drawing room and use it as inspiration to think about writing in a new place.
“Listening to women, watching women listen and hearing the stories of women who have clearly lived, this is bliss. This is Women Reading Aloud. I have been to several WRA events and I know why I am hooked. It is the listening. We simply do not make enough time to listen and to allow ourselves, our bodies to respond and travel.”
–Joanne Edelmann, New York City, New York
Cost: Inclusive: $1295 – includes deposit (non-refundable) – $300
9. Autumn Writing Retreat in the Berkshires
Let autumn in New England be your muse on this five-day retreat with Page Lambert, an instructor of creative writing at the University of Denver’s graduate school.
From October 9-13, you’ll stay at a historic inn, participating in group writing sessions and individual manuscript consultations — and drenching your creativity in the beautiful fall colors. Alternatively, check out Lambert’s 13-day women’s retreat in Peru in 2022 ($4,350).
Lambert has a lengthy page of testimonials on her website. In one, Paula Hagar said Lambert was “the most awesome writing teacher I’ve ever studied with.” In another, Marsha Rosenzweig Pincus called the Peru trip “one of the most inspirational, spiritual and transcendent experiences of my life.”
Cost: $1,695 per person.
10. Writers Who Run, Retreat & Race
Held in the mountains of northeastern Virginia, this exciting retreat came back in 2022, and registration is open for July 10 – 16, 2023.
After a two-mile run each morning, you’ll have a full schedule of workshops, critique groups, writing time and social events. The culminating event is a scenic 5K and 10K race on Saturday morning!
For testimonials, check out these YouTube videos from past participants.
Cost: Basic Writer ($2,125), Advanced Writer ($2,525), Super Awesome Author ($3,125) Basic and Advanced Writer includes shared rooms. Super Awesome Author is a private room (limited supply). Every level offers a 5-month payment plan.
11. TLC Women’s Writing Retreats
Want something a little different?
Schedule your own private retreat with Tammy L. Coia, a memoir-writing coach who lives in Bellingham, Washington. You’ll stay at her house, in a private bedroom with water views. Each day, you’ll have one-on-one coaching alongside home-cooked meals. She offers this at her home in Palm Springs, plus Dahlonega, Georgia as well.
Or, if you’d rather work in a group setting, Coia holds retreats in Greece in May ($3,900–$4,400) and Vermont in October ($2, 700–$3, 400).
“Tammy gently leads you through what are often difficult memories to put on paper, but it can prove to be a very healing experience,” Joni Padduck wrote on Facebook. “I highly recommend Tammy! I guarantee it will be a wonderful experience.”
This year’s Vermont retreat will be held from October 7 – 12, 2022 at the heart of Vermont’s Fall Foliage season!
“The last Corfu, Greece retreat held in 2019 was a smashing success!” reads a note on the website. Though cancelled from 2020 to 2022, it is now back for 2023 and is being held May 14 – 21, 2023 and May 21 – 28, 2023.
Cost: $2,700 (2-person shared room) – $3,400 (private room) for three- to five-day retreats.
12. Retreat & Create
2022 is full. Follow on Instagram or sign up for newsletter for 2023 dates and fees.
A new offering from The Write Life founder Alexis Grant, this retreat is held in the beautiful, historic mountain town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, about an hour from Washington, D.C.
This retreat is intimate, with about 10 attendees. It’s not just for writers; it’s open to anyone who’s career-focused and need space and quiet to focus on their work. Several of the events are women-only.
In addition to plenty of work time, the retreat includes an easy-to-moderate hike each morning and a group dinner each night at a local restaurant. Grant emphasizes on the website that all activities are optional, so you can choose to be energized by group conversations or dive deep into solo work time.
Cost: TBD, but the cost includes four nights’ accommodation, three meals a day, hikes and a massage.
Mexico & Latin America
13. Creative Revolution Retreat
Leigh Shulman invites you to choose your own retreat dates — and join her anytime in Salta, Argentina. This retreat is meant for people at any stage of writing a book, or for those who want to start writing but need some guidance.
