Wild Ride: On Creating Writers In The Wild Retreats

Wild Ride

What do you get when you put a group of writers in a room together?

A whole lot of story-telling.

What do you get when you take those same writers out in the wild?

Pure creative synergy.

I spent most of my life writing solo, crafting worlds and prospecting my life for inspiration for my stories. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit and I found the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, or WFWA, that I finally found my “people.” Sure, I had bumped elbows with other writers while earning my creative writing degree. But then life happened, and my writing aspirations fell by the wayside. Thirty years later, I am finally polishing my novel and will query later this year.

What does this have to do with writers in the wild, you ask? Once I got involved in the incomparable community in WFWA, I wanted more than a virtual fellowship. So I scouted nearby members in the directory. A few of us started getting together to hike on a weekly basis. There’s just something special about moving your body and exercising your mind with other writers that makes these hikes the highlight of my week. If you ask any of the other gals in our group (we affectionately call ourselves “The Writer-Hikers”), they will tell you the same.

A funny thing started happening. After a few months of regular get-togethers, I noticed a pattern. On the days that I walked with the Writer-Hikers, I produced more words. I felt more refreshed and able to rein in all the ideas swirling around my mind. Simply put, I was more creatively productive. I decided to do a test to see if I could get the same results if I hiked on my own or with other non-writers. While I did feel the difference in energy from non-exercise days, the magic sauce seemed to be the time with other creatives. And once that idea stuck in my head, I began imagining how I could bottle this elixir and share it with others.

The Writer-Hikers tend to post photos on social media, often eliciting comments by writers elsewhere pining for what we have. After reading these comments week after week an idea started percolating. While I had attended a few writing retreats and loved the camaraderie and focus of learning, I didn’t do much writing during these events. I was so focused on soaking in everything the speakers were teaching us that my work-in-progress sat untouched. So in the summer of 2022, I started planning the kind of retreat I wanted to attend, and Writers in the Wild was born.

It took me almost six months to find the perfect location for my retreat. A luxury Lodge nestled in the mountains of North Georgia. I was adamant that the lodging be spacious enough for each person to find a spot to actually get some writing done (almost every room has a desk). It was also important to me that the property was private and my guests could find a spot by a stream or in a wooded glen to center themselves and actually feel “away” from it all. This place is set on over 200 acres with miles of walking trails.

One of the things that makes this lodging choice stand apart from other retreats is the level of lavishness. It’s no tired cabin in the woods. Each room has indulgent bedding, a Keurig, and a comfy chair (some of the rooms have whole sitting areas and one suite even has a second room). The wraparound porch has so many couches and lounge chairs you could choose a different view each day.

The retreat starts with a welcome happy hour and hibachi dinner on the stone patio in front of the outdoor fireplace. I found a much sought-after local chef to design meals that encourage lively conversations and esprit de corps. I partnered with a well-regarded meditation leader to create a program just for our writers. I even planned an excursion to a local private mountain for a guided hike to the top, where guests will enjoy a chef-prepared picnic. Attendees will sleep well after each creatively fulfilling day in the mountain air.

If it sounds good, it’s because it sounded good to me. I truly wanted to capture the feeling of amity with other writers and the exuberance I get when I am with them out in nature. The location partner I chose perfectly aligns with the picture I had in my head, and I plan to make this the anchor retreat for Writers in the Wild, repeating it each spring. I have my eyes on the next few locations for future retreats. Places like New England, the Rockies, Sedona, and Big Sur are all on my list. It took me a long time to find the first spot, and I won’t stop until I find the best lodging for the next iteration of a Writer in the Wild Retreat.

Only one of the Writer-Hikers is able to come to this first retreat. But the spirit of our group will remain the basis for all the retreats I plan. If I can give my guests even a sliver of what I’ve gained from the Writer-Hikers, they will go away changed.

What do you get when you go on a Writers in the Wild Retreat?

Lifelong memories and a boost to your creativity.

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Kristi Leonard is a writer working on her first novel, a Women’s Fiction story about love and resilience. She is the current VP of Programs for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, where she manages programs like workshops, mentorship and her favorite, Zoom writing-dates. When she is not writing or planning retreats, she is a voice-over talent for audiobooks. She’s been called a modern-day Renaissance woman. Florida is where she calls home with her husband and son; her two daughters have already flown the coop. Her Goldendoodle, Maddie, can be found peeking over her laptop or snoring on the couch while she works.

Tags: featued, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing