unplug and Write in transformative Colorado

Connect with your creativity.
Honor your courage.
Nourish your body.
Claim your voice.

Gift yourself the time, space, and guidance to write that book! At this Colorado writing, yoga, and meditation retreat, you’ll be guided through a unique and gentle method of mining your life experiences to create fiction, memoir, or self-help that is meaningful, exciting, and—if you choose to publish—resonates with readers.

With over twenty years of experience teaching writing and twenty-eight published books across genres, retreat leader and Amazon Charts bestselling author Jess Lourey is uniquely qualified to make you comfortable and guide your writing to the next level, whether you’re a beginner or have several projects under your belt.

The workshop takes place in a simple, serene spiritual retreat center in the shadow of the Rockies. All food, lodging, workshop materials, yoga, and guided meditation are included in the price. Everyone will have a private bedroom and bathroom.

May 19-24, 2025
Colorado Springs, Colorado
(7 miles south of Garden of the Gods)

The retreat is full. Feel free to send an email to jessloureywritingretreats@gmail.com, subject line “Please Add Me to the Colorado Retreat Waiting List” if you’d like to be notified if a spot opens up.

Workshop Overview

During our time together, we’ll begin each morning with gentle yoga led by author and certified yoga instructor Erica Ruth, followed by a delicious breakfast. After we’re focused and oriented, 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 no matter your writing project or where you are in the process (including the exploratory stage).

Your afternoon is set aside for rest, writing, and play! Write on your own or with new friends, schedule your individual coaching with Jess or Erica Ruth, take an inspiring hike, walk the infinity path, arrange a short Lyft ride to visit Colorado Spring’s charming shops and art galleries, nap, read—you get to listen to your body and plan accordingly. 

We’ll come back together before dinner to share insight, support, and laughter. The day will end with optional writing sprints followed by a guided meditation designed to support deep, restful sleep, so you can wake up the next day refreshed and ready to create.

During the retreat, you’ll be shown how to:

• (Re)discover the joy of writing

• Find the emotional heart of the story you were born to tell

• Discover the transformative power of connecting your writing to your life whether crafting memoir, romance, mystery, self-help, book club fiction, young adult, and anything in between.

• Give shape to your stories

• Connect with your voice and bring it onto the page

• Create cinematic atmosphere in any project

• Overcome blocks and make friends with time

• Find your path to publication, if that’s what you desire

All workshopping follows the Amherst Writing and Artists’ model as well as the principles of The Artist’s Way, two gentle, proven methods that recognize and nurture the creativity we are all born with. These methods support beginning creative writers as well as advanced writers.

This retreat is for folks who want to:

• Take their writing to the next level

• Work with master instructors who values laughter, creativity, and community

• Reconnect and re-center

• Begin or advance a written project

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

• Honor, celebrate, and strengthen their intuition

• Dedicate time for creativity but also for rest and play

• Be cared for in a safe space

We offer a nourishing mix of personalized instruction, relaxation, and community. Make 2025 the year you write that book!

This all-inclusive retreat is held at the serene and healing Franciscan Retreat Center in Colorado Springs. Registration includes:

• Morning yoga (pack comfortable clothes; the gentle yoga sessions are suitable for all levels)

• Evening guided meditation

• All writing workshops and materials, including a personal Book in a Bag kit, writing talisman, and welcome package; the workshops are suitable for all levels of writer in any genre except poetry

• A private coaching session

• Access to the inspiring grounds, including writing nooks galore

• Refreshments at the morning workshops

• All meals served cafeteria style, including a salad bar. The food is simple and nourishing. Gluten-free or vegetarian diets can be accommodated, though not both at once. If you would like either vegetarian or gluten-free meals for the duration of your stay, you’ll have a chance to request one or the other after you register.

• Five nights of lodging in a private bedroom with a private bathroom. The rooms are designed to be meditative, so if a high thread count or cable TV are important to you, this retreat isn’t a good fit. In addition, the rooms do not have air conditioning, which isn’t usually an issue in May (the evenings normally cool off to the 50s), but it’s something to be aware of. Each private room includes one or two twin beds, a writing desk, a dresser, wifi, and an en suite bathroom. Towels and linens are provided but maid service is not. Because of the age of the buildings, the facilities are unfortunately not ADA compliant.

• **While the retreat is non-religious, the retreat center is run by the Sisters of St. Francis, and it’s a welcoming place open to all and with a fascinating history. The rooms and grounds are designed for serenity, healing, and comfort.

A writing retreat is a big, exciting commitment, both in time and finances. It’s important to us that we’re completely transparent and supportive throughout the sign-up process. With that in mind, here’s what is not included with registration:

• Airfare

• Transportation to/from the retreat. The Colorado Springs airport (COS) is the nearest to the retreat center. It’s 33 miles southeast. The Denver airport (DEN) is 80 miles north of the retreat center. Once you register for the retreat, you’ll be invited to a private Facebook group where you can discuss ridesharing with the other fabulous retreat participants.

• Travel insurance

• Alcohol and toiletries, including shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc. (pack it if you want it! :))

Fine print:

1. The retreat costs $2640 per person. Either paying in full or paying a 25% nonrefundable deposit will hold your spot, so choose the option that works best for you. The full cancellation policy is available on the FAQ page.

2. If you hold your spot with a 25% nonrefundable deposit, the remaining is due 60 days before the retreat begins.

3. You’re encouraged to purchase travel insurance at the time of registration. Make sure the insurance covers the full cost of the retreat, medical care, as well as weather and COVID-19-related occurrences so you can book with confidence no matter what the world brings.

4. All retreat participants are required to sign this waiver to participate in the retreat.

5. We're gonna have an amazing time. :)

To ensure everyone gets the time and space they need, registration is capped at 22 registrants. If you’re flying into Colorado, Google Flights is a great place to find low-cost flights. Once registered, you’ll receive an email complete with travel details plus an opportunity to share any dietary needs.

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 nearly thirty books and multiple short stories, essays, and blog posts across genres. She wants to help you write the story you were born to write.

yoga instructor/retreat support

Erica Ruth Neubauer is a certified yoga instructor, award-winning author, and former book reviewer for publications such as Publishers Weekly, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and Mystery Scene Magazine. When she’s not writing her next novel or curled up with a book, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and craft beer. Her retreat goal is to to help you relax and strengthen your mind and body so you can better access your full creative potential.

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.