Ever dream of sneaking away for a weekend to write without distractions? In this episode, Alexa chats with award-winning author, mentor, and Resilient Writers founder Rhonda Douglas about how to plan affordable, soul-nourishing DIY writing retreats that actually help you finish your book. They talk rest, accountability, creative inspiration, and how to make it all work—on any budget.

Check out Rhonda's FREE Summit - the Finish Your Book Summit - which starts November 7, 2025.

In this podcast, Alexa and Rhonda discuss

• The power of dedicated writing time—and why retreats help you finish books faster
• How to plan your own DIY retreat, from local getaways to global adventures
• Budget-friendly ideas like loyalty points, Airbnbs, and weekday bookings
• Why restorative activities (naps, walks, reading) fuel creativity
• The importance of scheduling and accountability
• How to make your retreat feel like being a “full-time writer” for a few days
• Using creative environments—coffee shops, libraries, even churches—to inspire writing
• Rhonda’s First Book Finish coaching program and The Notebook Project free course

Speaker Bio
Rhonda Douglas is an award-winning poet, fiction author, and writing mentor based in Ottawa, Canada. As founder of Resilient Writers, she helps women and non-binary authors finish their books through her First Book Finish program and hosts the Resilient Writers Radio Show. Learn more at resilientwriters.com.

Resources & Links

• Resilient Writers
• The Notebook Project – Free Mini-Course
• Women in Publishing Summit