Writing Retreats

Writing needs two things that ordinary life makes difficult to arrange simultaneously: uninterrupted time and a change of setting. A writing retreat provides both. The programmes listed here offer structured weeks or long weekends in places where the only real expectation is that you sit down and write, with experienced guidance available when you want it and the good sense to leave you alone when you do not.

The retreats cover fiction, memoir, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting. Some are workshop-led, with daily sessions, group critique, and one-on-one manuscript consultations. Others are primarily residencies: a room, a desk, meals provided, and a community of other writers working alongside you. The distinction matters, and each listing makes it clear which model applies.

Locations range from converted farmhouses in rural Ireland and stone cottages on the English coast to hillside retreats in southern Europe and writers' residences in North America and Asia. Most programmes are small, often eight to twelve participants, which keeps the feedback personal and the atmosphere focused rather than performative. Several welcome writers at any stage, from those working on a first draft to those returning to a manuscript that has been sitting in a drawer.

Browse by discipline or destination below, or head to the full search page to filter by location, duration, skill level, and price.