Overdue for some quality time with your muse?
Rekindle your relationship on a writing retreat with me.
Whether your writing gathers dust on the “someday” shelf or you’ve been elbows-deep in word count and copy for a while, your creativity deserves a few days at the center of your universe.
Come away with a small group of writers and their writing coach to luxuriate in the experience of being a writer who writes in the company of other writers who speak their language.
Honor your creativity.
Draw inspiration from a new environment.
Draft off the energy of the people around you who are equally enthralled by writing.
and
Spark the beginnings of deep and meaningful connections with other writers.
I host several writing retreats every year, most in Northern California
where we have an abundance of choice within a few hours of the San Francisco Bay Area,
from the coast to the wine country, farmland to foothills, deep lakes to high mountain tops, and more.
I specialize in boutique experiences for groups of six to ten writers. My retreats are designed with individual personalities in mind and the intimacy of small group dynamics at heart.
At my retreats, I balance individual attention with group engagement. I provide plenty of room for work and play in a safe, nonjudgmental space. I want you to know that in one of my writing retreats, you belong exactly where you are, exactly as you are, and we just wouldn’t be the same without you.
Each retreat is a safe space because I believe in (and have witnessed) the power of safe spaces to invite access to deeper expression and stimulate new levels of creativity in all kinds of people.
I do this for the thrills. I find it thrilling to witness the beginnings of great stories and meaningful progress on WIPs in action. Even more exciting is when a blocked writer breaks through from stuck to flow and gets to wallow in the amazing feeling of being a writer who writes again.
The most popular and best writing retreats for newbies are the train retreats: The Zephyr and The Mill (March), Write on Track (June), and Write on the Rails (November).
Click below to check them out.
Pre-Requisite for Newbies:
Zoom chat with the coach (hey! that’s me!) before making a deposit or payment.
For more information or to set this up, email [email protected].
EMAIL BRONWYN FOR MORE INFO
2025 Writing Retreats
Write in La Paz
International Retreat
FULL
January 31-February 3
Special Pilot Retreat pricing for the first international retreat. You book your own travel and accommodations, take care of your own meals.
Write in La Paz: $200
Price includes your share of the writing suite, four writing sessions, two Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include travel, meals, accommodations, or incidentals.
The Zephyr & The Mill
Train & Resort Retreat
Offered through City Extension at CCSF
March 28-31
The Zephyr and the Mill: $1500
Price includes train fare on the Amtrak Zephyr, a private room at The Peppermill Reno, Saturday night dinner with the group, your share of the writing suite, seven writing sessions, three Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include other meals, incidentals.
Register through City Extension at CCSF:
Write on Track
Train & Resort Retreat
June 20-June 23
Build Your Own Adventure pricing: You book your own travel and accommodations and take care of your own meals. Opportunities to share hotel rooms are often available.
Write on Track: $459
Price includes your share of the writing suite, seven writing sessions, three Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include travel, meals, accommodations, or incidentals.
Bronwyn Books It: price includes all of the above plus train tickets, private hotel room, all three dinners (excludes other meals, incidentals): $1600
Write in Wine Country
Hotel Retreat
Summer: Dates TBD
Wine tasting in Healdsburg followed by a weekend of writing, swimming, dinner table discussions and Proof of Writes at a hotel in the NorCal wine country.
Write in Wine Country: $459
Price includes wine tasting, your share of the writing suite, five writing sessions, three Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include travel, meals, accommodations, or incidentals.
Bronwyn Books It: price includes all of the above plus private hotel room, all three dinners (excludes other meals, incidentals): TBA
Write by the Lake
Airbnb Retreat
Summer: Dates TBD
Join us in a Superhost’s Airbnb for a lovely long weekend of writing at the lake. Stone-soup-style dinners and relaxed sleepover-style atmosphere.
Write by the Lake: Starts at $459
Price includes your share of the accommodations, five writing sessions, three Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include travel, meals, accommodations, your contributions to the dinners, or incidentals.
Write on the Rails
Train & Resort Retreat
November 7-10
Build Your Own Adventure pricing: You book your own travel and accommodations, take care of your own meals.
