Our First Summer Retreat!

Join us in the serene Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

For years people have asked us to do a summertime retreat, but the logistics of it—especially considering how expensive summer bookings can be—has always been an issue. But we are thrilled to announce our first summertime retreat coming at the end of this July to beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! (And Dolly Parton fans, yes! That Pigeon Forge!)

We’ve found the perfect house for this retreat, and we are so ready to wow you with beautiful mountains, summertime rhododendron, and inspiration galore for your manuscript!

This is our classic retreat: Workshops by both Beth and Cristin in the morning, one-on-one critiques with each of us in the afternoon, and lots of writing time…as well as all meals taken care of for you and lots of laughs and community every night!

Perfect for writers of all levels and set in the summer, this retreat is going to sell out—so don’t wait! Reserve your sport now!

What to expect:

• Critiques: You’ll get two critiques at this retreat. Cristin will closely analyze your opening pages to make sure you’re market ready. And Beth will work with you on your synopsis or idea to make sure the overall plot of the book is tightly paced and character-driven. Each session lasts about an hour, and Beth and Cristin are always around for follow-ups.

• Workshops: With three days of workshops, we try to cover a little bit of everything! We usually dedicate one day to a craft workshop, one day to a business-side-of-publishing workshop, and we tailor each lesson for the people at hand. Workshops are hands-on with source materials that you’ll take home to continue to inspire you.

• Meals: We know people have different preferences and dietary needs! Your breakfasts and lunches are make-your-own style with a plethora of ingredients available (we ask you for all your preferences, including your favorite brands). Dinner is served from menus that suit your needs, and menus will be provided in advance so you can know what is offered and work with us if you need anything different. We’re Southern; we’re gonna make sure you’re fed well!

• Community: With ten years of doing workshop retreats, the thing Beth and Cristin are most proud of is our community. We have active group chats, critique partnerships, and lifelong friendships that have sprung up from our group—and we’re all cheering everyone at every stage of the way! Now with more than a dozen success stories of happily published authors, we’re confident in saying that once a Wordsmithee, always a Wordsmithee :)

Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know if you have any questions! You can comment here or reply to this email.