In this episode I talked with writer Culley Holderfield about his experiences at seven Writeaways Writing Retreats. We discussed how he was a reluctant writing retreat goer turned enthusiastic proponent.

 Attending the writing retreats helped him finish and publish his book, Hemlock Hollow, and introduced him to a supportive community of writers who helped elevate his creativity and writing.

 Show Links:

• Culley Holderfield's website
• Culley on Instagram
• Culley on Facebook
• Hemlock Hollow - Regal House Publishers
• Hemlock Hollow on Amazon

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode I talked with Jan Birley, the owner of a very cool writing retreat venue called The Retreat in Yorkshire, UK. She didn't start out to run a writing retreat venue, but when the opportunity came up, she jumped at the chance.

She hosts retreats there under the name Writers' Retreat UK, as well as opening up The Retreat for people who want to host their own writing retreat.

We also chatted about the many ways writing retreat hosts can use the space to host their retreats. Writers can also book one of the many retreats Jan and her team offer throughout the year in this cozy and inspirationsl space for writers of all genres and experience levels.

Show Links:

• Writers' Retreat UK Website
• Writers' Retreat UK on Facebook
• Writers' Retreat UK on Instagram

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode I talked with writing retreat host Robin Henry about her writing retreat in historic Galveston, Texas. We talked about the challenges with organizing a writing retreat from the other side of the world, the magic of attending a writing retreat, and great tips on what to think about when planning one.

You'll also hear what Robin's superpower is and how she uses it to create a writing retreat that inspires and supports her guests.

Show Links:

• Website for the Galveston Writing Retreat
• Robin's Website
• Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell
•  The Magic Words by Cheryl Klein 

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode I talked with Dr. Andrea Silva McManus about the traumatic events that led her to attend a writing retreat. 

What I love most, though, is her book will be the catlyst to help so many others who have gone through similar experiences as Andrea has, as well as give her a new career focused on recovery counseling.

 Show Links:

• Birth a Book Writing Retreats
• Andrea Silva McManus on Facebook
• Andrea Silva McManus on Instagram
• Excerpt from "Letter to a Young Poet"by Rainer Maria Rilke

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

This week's episode is the first solo one where I talk about planning a wrting retreat. Since I started the Writing Retreat Directory, many people have emailed and DM'd me on Instagram looking for information on planning a writing retreat because there's not much out there on the steps to take to plan and host a successful one.

Most people are winging it, asking other retreat hosts, looking at other writing retreat sales pages online, or picking up tips and advice from a variety of blog posts. After responding to those asking for help, I decided to use my experience with hosting small in person events and process skills to help more writing retreat hosts.

I posted a short series on Instagram a few months ago and now I'm going to use my podcast to expand on the information in that series. This first solo episode talks about mindset and things you need to consider before you get to the planning phase.

Have a listen and DM me on Instagram to let me know what you think.

Show Links:

Writing Retreat Directory on Instagram 

Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

 In this episode I talked with writing retreat hosts Mimi Herman and John Yewell about their Writeaways Writing Retreats in France, Ireland, and New Mexico. You'll hear how taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity allowed them to bring their highly successful writing workshops to beautiful locations around the world.

 We also talked about Mimi's recent novel, The Kudzu Queen, John's next writing project, and how you can request a customized Writeaways Writing Retreat for your writing or reading group.

 About halfway through you'll hear a blooper that I decided to leave in - because why not? :)

Show Links:

 Mimi Herman's website (includes details on The Kudzu Queen)

 Writeaways Writing Workshops and Retreats

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

This week's guest is Michael Neece, a writer who attended a writing retreat that took him from idea to solid outline in just five days! Michael shares what happened during the retreat to transform his vague idea into a book, "In Kind: Consciously Craft a Meaningful Life and Career," that was ready for editing just nine months later.

I also enjoyed hearing how the sense of community and support Michael found at the retreat and how he managed to stay motivated to finish the book after returning to his daily life.

Show Links:

•  Michael's author website
•  Michael Neece on LinkedIn 

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode I talked with writing retreat host Caroline Malloy about her Iconic Writing Retreat for Iconic Women nonfiction writers in Athens, Greece. 

Not only will you get to hear about her retreat near the Parthenon, she also opened up about her fears and nervousness in planning her first writing retreat - and the people who helped her along the way.

Show Links:

•  The Write Malloy website (includes a link to her writing retreat info)
•  Caroline Malloy on LinkedIn
• Caroline Malloy on Instagram

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

I was thrilled to talk with the owner of the gorgeous cottages in Northern Ontario, Canada that would be a perfect place for writers to get away to. A well known musician stayed there recently so artists and creative types are already discovering this inspiring getaway. If you’re looking for a venue to host a writing retreat, you won’t want to miss this episode.

The owners of the two cottages consider hidden gems due to its history of being occupied by artists and people committed to important causes who lived apart from the mainstream society. It is also a gem thanks to the beauty and thoughtfulness of its architecture, and the stunning views of Rock Candy Mountain rising above Cummings Lake.

VRBO Links for each configuration mentioned in the interview:

•   The main cottage
•   The guest cottage
•   Both cottages

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!

In this first episode I talked with writing retreat host Karrie Loomis about how she’s managed to host five writing retreats in one year and the challenges with planning a writing retreat.

Karrie does some very cool things at her writing retreat that help her guests tap into their creativity and get past blocks in their writing.

Show Links:

• Ego Break Retreats
• Article on Reiki mentioned in the show.
• Instagram - Karrie Loomis
• Instagram - Everything Is Ok
• Facebook Profile - Karrie Loomis
• Facebook Page - Everything Is Ok

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Resources:

Get the latest information about promoting, planning, or finding a writing retreat.

• Plan A Writing Retreat
• Promote Your Writing Retreat
• Find a Writing Retreat
• Writing Retreat Hosts Community Facebook Group (for current and aspiring writing retreat hosts)

Connect with Lisa & the Writing Retreat Directory:

• On Instagram @writingretreatdirectory
• On Facebook @writingretreatdirectory
• On LinkedIn @writingretreatdirectory

Make sure to hit subscribe or follow so you never miss an episode!