Writing Retreat

There is nothing like the hushed stillness during the offseason with no distractions or crowds, where the beach and the town are all yours, to hunker down in a cozy Cape May inn and write. This 4-day retreat includes daily writing exercises & workshops, daily readings, daily meditations & journaling, a private 1:1 session, daily breakfast, and a 3-night stay in a charming restored Victorian Inn.    

We start each morning with meditation and journaling, followed by writing exercises and group sharing. Different tools and ideas helpful for your writing process are introduced daily, and writers practice the concepts through writing exercises. 

Then we workshop stories that were submitted by the retreat writers a month before the retreat to give everyone ample time to give a careful and thoughtful reading. During the workshop, we engage in lively, creative, fun discussions and provide helpful comments. Here's an excellent opportunity to ask questions and get group feedback on a concern or trouble area in your writing.

You can then build on the valuable input you heard in your group workshop with a one-on-one session with me to further fine-tune your piece. We can focus on your specific writing questions, your workshop comments, or your writing projects and goals. You will have the time and space to go deeper into your stories. This session can be scheduled during the retreat or afterward on Zoom.

Afternoons are free for you to write, shop, explore. The beach is only a block from the Inn, and quaint boutiques and restaurants in town are a short 5 minute walk. There are so many wonderful places within walking distance of the Inn to spend your afternoon writing. Grab a beach chair and write by the ocean, or on a bench on the scenic Promenade, or on a rocky chair on the two lovely verandas at the Inn, or at a table nibbling a sweet pastry in the many cute coffee shops around town. 

Cape May is an exquisite gem located on the southernmost tip of the Jersey shore, offering natural beauty, pristine beaches, a scenic promenade, rich history, and a picturesque lighthouse.

In the evening readings, you can showcase to the group what you have been working on all day or something you have completed in the past or even published.  

Picture yourself strolling along a scenic beach, people-watching from the Inn's large veranda, and writing stories that touch people’s hearts and minds. Let your creativity flow in a serene, sacred spot surrounded by other artistic souls. 

Combine your love of writing and traveling! Spend your days writing, sightseeing, and suntanning in enchanting Cape May, the oldest seaside resort in the US and a popular summer getaway since the 1700s.

For a healthy balance of body, mind, and soul, begin each day with Guided & Silent Meditation followed by self-exploration and clarity Know Yourself journaling using a unique concept shared at the retreat. 

Each morning session will start with a writing prompt for a writing exercise, followed by a group share for those who wish to read their work. 

You also have the option to workshop a writing piece at the retreat. 

You can submit a 3000-word writing piece for the workshop four weeks before the retreat. Your host will forward it to all the other attendees for their thorough reading and comments. At the retreat, your work will be discussed at a 30-min workshop, and afterward, written feedback will be shared with you either in hardcopy or by email.

You have the option to meet with your host to focus individual attention on your specific writing questions, your workshop comments, or your writing projects and goals. You can build on the valuable input you heard in the group workshop and receive further guidance and insight into your work from your host. You will have the time and space to go deeper into your stories. This session can be scheduled during the retreat or afterward on Zoom.

Each evening at after-dinner readings, you are welcome to share and showcase what you have been working on during the retreat day or writing you had previously written or even published.

 You can also lull away the relaxing afternoon hours by selecting from a long list of other activities, such as visiting the Cape May Lighthouse, wine tasting, and whale watching. 

To keep everyone safe, healthy, and comfortable, all staff are fully vaccinated, and it is strongly recommended that all retreat attendees be vaccinated against Covid-19 also.