Beth here, for a little nostalgia! It’s hard to believe that we’re rapidly approaching ten years of Wordsmith Workshops—an anniversay I can only fathom as being based in reality because our first retreat happened a few months after I gave birth to my son.
We have always been primarily focused on developing retreats that were what we would have needed earlier in our careers, with a focus on providing key information that would help writers, one-on-one critique time, and fostering an environment that was all about progressing careers. We’re not about vibes; we’re about results—and the multiple alumni who’ve gone on to launch careers since then fill our hearts with joy!
But we also believe that the act of exploring, surrounding yourself with other creatives with the same goals, and embracing the adventure of this career is important.
We’re so happy to announce our two latest retreats—developed with you in mind!
Accessibly Priced & Designed for Progress: Texas in Fall 2024
First up, our “Revise and Refine” retreat in Texas! Come to this one for the community and support as we dig into your manuscript and help you take it to the next level. If you’re in the planning stages, bring your idea and we’ll help you hone it into an outline. If you’ve written a draft, bring your pages and we’ll help you set up a revision plan. You’re going to walk away inspired and with a cadre of fellow authors walking the same path beside you.
This is our most accessibly price retreat, but don’t think we’re skimping—you still will have all meals provided, full access to all retreat activities, and a month of Word Lab so you can get to know your fellow retreaters before the trip!
International Destination to Inspire and Uplift: Mexico in Winter 2025
New for Wordsmith, we’re going to our first international destination! This retreat has been carefully selected to provide a unique experience as well as plenty of time for our trademark workshopping experiences. The retreat house is beautifully located along the coast (I, for one, will 100% be snorkeling in the sea) and comes with a private chef! Between serene writing times—perfect to detox from the hectic holidays—and a new line of programming, you’re going to love this one!
We’ve come up with a whole new line of programming for this one. We know with the new year, lots of people start on a goal to progress in their writing dreams, so to help maximize that, we’re getting started in January with a free month of Word Lab for all attendees, then February with the retreat to get you focused and on the path to completion, where we’ll guide you not only on developing your writing ideas, but also in devising a schedule to map out the year with goals and benchmarks.
Word Lab now Included: Productivity and Community
You may have noticed that both of these new retreats are coming with a month of Word Lab, our online writing session program. This is coming directly from a past participant’s suggestion (thanks Addison!) who found the idea of joining a retreat far less intimidating after meeting us all online prior to the retreat. It was such a good idea—we sometimes forget that while we’ve been retreating for years, for many of you, this is your first foray into retreats!
So, for the month prior to your retreat, you’re invited to participate in our Word Lab community—twice-weekly writing sessions with Beth or Cristin and other members of the Wordsmith community (including your fellow retreaters).
Word Lab is our way to stay in touch…and stay on target. Consider it sacred office hours right from your home, and an investment in your future careers. Our write-in sessions are productive, streamlined, and rooted in shared passions.
And you don’t have to wait for a retreat to join us! You can sign up for July’s Word Lab right now:
As always, thank you for joining us in your creative goals. If you have any questions or want to reach out for any reason, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Happy writing!