The Inside Scoop

Have you ever wondered what goes on at a writing retreat? Well, today I’m going to share about the retreat I just returned from. 

I typically host one writing retreat in the spring and one in the fall. This year my October retreat took place in Paradise, Pennsylvania. It’s deep in the heart of Amish country. Envision black buggies pulled by beautiful horses and sweet Amish kids staring out of the windows. One-lane bridges and winding country roads, pitch black at night due to the lack of electricity in the Amish homes. 

It’s such an inspiring place to hold a retreat, and the house we stayed in was even more inspiring. Built in 1877 by John Lightner as a wedding gift for his daughter Cecilia and her husband John Steele Witmer. It remains decorated in Victorian style and antique pieces.

It was like being surrounded by the exquisite 19th century. So inspiring to write, even a romantic suspense writer like me. It felt rather like being in a game of Clue with the butler in the parlor 🙂 

We started our days with yummy breakfasts cooked by our amazing volunteer chefs who kept us well fed all weekend. Then we moved into the parlor and circled up for lesson time. 

Each year, I try to have a new focus for the workshops. This year it was beginning to end. We started with uncovering the spark of ideas and deepening them,  then learning to craft powerful beginnings, keeping the middle moving, creating a satisfying ending and then ending with a special writer DNA class. These workshops were spread out and interspersed with some lovely, gifted guest writers who gave of their time and shared different topics with us. This year we were blessed with guest workshops by Toni Shiloh, Jacinta Meredith (an up-and-coming writer who will kill it when she’s published), Christy Barritt, Kim Woodhouse and Amy Wilson. 

We spent three days diving into craft, but the best part was the fellowship–bonding with people who really “get” you. Who understand how good The End feels to type, the warm feel of paper fresh from the printer, the joy of a burst of clarity on a story idea you’ve been struggling with, the love of words and books and escaping into another character’s journey. 

We’re all writers, all readers, and all invested in sharing stories with the world. 

The retreat flew by, and before I knew it, we were heading our separate ways, but we all figured out a way to stay in touch and to motivate each other with our writing. 

I’d love it if you could join one of next year’s retreats.  

Story Question: 

Have you ever been to a writer or reader’s retreat? 

Blessings,

Dani