FAQs

I'm feeling anxious and excited because signing up for a retreat is a big investment of time and money. Should I do it?

Almost everyone asks themselves this question somewhere along the process of signing up for a retreat and arriving at their destination. We feel the same when we sign up for a retreat. Take a deep exhale and pat yourself on the back for even considering a week away dedicated to YOU. If you are both excited and scared, this is a good sign that you are headed in the right direction toward whatever it is you most want. Jess is a trusted, seasoned facilitator who will give you the support, resources and guidance to reach your goals--you just have to show up and participate! See testimonials from past participants.

Do I need creative writing experience for the writing retreats?

All workshopping follows the Amherst Writing and Artists’ model, a gentle, proven method that recognizes and nurtures the writing genius we all possess whether we are new to the process or experienced creative writers.

Jess offers four different types of writing retreats. The most popular are the Unplug and Write and the Write and Publish. You can find out more here.

What’s the difference between the writing retreats listed, other than location and dates?

How do I schedule my flight?

Once your registration has been confirmed, we encourage you to use an online flight-searching program to find the least expensive options. There are a lot of good ones out there, but we find that Skyscanner and Google Flights are consistently good. We absolutely recommend travel insurance. We’ve had good experiences with both Allianz Global and Travelex but do not endorse either.

If joining us on a retreat requires you to fly over multiple time zones, we encourage you to fly in a day early so you can relax and catch up with the time difference before joining us on the retreat the following day.

While every workshop description includes a description of the average weather during that period, we recommend you pack to your comfort level, including packing your favorite toiletries, a warm sweater, a swimsuit, and comfortable walking shoes.

What should I pack?

Yes, please! The more the merrier. If your friend is not also signing up for the retreat (and we hope they are), and the retreat is being held in a private villa, then you would need to reserve an off-site hotel room rather than the designated villa or block of rooms as that space is always limited. If we’re holding the retreat at a hotel, you can room with whomever you like. Afternoons and some evenings are designated exploration time, so you would have the opportunity to see the sites with whomever you chose.

Can I travel with a friend?

As long as you cancel 60 days before the first day of the retreat, all but your nonrefundable deposit (25% of the full retreat cost) will be refunded. If the retreat is 60 or fewer days away, no refunds will be given, though you can transfer your spot in the retreat to another woman with prior approval. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.

What is your cancellation policy?

Yes! We all process information differently depending on where we are at in life. Since all our retreats are designed to meet you where you’re at and take you to the next level, you will gain insight and learning not matter how many times you join us. In addition, Jess invites professional writers to lead specialty workshops at many of the retreats. There are a handful of writers who attend the same general retreat every year, working on a different project each time. :)