Over eight days, you’ll enjoy intensive writing workshops tailored to your project, yoga, cultural activities, a massage and a private apartment in a bustling city center. Space is limited and the host prefers an intimate retreat, so grab a couple of friends and book a date.
“The retreat met and exceeded my expectations,” Kathleen Evans said in a testimonial on Shulman’s site. “Each day I could feel the progress during this retreat, and I feel that I’ve really grown. My writing has matured, and I have a solid plan and an idea of where I want to go with my writing project.” (She tweeted about it, too.)
Cost: $2,500 per person. Scholarships are available.
Europe
14. The Moth Retreat For Artists And Writers
“The Moth Retreat was exactly what I was looking for,” writes Susan Allot on the retreat’s website. “A converted barn all to myself, fresh veg[etables] from the garden and a daily delivery of eggs. Beautiful countryside on the doorstep. I managed about a month’s worth of writing condensed into one inspired week.”
For writers of any discipline looking to experience this along a beautiful country lane in Ireland, this retreat may be for you. You’ll be surrounded by the country’s famed lakes and joined by three dogs and a flock of hens.
While you’re free to spend your time as your please, there’s Wi-Fi, a writing desk and an easel to use to work, plus a bike to explore the area.
The Moth Magazine publishers Rebecca O’Connor and Will Govan will be available if you need any assistance. You won’t find guided writing workshops here, but you’ll certainly find the solitude and silence needed to finish that novel.
Apply to find out when you can book this retreat in 2022!
Cost: €400 a week ($476 USD), plus a €100 ($119 USD) fee to bring a partner or friend; a minimum stay of 1 week is required; self-catered.
Writers, authors, poets, academics, screen and songwriters in search of a “creative haven to find their inner voice, develop their craft and begin or complete their story” will find solace in this retreat’s nurturing environment.
Located in central France’s Loire Valley and close to the historic town of Saumur, this retreat for writers offers a tranquil space for you to focus on your writing.
Whether you stay for one week or four in 2022, hosts Iris and Derrick Mathews ensure your only responsibility will be to unleash your creativity — and you know they mean it because they even handle the cooking and cleaning for you. When you need a writing break, enjoy one complimentary holistic therapy session plus access to bicycles to explore the French countryside.
“Thank you for a wonderful Writing Retreat,” said author Tony Macaulay in a testimonial on the site. “You have created the perfect place for writers to get away from it all, to relax, focus and simply write.”
Cost: £784 (~$1,047 USD) per person per week.
16. Retreats for You
Debbie Flint, the owner of a picturesque 17th-century thatched house in southwest England, runs a variety of retreats throughout the year. (Importantly, they all come with home-cooked meals and resident labradors you can walk through the countryside.)
Developing and Pitching a Commercial Novel is scheduled to begin September 19th, Rare Weekend Just Write Retreat is scheduled to begin September 23rd, Alison May’s Developing Your Novel – Tutored Retreat is October 17th, and General Just Write Retreat begins November 21st.
The center, which welcomes groups, has a five-star rating on Facebook with more than 80 reviews. “The house is gorgeous and comfortable; the food is delicious, and there is always home-made cake,” Anita Chapman wrote. “Alison is a fantastic tutor who knows a great deal, delivering it beautifully; and she has a real interest in her students’ projects.”
Cost: £652 (~$792) per person £125 (~$152) deposit requested when booking for Developing and Pitching a Commercial Novel. Check out the other links for current pricing and book your place today as spaces are filling up quickly!
17. Write Away Europe — Provence
Looking for a place where your “soul and creative spirit will soar”? Head to Provence, France with Lisa Howe, Scott Stavrou, and George Crane to be inspired by beautiful lilac fields and the culture and history of Provence September 11 – 17th.
Your hosts will be Lisa Howe, a professional editor; Scott Stavrou, a novelist and writing instructor; and George Crane, a published author and writing instructor. You’ll participate in writing workshops, one-on-one mentoring sessions and nightly social hours, all while staying in the heart of a historic city.
Cost: $2, 950 per person (does not include lunch).
