Last week I went to my first-ever writers’ retreat, and I sure hope it won’t be my last — so much fun! Six YA writers from BC rented a beach house on the south coast of Vancouver Island for two days of relaxation and writing.
The view from the dining room and living room, where we spent most of our time:
A little chocolate and caffeine does wonders for helping re-focus after “Margarita night”. 
(Denise Jaden, Nikki Tate, and Catherine Knutsson, with Elle Strauss in the background. Joelle Anthony is elsewhere, looking for her backpack.)
Magic writers’ fuel:
The Retreaters–Joelle Anthony, Elle Strauss, Catherine Knutsson, Nikki Tate, me. (Denise Jaden is missing from the pic. She could be looking for whales — aw, it’s just a log – but more likely, she’s holding the camera.)
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to spend a couple days with these awesome writers, who just happen to be very cool people, too. And in case you’re wondering, neither the backpack nor the whales made an appearance. We managed to have a good time anyway.
Have you ever been on a writing retreat? What’s your idea of a perfect getaway?
Thanks for posting the pictures. So happy you all had a great time!
Thanks, Angelina. We’ll have to do it again sometime — hopefully when you can join us!
Oh, wow!!! That’s all I can say: wow!!!
A couple days in that spot would definitely qualify as my idea of a perfect getaway. I always like writing at our Cariboo cabin, but that would be a little too rustic for most people, and it takes too long to get there for just a couple days anyway.
So glad to hear your retreat was everything you hoped it would be.
I could go for a Cariboo cabin writing retreat…
Sandgate turned out to be a great place — loved it!
Thanks for posting, Shari! And for organizing it. I miss it already…
I so could’ve stayed another day or two… or, like, a month.