You are invited to…
The Fall In Love With Writing Retreat
For a full week this October, let’s gather, write, reflect, read, and explore together in Cape Cod.
I’ve always found that I get more writing done when I can change my physical space and context. And writing with a community of people who also have big dreams and complex goals? That’s a recipe for progress and breakthrough.
I’m inviting you to make an intentional space for your writing. Set aside this week for yourself and for your practice, and in return I’ll be there to coach you, help you organize your projects, and teach you how to design new strategies for cultivating a consistent and nourishing writing life.
Overview
An intimate retreat for a full week in the beautiful fall weather on Cape Cod. With one-on-one and small group instruction, as well as guided field trips, nature writing, and craft exercises, writers will leave refreshed and ready to continue their projects back in real life.
Who
Eight writers of any and all genres who are dedicated to the craft and process of writing.
When
Sunday, October 19 - Saturday October 25, 2025
(with the option to add one more night for extra writing time!)
Where
Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Tea at the Writer’s Cabin
During our week together, I’m meeting one-on-one with every writer. We’ll cover everything from your goals, current writer’s blocks, and publication or revision strategies. Your private coaching time is yours to use in whatever way will be most helpful to you. In addition, there will also be small groups later in the week where you can ask follow-up questions and get even more individualized advice.
Take Writing With You
During the retreat, I’ll lead specialized sessions out in nature and in our large common work space to teach you my methods of living as a writer. Our goal is to fall back in love with the process of writing. Through a combination of practical strategies and hands-on exercises, you will be able to take that consistency and familiarity with progress back into your projects even after the retreat ends.
Details
Programming
Your program will consist of several modalities of writing; one-on-one coaching meetings, small-group gatherings, craft sessions, field trips, and alone time to write. This is a place to make progress on writing, but also to learn new ways to write consistently and develop a sustainable practice. In addition, there will be group and individual challenges to complete throughout the week — just like summer camp!
In general, we will have a 2-3 hour session in the morning, and another 3 hour session in the afternoon. Some of these will be all-group sessions where we will study a new craft or writing organizational strategy. Some will be small group meetings, and the other writers will have free time to write and develop their projects. There are many common spaces to write in and explore, and you can always go for an inspirational walk down to the water or through the wooded roads.
Our focus is on developing and improving our individual writing practices. You will generate new work, but you will also have time to go deeper into any existing projects.
Genres
Writers of any and all genres are welcome on this retreat, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, memoir, sci-fi/fantasy, and experimental forms. Our program, discussions, and exercises will focus on the creative process and how to sustain a practical creative life, so all writers will be able to engage in the discussions of the stages of inspiration, drafting, revising, and publishing.
Meals
All meals will be provided and organized for you, so you can focus on writing. Snacks are are available all day for you. There will be a hot breakfast and hot, prepared dinner, and lunch will be a sandwich, salad, and leftovers bar for you to choose from each afternoon.
You can wander in for breakfast any time between 7 and 9am, and our dinners will be together, family-style. Lunch can be casual, eaten out in the garden or in your private space if you need to recharge. We just ask that you don’t eat in the beds — use the tables in your room or common space.
We’ll need most of the fridge space in the communal kitchen to store food for meals, but if you would like to store more of your own snacks, we recommend booking an option with a kitchenette and a small fridge.
On Wednesday, we’ll eat breakfast together and then give you a ride to the beautiful town of Provincetown. There, we suggest that you enjoy trying out the excellent restaurants for lunch and/or dinner. Of course, you can always pack a lunch for that day or come back for an informal dinner.
Housing
Everyone has their own room to write and retreat. You can book a tiny house for more space and a kitchenette, but even if you book a private room, you will still have a space that is all your own. Read, take naps, or make phone calls when you need to during downtime.
Getting to the Retreat
You don’t need a car for this retreat. We will be able to pick you up and drop you off at the start and end of the week from either the Wellfleet Bus Station (serviced by Peter Pan buses, usually with a layover/change in Hyannis) or the Provincetown ferry stop (the ferry comes from Boston).
After registration is finalized, in the first week of September we will send you a questionnaire to find out your travel times so we can pick you up. We can also help coordinate a carpool from the Boston airport or train station with another participant.
If you would like to bring or rent a car, there is parking available.
Try to arrive around or after 3pm on Sunday, October 19. Our welcome dinner and orientation will begin at 6pm. If the ferry is easiest for you, try to catch either the 8:30am or 1pm ferry to Provincetown on that Sunday.
Extra Night
All participants will have the option to add on one extra night to the retreat — the night of Saturday, October 25, extending your check-out to Sunday, October 26.
