learn how to write and publish that novel in wales

Treat your inner fiction author to glorious, dedicated writing time! Mornings are for yoga, meditation, and diving into writing, afternoons for relaxation and writing. This retreat is geared toward women seeking a creative vacation and women working on a fiction project, whether a short story, novella, novel, or a memoir disguised as a novel (Jess specializes in these!). Read, write, relax and become inspired!

May 17-23, 2021
Gladstone Library in Hawarden, Wales

Read more about this magnificent location in this Huffington Post article.

During our time together, we’ll begin each morning with meditation or yoga and a delicious, healthy hot breakfast. After, we’ll set our individual writing goal for the day. Jess will provide expert writing guidance designed to help you release writing blocks, organize your ideas, deepen your writing experience, and tap into your creativity.

Your afternoon is free to structure as you wish. Write on your own or with new friends, schedule your individual coaching with Jessie, take an inspiring hike, visit the charming village, read a book in a cozy corner of the library, or a well-deserved nap.  We’ll come back together before dinner to share insight and laughter. This retreat is capped at 24 women to ensure everyone gets the instruction and support they need.

You’ll be shown how to:

• Combine meditation and movement to release creative blocks

• Become a courageous, disciplined writer

• Keep your writing true to the story you need to tell

• Use your real life to inspire and strengthen your fiction

• Organize your creative ideas 

• Dig deeply into your recurring themes, characters, and scenes

• Edit and workshop to your comfort level

• Claim your voice

• Structure (and, if you wish, publish) your project

• Incorporate creative writing into your everyday life

• Relax and re-center

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.

This retreat is for women who want to:

• Work with a master instructor who values laughter, creativity, and community

• Begin or advance a fiction project

• Explore the world with a fun-loving community of creatives

• Bond with interesting, joyful women

• Honor, celebrate, and strengthen their intuition

• Ground and nourish themselves

• Enjoy fresh and delicious local cuisine

• Dedicate time for creativity but also for play

• Learn how to publish their project

Lodging Options*:

• Shared bedroom (two twin beds) with adjacent bathroom (one available)

• Shared bedroom (two twin beds) with en suite bathroom (one available)

• Small private bedroom (bed and sink only) with adjacent bathroom (one available)

• Private bedroom with adjacent bathroom (four available)

• Private bedroom with en suite bathroom (fifteen available)

  The library does not have an elevator. If you require one of the two ground-floor bedrooms, please let us know immediately. No other room requests are available as the rest of the rooms are assigned first come, first served.

  *To view pricing information for this retreat, please enter your email address below.

Price includes:

• Proper afternoon tea upon arrival (tea, finger sandwiches, pastries)

• Proper afternoon tea with champagne during the last night celebration

• Morning meditation or yoga

• All writing workshops and materials, including a personal Story Box, writing talisman, and welcome swag

• Coffee, tea, and homemade Gladstone biscuits during the morning workshops

• A private, 25-minute coaching session with Jess

• Extended use of the reading rooms (9am - 10pm) and the ability to take library books back to your room

• Permits to walk in the woods around Hawarden Castle

• Access to the gym, pool, sauna, and steam room at St David's Park Village Hotel, 1.4 miles (a 30-minute walk or short cab ride) from the Library (spa services, such as facials and massages, are extra).

• Access to the inspiring, history-drenched grounds, including writing nooks galore

• A delicious hot breakfast and a two-course lunch every day, and a two-course dinner every evening except the last day, when we’ll instead have a celebratory afternoon tea with food and champagne. Click here for sample menus. Locally-sourced, fair trade, and organic ingredients are used, and gluten-free and vegetarian diets can be accommodated

• Six nights of lodging. More information, including photos, is available here. Wifi, towels, and linens are provided but maid service is not.

• Let us take care of you!

Not included:

• Transportation to/from the Gladstone Library, which is approximately 45 miles from the Manchester and Liverpool airports and three hours from London. If flying from the United States, flying into Manchester is currently the most cost-effective option. Click here for info on using public transportation to get from the airport to the library. Once you register for the retreat, you’ll be invited to a private Facebook group where you can discuss ridesharing from the airport with the other fabulous retreat women!

• There is a full gym, pool, sauna, and steam room at St David's Park Village Hotel, 1.4 miles (a 30-minute walk or short cab ride) from the Library, which you can access for $12 a day as a member of our retreat group. You can also book spa services, such as massages and facials.

• Alcohol, other than celebratory champagne on our last night. There will be alcohol available for purchase.

Retreat Leader

Jess Lourey is a TEDx presenter, Psychology Today blogger, creative writing professor with 20+years teaching experience, winner of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching Fellowship and the bestselling author of 18 books and multiple short stories, essays, and blog posts across genres. She wants to help you write your best story.

retreat support

Cindy Hager is an accomplished photographer, small business entrepreneur, and meditation leader. Her goal is to to help you release your creative potential and develop a plan for incorporating your writing goals into life after our time together. She will be your point of contact leading up to the retreat.

What other students have said about Jess

“When I signed up for Jessica Lourey ’s fiction writing workshop, I was at a low point. I was stuck. I longed to write a novel, but I didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t think I had any stories worth telling. Jess helped me realize that I have a lifetime of experiences just waiting to be tapped into, a lifetime of stories, characters, settings and plot twists. Anyone can teach the mechanics of writing, but not anyone can inspire like Jess.”

         — Tina M.