I began leading destination retreats in 2009, driven by my joint desires to write with and to travel with others. I’ve always loved sharing traveling experiences, so when a group of my weekly participants encouraged me to lead them on a trip, I decided to give it a try. Since that first writing retreat in the south of France, I’ve taken people to Italy, Mexico, and Hawaii.

In my weekly groups, I encourage everyone to explore whatever topics they need to, and to process complicated emotions and experiences, which are often the spark for great stories, essays and poems. I closely adhere to the guidelines, and always maintain a safe container. I felt this group dynamic of trust and confidentiality would only deepen if we wrote together for several days in a row: I was right.

While we’re away together, I help usher in and nurture new ideas, and guide you in a daily writing routine, whether you’re just beginning a new project, developing one that’s more established, or needing to process life goals and changes through the written word. And in addition to the workshops, I offer an optional one on one consulting session, giving you a detailed response to your work.

On theses retreats, I’m a writing teacher as well as a travel guide. Hosting comes naturally to me, and I’ve discovered how much I enjoy creating an elite travel experience for others, from curating beautiful spaces, collaborating with gourmet caterers, to leading fun, personalized tours. And I keep these retreats small (8-10 people), which offers a more intimate, connected experience, sharing meals around one table, as well as going on outings that support local businesses.

What I’ve learned to do well on retreats is facilitate your growth as a writer, while also giving you the experience of a well-planned vacation, with plenty of down time in a beautiful, restful place. And Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, turns out to be the perfect destination for this.