Writing Retreats Your Way

Jayne Jennings Dunlap, PhD, DNP, APRN, CNE, EBP-C, FAANP
Julee Briscoe Waldrop, DNP, FNP, PNP, NC-BC, CNE, FAANP, FAAN

Writer’s Camp Counselors

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Rekindle your passion and productivity with planned time periods away to write.

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Imagine this: you’ve participated in several writing retreats and come home each time with strong work to show for it. You have another retreat planned. The details are set, the projects are chosen, and the shared plan is ready to go. Then life happens. A family situation suddenly requires your attention, and to stay true to your values, you can no longer take part in the long-awaited retreat. What do you do?

We were recently faced with exactly this situation and decided to proceed with a writing retreat “our way.” Instead of meeting on the West Coast with beautiful surroundings—and an evening of dinner and dancing at a gala to celebrate Jayne’s induction as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners—we met on Zoom. Julee was on the East Coast, Jayne on the West Coast, with a three-hour time difference, but we still wanted to spend a full day writing together.

I (Jayne) agreed to text Julee (an early riser) once I woke up. When I did, I also had to report that my suitcase was lost and would (hopefully) arrive later that day. Julee called immediately to touch base. Fortunately, I had a computer and charger in my carry-on bag—we’ve learned to be prepared, having done mini-writing retreats on planes before—so our newly modified retreat was officially underway.

Julee’s family care situation was still evolving, so we got to work immediately by setting priorities. Surprisingly, we made real progress on each of our intended goals, passing multiple Google documents back and forth throughout the day. Even with frequent interruptions (including the long-awaited arrival of my luggage) and the need for breaks, we moved every project forward.

Because we were both determined to salvage something positive from the day, we worked independently when we had to and came back together on Zoom whenever we could. In that rhythm, we found new creative sparks. We ended the day by meeting with a speaking coach who is helping us improve how we present our writing verbally—an area of growth for us. What began as a disappointment turned into an invigorating writing (and real-time speaking) experience and another memorable adventure.

As two people who enjoy the writing journey as much as the product, this retreat taught us something important: even when circumstances are disjointed at best, a valuable retreat is still possible—for us, and for you as a Writer’s Camp reader with many virtual resources at your fingertips.

What are Writing Retreats?

Writing retreats are not a new concept, although the evidence surrounding their impact is somewhat sparse. At their core, they are dedicated periods of time—ranging from a few interrupted hours (as in our most recent case) to days, weeks, or even months—when you deliberately step away from your usual environment and routines to focus intensely on writing.

We are no strangers to writing-retreat setbacks. During our first retreat together with another author, nestled beside a beautiful lake, we lost power during a storm—and it never returned. Although freezing rain forced us to leave early, we still completed our work.¹ The photo that opens this article shows us (Jayne and Julee) with Jayne’s sister Joanna the night before the outage. When Joanna learned we would be writing only a few hours from her home in Virginia, she drove in to join us, helped prepare meals, and celebrated with us around the campfire after a successful day of writing.

Common Features

Writing retreats should be adapted to meet your writing needs, but there are common features across most retreats. In general, writing retreats are fairly quiet experiences with minimal distractions. The surroundings are often natural or aesthetically pleasing. There are usually opportunities for reflection and inspiration. Sometimes, there may be time for feedback, readings, or professional networking.

Writers plan and attend retreats for many reasons which may include but are not limited to:

• Finishing a project: an article manuscript, blog posts, book chapter;
• Starting something new in a fresh environment;
• Escaping everyday obligations and finding creative clarity; and
• Connecting with other writers and feeling supported.

Writing retreats can be transformative—not just for productivity, but for rekindling a love of writing. Fostering productive habits through planning can increase your personal fulfillment and this often requires reflective time to write.^2,3

Writing Retreat Types

Writing retreats range from solo and self-planned to formal and application-based. Due to my need for professional and personal flexibility, I (Jayne) tend to favor the former. Over time, however, we have experienced and observed several different models, each with its own strengths. Some common types of writing retreats you may wish to consider include the following.