All programming will wrap-up on Friday night, and we plan on saying goodbye to all of our writers on Saturday morning. So, there is no FOMO if you leave on Saturday! The option to add one more night is simply there if you would prefer to use some extra free writing time, instead of having more travel time.
We will still have meals for you this extra day, but they will be a bit more informal. Your extra time is yours to use as needed!
Accessibility
Our venue is in a beautiful, wooded, secluded area. For this reason, the streets are narrow at times, and there are not consistent sidewalks. The nature is lovely to explore and walk around in, but please exercise caution when walking to the beach and Wellfleet center as you will be on the side of the road.
For all field trips, and for our Provincetown excursion day, you’ll have a ride to and from. Even if other participants choose to walk to certain locations, there will always be an option to get a ride with our program coordinator!
Community Agreement
While you are participating in this weeklong retreat, we ask you to commit to these community guidelines:
No AI usage — as this is a gathering of creatives who are engaging deeply with their process, there is no space for generative AI tools such as Chatgpt, Claude, or other programs that steal from artists and involve no creative engagement.
No small screens in common spaces - because you are taking the time and travel to put yourself in a new space for the week, please join us in experimenting with a mini digital detox. This means that in common spaces, we will focus on utilizing paper, pen, notebooks, books, each other, and writing on medium screens such as laptops or ipads. Of course, you may use your phones in your private spaces and bring them on field trips, but we hope that you enjoy this opportunity to focus more on connecting to nature, your ideas, and your community!
Preparation
This retreat is focused on developing your process, consistency, and community. There are a few things you can prepare and pack to get the most out of the retreat:
Turn off/take care of any outside responsibilities such as work or bigger projects, so that your mental energy can be dedicated to your creative projects during the week.
Make sure you have enough warm and comfortable layers for the fall weather on the Cape.
Gather any loose notes, story and poem ideas, and handwritten texts. Bring these, or a copy, so that you have access to your full body of work. We’ll be organizing, revising, and writing in multiple genres and projects.
Schedule
While the details of this schedule may still change, here are some key features of the retreat:
Field Trips / Provincetown Day
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
One-on-ones and Small Groups
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Alone Time / Writing time
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Extra Writing Day
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a bu
Arrival & Departure
Packing List
What’s Provided:
All bed linens and towels
Snacks, drinkable tap water, other drinks
All materials for programming (including specific notebooks, pens, printed materials
What to pack:
Laptop and headphones
Swimsuit - for hot tub and sauna
Favorite writing tools (notebooks or pens)
Comfortable clothes such as sweatshirts, leggings, and sweatpants
Layers for variable weather - thermals, rain layer, sweater, t-shirts
Good walking/hiking shoes for field trips
Sandals, comfy shoes, or slippers for around the common room or in the garden
Registration - by room
participant info sheet - fill out asap
Sept 1 - fill out travel plans questionaire if you need a ride (due that week)
waiver to come later
Refund avail until Sept 1, after that, case-by-case basis or convert to tuition credit
The Woodside Hideaway
The Woodside Hideaway is a freestanding tiny house nestled between conservation woods and fruit trees with queen bed in loft, kitchenette, private deck, living area with electric fireplace, bathroom with toilet and a private wooden Nordic shower attached to the outside of the building.
Price for the full week:
$2,399
The Studio
The Studio is a freestanding tiny house with a queen bed, desk, own toilet room and outside shower in addition to an indoor shower.
Price for the full week:
$2,399
The Beach Plum Apartment
The Beach Plum Apartment has its own entrance, private deck, kitchenette and living room area, king size bed in bedroom, and full private bathroom with a shower.
Price for the full week:
$2,299
The Mermaid Suite
The Mermaid Suite has a king bed, its own entrance, private deck and full private bathroom (shower/tub) and a kitchenette.
Price for the full week:
$2,199
The Bluebell Room
The Bluebell Room is a bright, sunny room with a bed, and views over trees. Access via stairway from the downstairs living room. Shared bathroom with only with one other room (Sunflower Room).
Price for the full week:
$1,959
The Sunflower Room
The Sunflower Room is a cozy, sunny room under the eaves with a full bed. Access via stairs from the living room, bathroom shared only with Bluebell Room.
Price for the full week:
$1,959
FAQs
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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The Retreat Team
Marcella Haddad (she/her) - Program Director, Creative Writing Instructor
Elyssia Nguyen (she/her) - Program Coordinator
Susannah Fulcher (she/her) & Russell (last name) (he/him) - Venue Hosts
Ford Draper (he/him) - Photography and Meals
Can’t make it to this one?
Fill out the following Future Retreat Interest Form to let me know more about your schedule and writing goals. I’ll put you on the waitlist to be the first to know about future retreats in different cities!