Yearning for time and space for yourself and your writing? This retreat in idyllic surroundings is open to max. 10 participants at any level of experience, and offers expert guidance in a supportive environment. Gain focus, find inspiration and hone your craft through daily workshops, independent writing time and feedback sessions. Published novelist Valeria Vescina will help you conquer those blank pages and breathe new life into your work in progress. Her solid credentials include years of teaching creative writing to all age groups and levels: from secondary-school pupils and students on Creative Writing BA and MA degrees to Adult Education classes.
Valeria will be offering a retreat from 9 to 15 October 2022 in delightful Flüeli-Ranft, Switzerland. Participants will be staying (full board) in the charming 17th-century Gasthaus of an iconic historic hotel, the Jugendstil-Hotel Paxmontana.
Cost: 1500 Swiss Francs (~$1540 USD / €1460 / GBP 1235) per person, inclusive of workshops, your own room, rich breakfast buffet, sandwich lunch and 3-course dinner. Click here for details of this and future retreats.
19. The Creative Writer’s Workshop: Fiction & Autobiographical Fiction
Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Galway, Ireland
Learn to tell your story while escaping to the mythical Irish island of Inis Mór from September 4-10. Hosted by Author & Fiction Coach Irene Graham
Inspire your writing spirit, invigorate your senses, and create the story that’s in your heart. A writing adventure to deepen your connection to story in the stunning landscape of Ireland’s western shores.
In addition to writing workshops with host Irene Graham, you’ll enjoy guided walks and tours of the remote island. Graham also hosts two memoir-specific retreats in June and September.
Cost: €1,725 euro (~$1,755 USD) (does not include all meals).
The Ireland Writing Retreat isn’t always in Ireland. The Donegal, Ireland retreat in September 2022 is fully booked, but you can still head to Paris for a writing retreat!
The Paris Writing Retreat is scheduled for October 17 – 23, 2022.
Adopting ‘Six Senses’ as the theme for this week, including the spectacular sights of the city, uplifting smells from both the city’s famous cuisine and its world renown perfumes and sound as in the soft musicality of the French language, we have decided to rebrand Paris as ‘Sensorial City.’
Aside from daily writing workshops and critiques of retreat assignments in Paris, participants will also be given the opportunity to avail of focused one-on-one critique and discussion session on one of their works-in-progress.
Follow – literally – in the footsteps of such legends as James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, George Orwell, Oscar Wilde, even Dan Brown across the boulevards of Paris while learning the art of creative writing through practical workshops and author meetings.
Enjoy hands-on tutoring from published authors and lively literary discussions in the very same places that the 1920s ‘Lost Generation’ frequented for the very same reasons, some of whom ultimately emerged as Nobel Prize winners.
Due to ever-increasing popularity, acceptance on our retreats is not just on a first-come, first-served basis. Just as important is your response to a special application questionnaire we will send you. That’s why payments are ONLY accepted from participants AFTER selection has been confirmed.
Cost: 1777 EUR (~$1800 USD) – Accommodation is not included.
Due to covid, all Melete Retreats are currently virtual. While there are a number yet to announce their dates, you can now take the Fiction Retreat with Bryan Delaney, the Virtual “Art of the Pitch” with Catherine Eaton, or both in this 7-day online writing retreat.
If you’re a fiction writer, TV or screenwriter, you need to be at this week-long, immersive retreat in Piedmont, Italy between the months of May and July.
To get in, you’ll need to submit a cover letter or resume and writing sample. Although reviews or testimonials weren’t available, know that finetuning your craft in Piedmont puts you in great company: authors like Charles Dickens, Tolstoy, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and Natalia Ginzburg have all spent time writing in and about this region.
Cost: 7-Day Online Retreat $1,995. Cost for both the Bryan Delaney and Catherine Eaton retreats in the same week is $3495.
22. Pink Pangea’s Writer’s Retreat in Rhodes, Greece
Dates: October 6 – 11, 2022
Pink Pangea is the community of women who love to travel. We’re smart women who love to explore and grow through our adventures.
We believe that every woman has a story to tell. That includes you. Meet us at one of our retreats and experience the rejuvenation that comes from spending a week doing something good for the soul in a stunning destination.