Solo retreats are variable, self-planned getaways where you write uninterrupted and alone. These can be as simple as a day at home with the door closed or as elaborate as traveling to a quiet location away from everyday responsibilities. What matters most is the protected time and mental space to focus.

Group retreats are more detailed and organized events with other writers. These often include workshops, feedback sessions, or communal meals and activities. For many writers, the shared energy and accountability of working alongside others can be motivating and sustaining.

Guided retreats are typically hosted by organizations, experienced writers, or writing coaches. These usually involve a mentored approach, with structured activities, instruction, and sometimes formal teaching sessions alongside dedicated writing time.

Modified retreats are highly flexible and tailored to specific project needs. As our own experience illustrates, these can be adapted to almost any space or situation and still be productive. Sometimes the best retreat is simply the one you can make work.

Making Memories

If you have ever been to camp, whether it be summer, family, or organizational, then you probably have memories from these experiences, because they are out of the ordinary—in fact, they are “extra-ordinary.”⁴ Meeting new people with similar interests in writing is something you may find yourselves bonding over. These connections may even persist and turn into writing partners in the future. Participating in a writing retreat with writing partners you already have can strengthen your connection and move your work forward. Our flexible virtual retreat ended with a great memory of our first session with our speaking coach and plans for presenting our message in a new way.

Dream Retreat

If you could plan your own dream retreat, what would it look like? Mine (Julee) would be a retreat that balances writing with wellness and I would like to have others join me. Each person would set their own goals for the retreat. It would last a full day and include structured blocks for writing and wellness as well as an end of the day social time. One day this will happen.

Table 1. Dream Retreat Sample Agenda

Time	Activity	Description
8:45 – 9:00	Arrival
9:00 – 9:30	Welcome and Opening	Set intentions (Brief breathwork and meditation) Share personal goals for the day
9:30-10:30	Focused Writing Block	Silent-co writing
10:30 – 10:45	Bio Break and Wellness Activity Option	Gentle stretching yoga (7:00 – 10:00 minutes)
10:45-12:00	Focused Writing Block	Silent writing
12:00 – 1:00	Lunch and optional walk	20 minute walk outside or if inside and weather precludes walk around building up and down stairs.
1:00-2:15	Focused Writing Block	Silent writing or share with colleague for comments and suggestions
2:15 – 2:30	Wellness Block	Move to Music (Dancing)
2:30-3:30	Focused Writing Block	Silent writing or editing
3:30 – 4:00	Closing	Share progress and reflections If a prompt is needed: What surprised me in my writing today?
4:00 – 5:00	Social Time	Libations of your choice with snacks

Conclusion

We hope your interest in writing retreats has been rekindled—and that you’ll consider how this practice might fit into your own life. Take a moment to imagine what your own “dream retreat” might look like. Even if circumstances require you to adapt, as they so often do, you can still create meaningful space for your writing. A retreat does not have to be perfect to be productive. What matters is choosing to protect your time, your attention, and your aspirations—and building a retreat, your way.

References

1. Dunlap JJ. Writing retreats for nurses: inspiration to share. American Nurse Journal. 2024;19(7). doi:10.51256/anj0724101
2. Sword H. Air, Light, Time and Space: How Successful Academics Write. Harvard University Press; 2017.
3. Webb C. How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life. Crown Currency; 2016.
4. Macy D. Blog post. Dayna Macy. Published December 1, 2023. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.daynamacy.com/blog/december-newsletter-a-recipe-a-practice-a-poem

Authors: Jayne Jennings Dunlap and Julee Briscoe Waldrop

Reviewed and Edited by: Leslie H. Nicoll

Copyright © 2026 Writer’s Camp and Jayne Jennings Dunlap and Julee Briscoe Waldrop. CC-BY-ND 4.0

Citation: Dunlap JJ, Waldrop JB. Writing retreats your way. The Writer’s Camp Journal, 2026; 2(1):6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.18213788