writing holiday Archives

Reflecting on Our Creative Writing Retreat in Mexico

It is difficult to imagine a city more perfect for a creative writing retreat than Merida in Mexico. This was our fourth year running a writing retreat here, and it was spectacular. Our Creative Writing Workshops Each morning we began our writing workshops on a glorious, colourful terrace in our lovely boutique hotel, surrounded by flowers and greenery. As the sun rose over the walls ninety minutes or so into our writing workshops, we took a break and then moved indoors to the cool interior of this converted Hacienda. Our writing workshops always include creative prompts, a range of tips and techniques, plus an opportunity for writers to share their work for feedback. The writers in attendance this year declared the workshops a huge [...]

December 8th, 2024|Retreats, Writing Classes for Teens, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Creative Writing Retreats: Feedback from Participants

Running creative writing workshops in fabulous and inspiring locations is a passion for us! Check out what previous participants have to say about our writing retreats. All these reviews – and more – can be found at https://www.facebook.com/centauriwritingretreats/reviews What our writers say about the community atmosphere of our writing retreats: “I have been to the retreats in Costa Rica and Merida. I have built friendships with fellow writers, received affirming feedback, felt supported and encouraged, laughed hard, and loved every moment.” – Ingrid A. “My fellow attendees were incredibly passionate people who enjoyed holding each other up and encouraging creativity across the group. I have come away with incredibly close friendships.” – Patricia M What writers have to say about the writing workshops and [...]

July 18th, 2024|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Why join our creative writing retreat in Costa Rica? Here’s six reasons!

Serenity in Nature… While you Write Costa Rica is the perfect place to unwind and get creative, inspired by the wonders of nature. At our boutique hotel just outside Quepos, you’ll be greeted by toucans in the morning and squirrel monkeys in the evening. You’ll breathe in the lush rainforest air one moment, and the soft ocean breeze the next. Work on your novel, memoir, poetry, short story or writing fragments at one of the hotel’s lookout points, on the beach, in a café at the marina, or in the little coffee shop overlooking the pool. Writing Retreats Are Great for Solo Travellers! If you hope to travel alone, and you love writing (or want to try it) then a creative writing retreat is the [...]

April 10th, 2024|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Join us for our Next Creative Writing Retreat to Costa Rica!

Our next Costa Rica Writing Retreat (Saturday 19th to Saturday 26th January 2025) is held in partnership with a boutique hotel in Quepos, just 2.5 hours south of the international airport at San Jose. Like all our retreat, it’s suitable for beginner and experienced writers of fiction, poetry and memoir! About Our Hotel Our base for this trip is Las Cascadas Boutique Hotel - https://www.lascascadasthefalls.com/. Located in rainforest, Las Cascadas is just a 5 minute walk from the new marina at Quepos, which has a wealth of restaurants and cafes overlooking the ocean. Our writers stay in private rooms within gorgeously-decorated cottages. Toucans and squirrel monkeys are frequent visitors, and there is even a scarlet macaw nest on site! Morning writing workshops take place on [...]

March 25th, 2024|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Our Creative Writing Retreats – The Delights of Merida!

Our next Mexico Creative Writing Retreat in 2024 will once again be held in the beautiful Yucatecan city of Merida. In addition to the morning creative writing workshops (which are appropriate to writers of poetry, memoir, short fiction and novels), participants will have the opportunity to sightsee in and around this glorious city. Sightseeing in Merida This vibrant city is full of great sights: museums, plazas, gorgeous colonial mansions and art galleries. There are also weekly festivals held in the evenings that include dancing, craft stalls, live music and even a traditional Mayan ball game played with a ball of fire! Check out this blog for additional informatio on the sights of Merida: https://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/top-5-things-to-do-in-merida-mexico/ Another terrific resource for travellers is the online magazine, Yucatan [...]

December 21st, 2023|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Creative Writing Retreats: Magical Moments in Merida!

Just about every day on our creative writing retreats is special – after all, retreats are not only a chance to learn, they are also full of new experiences and great memories. Writing retreats are holidays, too! But there are some days so magnificent that they take your breath away and feed your soul. Yesterday on our Mexico Creative Writing Retreat was one of those days. Writing Workshop We began in the morning with a workshop on five act structure. I hadn’t expected this to be quite so meaningful to so many of our writers, but we have several people here with ideas for novels and memoirs, or with books-in-progress that have stalled on the way. We ended with two terrific writers sharing their [...]

December 6th, 2023|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

The Benefits of a Creative Writing Retreat

I've attended many Creative Writing retreats over the years. A writing retreat in a fishing village in Mexico. Another on the wind-swept moors in Devon, England. Retreats in Scotland and Wales. I've also run dozens of retreats myself. Our creative writing retreat centre in Canada hosted more than 100 writers, and these days, we run creative writing retreats in Costa Rica: and a new writing retreat in Mexico. Why Attend a Creative Writing Retreat? Writers rarely have the opportunity to focus exclusively on writing. We're spouses, parents, sons, daughters, home owners, and whatever it is we do for a living. We may want to write a novel, complete a memoir, write poetry or finish a screenplay, but life pulls us in other directions. Attending [...]

January 6th, 2023|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Mexico Creative Writing Retreat, 2022

Yesterday I returned from teaching our second annual Creative Writing Retreat in Merida, Mexico – and what a studendous week it was. Great writers, wonderful scenery, memorable experiences, daily writing workshops and so much great food! Creative Writing Retreat: Merida! Such a special city. Street festivals, wandering the Plaza Granda and people-watching along the Paseo de Montejo. Visiting the Mayan World Museum. Exploring the art. Wandering the parks. Live music and dancing most evenings. Our Creative Writing Workshops in Merida Each morning, we met for 3 hours, deepening our writing experience as the week went on. Sometimes we met on a terrace with flowers and sunshine, and at other times inside, around a large table in our beautiful hotel. We explored poetry, memoir, character [...]

December 20th, 2022|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

The Benefits of a Creative Writing Retreat

If you love creative writing, you’ll know that carving out the time to write can be a challenge. We all lead busy lives, and our own interests often give way under the pressure of family, work, and daily obligations. It ‘s tough to find inspiration – and to stay inspired. When we encounter difficulties with our writing, we’re on our own and it’s easy to get discouraged. What are the benefits of writing retreats? On a creative writing retreat, these challenges fall away. You get to put reality on hold and be the writer you always wanted to be – not alone, but in the company of others who share your interests. What’s even more wonderful is that you do this in a gorgeous location, [...]

May 30th, 2021|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|

Our Costa Rica Writing Retreat 2018!

Our third annual writing retreat to Costa Rica finished this week, and what a fabulous adventure it was. Here’s a list of our most memorable experiences: The Group! A wonderful collection of people from across North America. We had seasoned writers, and participants writing creatively for the first time. Poets, playwrights, short story writers, novelists, memoir writers and people trying various forms. Some of us had attended retreats before, while others had barely travelled. Our group was supportive, encouraging, positive and eager to launch into this amazing experience. Together we formed a community we will value forever. Finca Luna Nueva! Our lodge is one of the most relaxing, rejuvenating and beautiful places you could ever wish for – a paradise in the heart of rainforest. [...]

February 14th, 2018|Retreats, writing holiday, writing retreats|