Writing community

Our happy campers from the August Feedback and Revision Retreat 2024

What a treat to meet so many talented and inspiring writers and to help them tackle the dreaded second draft with some useful tools! With writers from their twenties to almost eighty we had libraries worth of shared wisdom to delve into to help each other make our projects the very best they can be.

We honed in on the themes and worked on scene lists to help us see more clearly the structural issues that needed to be addressed, before looking at cleaning up our prose and then learning about how to write a pitch and a synopsis. Lots of brainwork this retreat, with writers sharing their work in small feedback groups and/or receiving individual feedback with me, to help get those first few pages shining like beacons to potential publishers.

Look at that concentration!

But it wasn’t all hard work. We had yoga and breathing to relax and restore our bodies and minds, beautiful surroundings for walks and adventures, and of course, thanks to the Wonder Woman that is Gay Liddington lots of delicious nurturing food to keep our bellies full and our spirits happy. Gay’s own memoir Will I Ever Be Who I Am is being released early in 2025 – watch this space. Not just the best cook in the world, also a talented writer, brave advocate and healer through story. Food magician!

Plus our lovely special helpers, Liana and Natasha who did all the hard work of cleaning up. THANK YOU!

With our tummies and minds full, we were glad of the lovely, if cool, weather to take walks around the stunning location and refresh ourselves with the beauty of nature, listen to the birds and the sound of running water, leaves rustling in the wind, making friends with the little yellow robins hopping around the cabins and pademelons that bounded away when we got too close.

TESTIMONIALS
Here’s what retreaters had to say about their weekend of writing, yoga, feasting and friends.

‘A once in a lifetime retreat that won’t be my last!’ Selena Wallace August 2024

‘A very well organised retreat, beautiful peaceful surroundings and nurturing food. The writing sessions were informative, practical, relevant to writers of all stages and ages. Thank you for a fabulous weekend.’ Alina Hughes August 2024

‘I would encourage all those interested in writing, reading and a truly unique experience to come to a Relax and Write Retreat.’ Indrani Ganguly August 2024

‘A peaceful, beautiful place to connect with others and reconnect with yourself and to inspire better writing, but also to gain confidence moving forward. Beautiful location, excellent food and most of all, a truly inspiring group of women.’ Isabel Coe August 2024

‘This retreat was a wonderful opportunity to focus on my writing project in a relaxed supportive environment with like-minded women. Thanks Edwina for sharing your expertise and knowledge in such an open-hearted way.’ Jen Barrkman August 2024

‘The food was perfect! Nutritious, tasty, interesting and nurturing.’ Alina Hughes August 2024

The most magical part of these retreats is the connections made between writing friends who help and support each other to bring their creative babies to full and beautiful fruition in the world. Hooray for new writing buddies I say! THANK YOU to all the wonderful, wise, inspiring and creative women who make these retreats such a joy for me and Gay.

We work hard to make these retreats a nurturing and uplifting experience for all who attend but ultimately it is the open hearts, kindness and generosity of those who come along that create the magic we all enjoy. THANK YOU new friends! And old ones too 🙂

As is traditional, we finished our weekend full of words with some images, creating collages to open our eyes to the goodness coming our way.

UPCOMING RETREATS

Are you ready for a retreat?

Our next Springbrook Weekend Intensive is the Memoir and Life Writing Retreat 18 – 20 October. This retreat is perfect for those working on stories based on life and for new writers wanting to get started and finally get some stories out of their heads and onto the page. All the info HERE. Still a few places left but CONTACT EDWINA to make sure there is a place for you before booking.

And keep an eye on my UPCOMING RETREATS PAGE for retreats in 2025, including:

February 10 – 16 – Heavenly Hoi An – Vietnam Transformational Writing Retreat

April 4 – 6 SPRINGBROOK – Memoir and Life Writing Retreat

August 8 – 10 SPRINGBROOK – Feedback and Revision Retreat

October 10 – 17 Incredible Italy – Italy Transformational Writing Retreat

Want to know more? Just drop me a line!

We always have a wonderful time. I feel so lucky to get to run these retreats where I meet the very best kind of people — writers, dreamers, creators! THANK YOU!

Lots of love

Edwina xx

Due to popular demand, we are now offering a FOUR NIGHT, FIVE DAY retreat high in the Gold Coast Hinterland at the beautiful and quite magical Theosophical Society Education and Retreat Centre in Springbrook from Thursday 4^th April until Monday 8^th April 2024.

For days now the old Dragon song (vale Marc Hunter) “Take me to the April Sun in Cuba” has been playing non-stop in my head, with a few words changed to take us all to the April Retreat in Springbrook! Who wants to come?! Me! (Dragon will not be joining us!)

Are you desperate for some time out from real life to focus on your writing? Whether you’re just getting started or working on book ten, this retreat is all about YOU and YOUR WRITING PROJECT. Time for you to write. Time for you to relax and just think. Time to daydream, lie on a blanket in the sun and gaze up into the tall trees imagining the next steps of your book, or your life.