Rhodes, Greece is a relaxing and beautiful destination filled with olive groves, gorgeous beaches and incredible views. Here, we will spend six days getting up close and personal with our writing and exploring the beautiful Island. Through transformative writing workshops, we’ll strengthen our creativity, express what we really want to say, and connect with a community of international women writers.
Want to explore Rhodes, Greece while sharing stories and making new friends? This women-only, Pink Pangea retreat might be for you.
Cost: Single room $2,735 and double room $2,270
Spend a week at a historic villa in Tuscany — complete with your own private chef — at this women-only retreat from October 9 – 15, 2022 or May 21 – 27, 2023.
In the mornings, author Kathryn Kay will lead group writing sessions that focus on craft and the creative process. Afternoons will be for writing, one-on-one sessions and group outings to nearby towns and sites. In the evenings, you’ll share your work and reflect on the day (over wine).
Kay has written and video testimonials on her site. A recent review from Marisa Brown said: “I said ‘yes’ to the dream of a writing retreat, and what better guide than Kathryn Kay to make that dream become a reality. As a workshop leader, Kathryn is gracious, grounded and focused. This was truly an all-encompassing experience of exploring myself and my writing.”
Cost: $3,000 (shared room) – $3,700 (single occupancy room)
Asia, Africa & Middle East
24. Writing Retreat in South Africa
You’ll stay at a guest lodge on Table Mountain, one of the 7 wonders of nature, at the base of the Victoria pass linking Hout Bay with Cape Town. Enjoy morning classes and afternoon free writes (and countryside walks).
In the evening, writing coach and literary agent Sarah Bullen will lead sessions focusing on everything from genre to character development to approaching publishers. It all goes down March 23 – 27 and again, November 23 – 27.
“I recently attended the writers retreat and residency at Skala Eressor [sic],” Mary-Joe Emde wrote in a Facebook review. “This has been the most profound retreat I have ever done. Kate and Sarah are masters at creating a space for creativity and writing skills. I loved every moment of it and would recommend this to every aspiring writer.”
Cost: Single Room 12,000 South African rand (~$715 USD).
Deposit 4,000 South African rand (~$240 USD)
25. Indian Summer House Writers’ Retreat
Dates: mid to late October 2022
“Our numbers are small and the opportunity to mix your own writing time with workshops, consultations and informal readings is flexible according to how participants would like to be involved,” says Caroline Van De Pol.
At this luscious boutique hotel in southern India, you can attend a writers retreat in October or set up your own dates upon request.
In addition to morning yoga and meditation, “tantalising” meals and cultural activities, you’ll have daily writing workshops, evening reading sessions and abundant writing time.
In a recent TripAdvisor review, user shonee2018 gave their experience an “excellent” rating. “Time has this lovely pace in India,” they wrote. “It seems to pass even more gently at Indian Summer House during our daily writer’s workshops with Caroline Van De Pol, readings and discussions to reflect and share our work with others or enjoying the outdoor showers, having a drink in the coconut lounge, jumping into the pool two, three times a day or relaxing at the spa.”
Cost: TBD; 2020 costs ranged from $2,190–$2,990 AUD (~$1,494–$2,040 USD) per person.
As we near the end of available retreats for 2022, here’s a retreat you can start planning for now, and choose from their spring or fall options in 2023. Dates available are March 21 to 31 and October 3 to 13. But don’t worry, if you can’t wait, you can still get started by taking one of their online master classes.
Each retreat has a guest leader, plus two resident facilitators: a psychologist and an author. They’ll guide you through everything from discussions to long walks, bonfires, yoga and pottery. Aside from airfare, everything is included in the price — airport transfers, food and even a trip to the Taj Mahal!
This retreat has more than 100 five-star Google reviews. In a recent one, Ramanjaneya Sharaph wrote: “The workshop covers all aspects, from the science and craft of writing, to getting published. This is a workshop in the true sense of the word. There are enough hands on [sic] writing exercises, with feedback from the course leader and other participants, that helps better understand the concepts.”
Cost: $3,300 per person.
This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.