Write on the Rails: $459
Price includes your share of the writing suite, seven writing sessions, three Proof of Writes, and an optional on-site 1:1 private coaching session.
Price does not include travel, meals, accommodations, or incidentals. Bronwyn Books It: price includes all of the above plus train tickets, private hotel room, all three dinners (excludes other meals, incidentals): $1600
Watch This Spot
For a New Kind of Retreat
Designed to serve a handful of women who are ready to explore another level of self-care.
In collaboration with Relationship Doula and Somatic Therapist, Naailah Auladin
Featuring somatic exercises, guided meditation,
guided journaling, and a short course in writing personal narrative,all in a beautiful private setting in Northern California.
Coming This Summer
“Bronwyn’s retreats have given me the type of accountability, community, and stability I needed in my writing life.
I can’t tell you how much these are worth it and how much I mark my calendar and countdown the days to when I can take time away from my busy schedule as a full-time worker and parent to attend a getaway. I am one of the ones that books well ahead–as soon as they are announced!
Nowadays, for me, it has been hard to find time to focus and just write. This is why I love these – they are so carefully planned that I only have to worry about saving the money to attend.
A lot of times, we get lost in the daily-ness of living our lives and forget to take time out for things that we love to do, things that are part of our goals and inevitably, who we are.
I am a writer down to my marrow and I need to write. To build that habit of creativity that feeds my soul. These retreats help me do that, and as a bonus, they’ve opened up a new world of supportive community members who share a passion for words too.
At each retreat we goal and/or intention set, we write, we share if we want, and we check in to stay focused. We gather at dinner and other mealtimes if we want. And the schedule is not so set that you can’t take a nap, go for a walk, or do whatever else you need to keep the creative juices flowing.
I have gone on at least six retreats throughout the last 5 years and they are always both memorable and worth every penny.”
Our Typical Writing Retreat
~ Itinerary ~
The itinerary below is an example of a writing retreat that takes place in an AirBnb over four days. Appropriate modifications are made for hotel retreats and Write on the Rails.
This is the basic structure.
My retreats are boutique experiences, meaning they’re for small groups of 6-12 people.
I keep them small so I can provide personal attention, enjoy the flexibility of being able to customize the experience, and offer on-site 1:1 personal coaching sessions to each writer.
Every retreat has a different group dynamic, but this is the basic format that has worked since 2018.
Friday Afternoon Check In
Arrive at the retreat location. Meet your fellow writers, settle into your room, explore the house and surroundings.
Find space in the kitchen for your food – every writer gets their own shelf in the fridge and a cupboard or pantry. Snacks to share live in a designated area. No one goes hungry, but no one eats anyone else’s food without permission.
The first afternoon and evening are pretty laid back. Different writers want to get into the retreat mindset in different ways and in their own time. I offer a writing session for those who arrive in the afternoon.
Disconnecting from work and family can be challenging for some, but super easy for others. This casual treatment of time accommodates almost everyone.
Evening Meal
Gathering at the table to share a meal is a great way to close out a long day of writing, form and deepen connections with other writers, and reflect on your progress with people who understand what you’re talking about.
Evening meals are a group effort. We do them Stone Soup style, meaning every writer contributes a protein or side dish (there’s a spreadsheet for this). Every writer will also be expected to help prepare the food or clean up the mess each night, no exceptions.
You can abstain from eating with us if you need to eat at a different time, but you cannot abstain from joining us at the table; this gathering is mandatory.
Evening Meal is about community building and shared experience at the retreat.
Morning Meeting – 900am
Saturday and Sunday begin with Morning Meeting. This is a mandatory activity. It’s where early risers and late bloomers come together to being the day.
Morning Meetings are for being heard and listening to others as we all map out the day and set goals and intentions for ourselves and our writing.
Writers are welcome to eat and drink tea or coffee before, after, or during Morning Meeting, but are not allowed to prepare food or drink, write, or use phones or laptops while it’s in session.
Breakfast is up to you, meaning you bring your own breakfast food. Sharing does happen at most retreats, but not all, so don’t rely on it.
This gathering is a great way to start the day feeling inspired, motivated, and like there’s enough interest in what you’re doing to hold you gently but firmly accountable to what you have said you will do.