Sound like just what the doctor ordered? I know I’m really looking forward to some time out from all the madness and frantic busyness, to focus solely on my new book (just finished the first draft :)). Even better, doing so in a group of women writers all doing the same thing!

I left the Retreat with inspiration for my writing, as well as goals with a clear and achievable action plan. And the best part is I now have the support of 16 new writing buddies!

COURTNEY MASTERS – retreat participant

This retreat is all about WRITING TIME.

We have an initial workshop to help clarify goals for the retreat, making realistic plans about what we’d like to achieve, connecting with others and figuring out which method works best for you. During the days we’ll run a supervised writing room with timed “Pomodoro” style sessions, writing in twenty-minute bursts, followed by five minutes to rest, chat and grab a cup of tea or coffee and some of Gay’s delicious home-baked treats (GF options always available). Or, if you’re a solo writer like me, then every room has its own desk, or you can find a spot in the beautiful gardens and rest your back against one of the giant gums or wander off to the waterfall and write in blissful solitude in nature.

Edwina Shaw’s Writers Retreat at Springbrook was sensational. Working with other experienced writers and learning new ways of doing things as well as new ways to think, is always mind expanding. Then there were the deep dive conversations with other writers and the sacred walk to the waterfall. It was an extraordinary way to learn and grow.

VICKI BENNETT – repeat retreater

We’ll have Q & A sessions after lunch every day where you can ask as many craft-related questions as you like, and every evening we’ll have guided deep breathing and relaxation to help our busy writers’ minds to slow down and relax. After a delicious dinner you’ll have the chance to share your writing with the group. We’ll finish off the retreat with a final workshop, checking on progress and plotting our way forward, setting goals and making plans for our projects, and ourselves, moving forward.

To be held in a space of such love and respect, through both solitude and interacting with other amazing women, was a real blessing. I found Edwina to be enlightening, welcoming and an amazing source of inspiration and knowledge regarding all aspects of writing, including publishing. I came away knowing that I truly have potential and feeling very excited about my writing journey. I want to share my gift with the world, and now I feel like I can. Wow.

KYLIE DEAN – retreat participant

These retreats do more than just get you writing, they provide much needed time out from the world to reassess what you want from your life and nurture your creative self, so that by the time you return to the big smoke, you’ll be feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to shine!

Come along and you will be treated to a memorable, supportive and nurturing space with laughter and creativity aplenty. These retreats offer the perfect balance of relaxing and writing. From the collective energies of the group as a whole to the care-filled little touches that Ed brings, your inner-goddess and writing muse will thank you! A warning though… once you’ve gone on one, you’ll want to come back again and again! Spoken by a true repeat retreater!

BIANCA MILLROY – repeat retreater

PRICE INCLUDES:

4 nights comfortable single accommodation with bathrooms shared between two.

ALL MEALS – healthy homemade organic vegetarian meals, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, plus morning and afternoon teas. (All sensitivities catered for on request)

2 Writing workshops

3 Guided breathing and deep relaxation sessions

4 Q & A sessions

A supervised Pomodoro room to keep you on track,

As much solitary writing time as you like!

Plus: a chance to share your stories on readings nights.

Transport not included.

I have been inspired to work on my writing but also to work on my health. Not only am I motivated but I made so many new friends.

PEG MACLEOD – retreat participant

COST for this special ALL INCLUSIVE 4 NIGHT RETREAT of writing, fun and feasting?

Pay your deposit by February 15 for EARLY BIRD PRICES

UNWAGED/ CONCESSION:

EARLY BIRD $750, Normal $790

WAGED: EARLY BIRD $850, Normal $900

All inclusive!

PAY YOUR DEPOSIT HERE

OR by Direct Deposit PREFERED: CONTACT EDWINA FOR AVAILABILITY AND BANK DETAILS.

If you have more dash than cash but would still LOVE to come, just email Edwina and we’ll work it out.

ALTERNATIVE EXTRAS ALSO AVAILABLE AT EXTRA COST:

One on one sessions with Edwina to give direction or advice on your project.

Body work treatments with the deeply knowledgeable and gifted healer, Monique DeGoey of Reconnect BodyWork.

If you’ve been promising yourself some time out for your writing and would love to connect with like-minded writing women in a stunningly beautiful location, far from the madding crowds, then this is the retreat for you!

Come along and be nurtured and supported by a kind and gentle group of women and leave all your worries behind as you immerse yourself in the beautiful natural environment, lovingly cared for by the Yugambeh people for millennia.

GET ALL THE INFO HERE

If you’re looking for more workshops to guide your writing and to get your head around aspects of teh writing craft, then check out all the other retreats available in 2024!

But first, sing along with me, Take me to the April Retreat in Springbrook, oh ho ho!

Feel free to drop me a line with any questions or to check availability.

Lots of love

Edwina xx