After two trips to Australia in search of inspiration for my novel, in 2025, I turned my life into one big retreat, travelling across Western Australia while working on my novel series. Writing retreats went from a vague dream to something I did every day. This guide covers everything you need to know about them, from the glossy, organised kind to the ones you plan yourself.
What is a writing retreat?
The essence of a good writing retreat is nothing more or less than space for you to carve out some time to sit down and dive into your story. It’ll give you the opportunity to step out of the daily rat race, skip the constant invitations for nights out, and give your brain a breather. No emails, or a pile of laundry screaming at you from the corner of the room. It’ll be just you, your notebook and laptop in a place that draws the best out of you.
Types of writing retreats
Writing retreats come in many forms: group retreats in every flavour and colour, solo retreats, special destinations, or even a weekend at home barricaded in your own study. Let me show you a few and decide for yourself what fits you best.
Organised retreats
The most common writing retreats are those organised with a well-structured programme. In this category alone, there’s a ton of choices to make. Do you want to follow a guided solo retreat or a group retreat? Do you prefer the mystical town in Scotland, or a tropical setting in Asia? Do you just want to write, or do you need a helping hand with writing exercises? The list of questions is never-ending.
Solo DIY writing retreats
This is my absolute favourite sort of retreat. Planning my own trips means I save a ton of money and get to customise everything exactly how I like it. I can pick my favourite destination, decide on my programme and choose dates that fit my calendar exactly. And it’s easier than you think to plan your own writing retreat. Curious? Read more in my other guide, ‘Here’s how to plan your own no-fuss DIY writers retreat’.
Destination retreats
You can organise writing retreats yourself by destination or attend a retreat anywhere in the world. I have organised my own in Western Australia and Bali. Australia felt different from anywhere else I’d written. Being in the same landscape where my main characters live and breathe made it easier to fall straight into my story world. Bali is harder to explain, but it worked. Just being away from it all, the writing just flowed out of me.
While I love planning my own retreats, Bookretreats is a website I use to dream about all-inclusive retreats. To be honest, I haven’t tried organised retreats yet, and this is a personal recommendation, not an affiliate link.
Staying local
There is also nothing wrong with organising a writing retreat close to home or even in your own study. Again, it’s about the time you carve out for yourself. But for most people, staying home means distractions. You can simply fix this by booking writing retreat accommodation in a nearby town if you want to avoid the hassle of making a long trip.
Writing residencies
And then there are writing residencies. The crème de la crème among the writing retreats, although just a little different. A writing residency is often a structured programme, fully organised, from a week up to a few months. Writers get a space, the time, and the focus to work entirely on their writing. Residencies can be fee-based or fully funded. In the latter case, you might even be offered meals, workshops, and stipends. I’ve never applied for one myself and, honestly, don’t know yet where to start, but it’s something I’m keeping an eye on for when my book series is further along.
What do writing retreats cost?
Of course, you’re wondering what a writing retreat costs. A simple Google search reveals a broad price range for writing retreats. Costs can range from a few hundred dollars for basic options to several thousand dollars for more comprehensive or luxury experiences. For example, I’ve seen retreats offered for 3,000 US dollars. With that budget, you can plan your own extended retreat, perhaps lasting one or two months, factoring in accommodation, food, travel, and personal activities like yoga.
While I was blessed to live nomadically for a year, moving from one writing retreat to another all over the Asia-Pacific, I have been able to try out different places, settings, and accommodations to discover what works for me as an aspiring author. From booking a simple Airbnb to pet sitting, there are tons of options to find budget-friendly accommodation for your retreat.
Where to go on a writing retreat?
Google ‘writing retreat near me’ and you’ll be overwhelmed with options, ranging from yoga-inspired retreats to ones for women only. Or you could stumble upon some of the most stunning locations overlooking mountains from behind your desk. And although these options are terrific, I believe that a DIY writing retreat is still the simplest way to get started on your novel. You might not even want a complete programme with writing tips or the distractions of fellow writers. You want time to dwell on your story.
What does help is being in an environment where you can feel at ease. This differs from person to person: one writer needs absolute peace of mind with a daily stroll along a quiet beach, another is happy writing in bustling cafes in New York City. But enough writers need structure and daily support to produce any output with their writing. Personally, I found real peace on the balcony of a guesthouse in Bali, overlooking the ocean, losing time as I dove into my story, forgetting where I was, until I discovered I was sunburned.
How long is a writing retreat?
Now, let’s talk about timing. Most organised writing retreats range from 4 to 5 days up to a week, sometimes even longer. Organised retreats are usually shorter, and when you plan your own, you can make it as long as you like. During my nomad year, my life basically became one big writing retreat. And if I’m honest, I don’t think that’s always been the most effective way. I mean, I loved having the freedom to write everywhere, everywhere I was, but knowing you have all the time in the world sometimes slows you down. Setting a time limit for yourself may just bring out the best in you.
What to do on writing retreats?
Once you have covered where to go and how long, you can focus on what to do on a writing retreat. Organised retreats offer a full-day programme with focused writing sessions, workshops, and often other activities such as yoga. You don’t need to think about it yourself. People who organise their own writing retreat can make it as simple as blocking their entire day for just writing.
Personally, I’m not the type of writer who sits behind a laptop all day long. I’m doing fine for a few days if I feel heaps of inspiration. But usually, my reservoir drains after a couple of days, and I grow restless. So, especially if I plan longer retreats, I need to go out and do something else. I thrive in beachside towns and smaller cities rather than big ones like New York. These places offer a chance to mingle with other people and discover new things that actually enhance my writing flow. Usually, I plan my days with 3-hour writing sessions in the morning and reserve the afternoon for exploring. I often book a day trip (by Google search or Tripadvisor) to refresh my mind and find myself so inspired the next morning that I can’t wait to get up.
What to bring on a writing retreat?
Then there’s the all-important packing question: what shoud I bring? Whether you’re joining an organised retreat and receive a packing list, or heading out on your own, a laptop and notebook are the obvious starting point. As a writer who travelled full-time for almost a year, I got pretty picky about what I needed to actually write comfortably in a new place.
Apart from my 5 Must have writing tools, I have a few personal favourites that make a real difference:
- Something that makes the space feel like mine: a small fake plant, a card from a friend, or even just a familiar blanket. For me, it sets the tone for my writing flow faster than anything else.
- Walking shoes. My best ideas come through movement, and a long walk somewhere new does more for my story than an extra hour behind my laptop.
- A pair of harem pants, gifted by my best friend. Comfortable in any position, like sitting behind a desk, curled up on a sofa, or cross-legged in the grass. And they always make me happy, which is a good starter for writing.
- Sleep is non-negotiable for my writing focus, and I’ve misjudged a “quiet” Airbnb more times than I’d like to admit. A noisy rooster at 5am will ruin your whole retreat.
- The right adapter. I wasted my first few days in Australia hunting for a MacBook adapter because my travel adapter couldn’t handle the charger. Obvious in hindsight, easy to forget in the rush of packing.
- A backup plan for Wi-Fi. I’ve stayed in urban areas where I expected no issues, only to spend days struggling to get a decent connection. Worth checking reviews specifically for this before you book.
Picking the right retreat for you
There is no perfect writing retreat. There’s just the one that works for you. Book the organised programme if you need structure and company to be at your best. Plan your own if you want the freedom to do it on your terms. And pick a location that inspires you. The only thing that matters is that you give yourself the time and space to write in a place where you’re at your best.