Morning Session 930am-100pm
Morning Session begins when Morning Meeting ends. Your job is to write. My job is to pay attention to your stated goals and intentions and figure out how best to serve you on your writing retreat.
My role includes making sure you start strong, keep you on track, check in with you regularly, be available to bounce ideas off, and meet with you 1:1 if you need personalized, focused support.
I have several years of tricks up my sleeve to do all of this for you and using them to your benefit is one of my favorite things to do on the planet.
Depending on the needs of the group, we may do a morning workshop, an all-day workshop, or a full day of independent writing.
Morning Session is more interactive than Afternoon Session, but you are welcome to separate from the group to write privately.
Afternoon Session – 300-600pm
Afternoon Session begins after a midday break where you are encouraged to take a walk or take a nap, eat food, drink a lot of water, and step away from writing for a couple of hours.
While I conduct 1:1 sessions with the writers who want them, you move back into flow and spend a lovely few hours working on your WIP without (much) interruption.
I make it a point to check in on each writer to acknowledge progress, readjust goals if necessary, provide feedback, and otherwise help everyone stay focused and feeling accomplished.
Reminder: Lunch is BYO food and beverage. Often, the shared snack table offers a variety of options, but keep in mind that you and the other writers donate to this set-up, with no obligation on anyone’s part to do so. Make sure you bring enough food for yourself.
Proof of Write – 900pm
Proof of Write is a To Live & Write tradition that goes back to 2020. Every member of our writing community is welcome to join the Friday night Zooms to share 5 minutes of what they wrote that week.
Proof of Write on retreat is in person and exclusively for the writers in the room — which is the whole group because this is the third and final mandatory activity of the day.
Proof of Write is a safe space. What we share is rough, raw, and not ready for critique. We provide positive feedback and do no damage. This means that even if you are diametrically opposed to another writer’s content, you have to keep it to yourself. We are all vulnerable together. Be kind.
Proof of Write is about encouragement. We listen for what the writer has done well and comment on that, ignoring what still needs work; they will edit later.
“I learned so much from each interaction, each discussion, and each session. I am still processing the weekend and how I will integrate what I learned gracefully into my current reality. Working with you has provided me with a framework and tools for my next chapter as a writer.”
Naailah Auladin
Columnist for The Gringo Gazette (La Paz, Mexico)
Bronwyn Emery’s writing retreats are carefully and thoughtfully crafted, yet flexible enough to meet the differing needs of the personalities who attend. I wish I had chosen to attend a retreat sooner- Bronwyn’s coaching met me where I was in my project, which helped me relax and let go of self-criticism, ignoring my inner voice about where I “should have” been on the project and instead helped me apply that voice to the story on the page. The retreat format is a great mix of work & play, and the exposure to other writers in various stages is another bonus. Bronwyn’s 1:1 coaching provided invaluable guidance and kicked me out of several ruts. And then the interaction with/ feedback from other attendees is an added benefit that really rounds out the weekend. These retreats are a restorative investment in the self.
Bethany Polentz
Creative nonfiction
Past Retreats
PILOT: Write to Reno ~ November 2017
Write in the Woods ~ June 2018
Write by the Waves ~ September 2018
Write on the Rails ~ November 2018
Write in Scottsdale ~ Private ~ June 2019
Write on the Mountaintop ~ July 2019
Write on the Rails ~ November 2019
Write in the Snow ~ February 2020
Write by the Pool ~ July 2021
Write at the Resort ~ August 2021
Write in the Wetlands ~ January 2022
The Serial Collective Retreat ~ April 2022
Spring Writing Retreat ~ June 2022
Write by the Lake ~ August 2022
Write by the Lake ~ September 2022
Write on the Rails ~ October 2022
Write by the River ~ Private ~ March 2023
Write in Windsor ~ Private ~ May 2023
Write on the Rails ~ June 2023
Write on the Rails ~ November 2023
Write in Windsor ~ Private ~ May 2024
Write on the Rails ~ June 2024
Write by the Pool ~ August 2024
Write on the Rails ~ November 2024
Write in La Paz ~ January 2025
