Return from a Retreat on the Historic French River

From book idea to publication and beyond.

Book Coach Writes a Book is a biweekly feature of Women Writing in which I offer insights from my experiences writing, craft ideas, tips, writerly news, and events.

Happy Saturday! In today’s newsletter you’ll learn:

📚 About our latest writing retreat

📝 Why you might join a writing retreat

👉 What you might consider if you are planning a retreat, or planning to go to one

Enclosed patio overlooking the French River, HBC Cottage

Last weekend,

Dinah Laprairie

and I hosted Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat on the historic French River at The Lodge at Pine Cove with four beautiful souls.

Unlike our previous longer retreats, this was a weekend getaway of only two nights, and it was our first venture to this location. Dinah and I always struggle to decide on choosing a place for our retreats. Our criteria for selecting includes an inspiring location, excellent food, great accommodations, a space for coming together as a group, and spaces for individual writers, ideally in a Northern Ontario setting. The Lodge at Pine Cove did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded our expectations.

We arrived on Friday around 4:00 PM to check into our cottages. Dinah and I shared our three-bedroom cottage with one of our writer friends. Two writers shared a two-bedroom cottage, while a fourth writer was solo in the studio cottage. Alex, Nicola, and his staff at the main lodge were so welcoming, and before long all of our luggage and laptops were whisked away to our cottages.

Saturday included breakfast delivered in baskets to our cottages, meeting together at our HBC cottage for creativity mindset activities and sharing intentions for the day, individual writing time, followed by lunch together at the main lodge, more time to write, or wander, or spend time with projects and a book coach. After an amazing dinner, we returned to HBC to reflect on the day, tell stories, and enjoy a glass of wine surrounded by the warmth of the fire and the laughter of friends.

Path from cottages to the main lodge

While the weekend was overcast and we had sprinkles or rain interrupted by short bursts of heavier rain, the sun occasionally making an appearance, it didn’t really matter. We lit the fire in the stove, threw on a sweater to lounge on the covered verandah, and cozied up in the main lodge library.

There’s nothing like spending time with other writers, hearing them read their work, chatting about their challenges, sharing book recommendations, and basking in their creativity.

My only complaint? Two days was not nearly enough. I left the retreat thankful for the lovely people who joined us, for the connections they made with one another, for Alex, Nicola, and their staff who made us feel more than welcome, and the opportunity to do it again in the fall.

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Here are a few suggestions if you are planning a retreat (or selecting one to go to)

• Select a location with unique elements that go beyond a typical hotel experience

• Seek recommendations from folks who have spent time at the property

• Check out what is available for accessibility needs

• Determine meal options (all meals included? some meals?) and whether the location accommodates dietary restrictions

• Consider where the group will gather (boardroom, cottage, other space) and where they can individually write (is there a desk space? a table?)

• Plan when and how folks will gather, what activities you might do as a group, and what time is available for writing (it is a writing retreat, after all!)

One evening, we reminisced about the Canadian music from our youth, including music by legends Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell, so I thought I’d share one of my favourites with you. Please share yours in the comments. I’d love to know what music reminds you of important times and places in your life. Oh, and if you’re interested in our next writing retreat, head over to Rekindle Creativity and join our mailing list.

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📚 Women Writing Circle

The Women Writing Circle meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6:30-8:00 PM EST with occasional bonus sessions. These offerings are for paid subscribers ($8 USD/month). You can learn more about the benefits of subscribing here.

Happy writing!