writing holidays

Memoir Magic in the Mountains! April 2025 Writing Retreat Rundown

/ Edwina Shaw / Leave a comment

Our happy campers this retreat 🙂

This retreat was something special. As I drove up the winding road deep into the forest on my way to set up, I felt a surge of joy arising. I had some familiar writing friends returning (retreataholics strike again!) but a whole lot of people I’d never even met before. So why this rush of happiness?

The pouring rain stopped as soon as participants started to arrive. Everything was blazing green and pumping with life and as writer after writer arrived, grins stretching from ear to ear, the feeling of joy within me grew. How lucky I am to be bringing such collections of wise folk together. 

We began as usual with our meet and greet, getting to know one another and the projects we’re working on. My darling chief cookie, Gay, had just received the proof copy of her memoir in the final stages before publication. Others had published before or had films successfully produced, but we also had a number of new writers keen to try out their writing legs for the first time. 

With writers from their twenties to their seventies we had a wealth of enthusiasm, energy, imagination and wisdom to draw from. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – these retreats are only as good as the people who come along, and this bunch was special. From a memoir about traveling to spiritual portals around the world, to sexual healing, to a film treatment about coming out as non-binary, to stories of grandmothers and fathers, and the damage that was done and the victories won and the paths less travelled. We had it all.

But most of all we had a special connection as a group, a warmth and understanding, a willingness to share and to listen. To let go of the world outside and sink deeply into the quiet of Kombumerri Country. 

Everyone was keen to get involved and try everything, with the biggest turn out for yoga ever! Even on Sunday for Monique’s special movement session for writers. We are so lucky to have Moniques vast knowledge of the body with us on retreats, not only for this session but for her expert bodywork treatments that leave people floating around in a happy daze for hours.

Gay created special meals filled with her loving care and nurturing, every special need catered for, every sweet-toothed craving fulfilled. My food highlight was definitely her apple crumble and custard. Or the roasted veggie salad, or the Anzac biscuits. You’re only on retreat once in a while!

Workshops were filled with laughter and questions and writing and sharing and learning and epiphanies, both for our stories and for our own healing. This is the real magic. And the greatest joy for me. When I know someone will return to their lives changed, having decided to get off the rat wheel of the crazy busyness and find time to just be. To create. To rest. To heal and live fully. That my friend is magic.

Writing may not make us rich (or it might do that too) but it sure as hell enriches our lives deeply.

Retreaters took walks down to the spring-water stream and our very own waterfall lookout, sat in the sun and read, or found places to write or stare into space and think, or watch the resident pademelons – now named – Paddy, Melon and Little Toot (that’s the pouch joey) bounce happily around despite us.

The weekend flew by until suddenly it was collage time and dreams took shape in images on the page. Hugs all round and it was time to go. But I hope I’ll see this bunch again. In such a short time we became our own mob of magic makers, writing our stories, rewriting our lives, reaching for our dreams. I miss them already.

Here’s what some retreaters had to say about their weekend.

I received so much more valuable information, inspiration, confirmation and support than I could have ever imagined. So very helpful for me as I start my writing journey. 

Sivani Maclean

Thank you so much Edwina and team for creating this beautiful atmosphere in a beautiful, natural setting. I learned a lot and enjoyed the joyful and heartfelt connection.

Hana Morris

Congratulations on a well-organised and well-run retreat. This was constantly reflected on the faces of participants who clearly enjoyed themselves and were stimulated to write and improve.

Gail Thwaite

Edwina is a great teacher and has a very friendly approachable persona with a great knowledge as a writer. Worth doing!

Marie Hayes

Coming on a Relax and Write Retreat is a true getaway, a retreat from normal life and an opportunity to broaden our perspective in the company of kindred spirits, all with stories to tell. A loving welcoming space to connect, to learn, to create.

Retreat participant

Our next Relax and Write Retreat is the Feedback and Revision Retreat AUGUST 8 – 10 2025. 

This retreat is best for those with a bit of writing under those belts, either approaching a second draft and looking for help self-editing or for those planning a full-length work. At this retreat workshops focus heavily on structure with a special session on pitching to publishers and agents. We also provide optional feedback groups to help people connect and get advice on their work. For more info see HERE. Or drop me a line for the flyer.

With big thanks and lots of love to the wonderful writers who made this retreat so special. It’s true you know, we always do have a wonderful time!

Lots of love

Edwina xx

HOORAY FOR HEAVENLY HOI AN 2025!

/ Edwina Shaw / 4 Comments

Yes, we really had a fun time!

RETREAT COMPLETE!

Alongside my local Queensland Relax and Write Retreats, I also run Transformational Writing Retreats in beautiful locations with my dear friend and writing buddy, Kerstin Pilz, author of Loving My Lying Dying Cheating Husband.

Just heading home after a wonderful week of writing, yoga, feasting and fun in the company of our lovely Hoi An retreaters 2025. With participants ranging from those developing a journalling practice to published authors with PhDs in creative writing, we had an accomplished and interesting group to inspire us all to greater heights. From sci-fi, to tragic romance, to feminist lit-fic, to a memoir about working in palliative care, a YA novel that enters others worlds, to the hilarious Black Beatles and writing for healing, we had it all.

It’s always a delight to meet writers from around Australia and the world, and to watch them connect over shared stories. No small talk for us! When you share your stories you go straight to the heart – a wonderful place to start.

This year’s smaller group was a joy, so kind and gentle and supportive of each other as we delved deep into our projects over the retreat week. With workshops ranging from Writing in Scenes, to Character Creation to Developing Your Premise, Structure and Publishing Pathways, we cram as much information into our retreats as we can, catering for each individual as much as possible. With fewer participants this year we were able to really get to know each writer’s project and help them to develop a clearer idea of how to move forward with their writing with confidence.

Let’s just say Hoi An put on great weather for writers and ducks for most of the week, making our escape from the Southern summer turn chilly and wet, sending us all on the search for socks and scarves! Good weather for staying in, rugged up, writing up a storm!

Fortunately, the sun came out perfectly for our outings.

On Wednesday we visited Tra Que Vegetable Village and cooking school where we dressed up as Vietnamese farmers with cone hats and smocks, and helped to dig, fertilise and plant a small veggie patch. Jeanelle and Angelina were shoo-ins for the best diggers! I had a go at swinging the double buckets to water the plants, and I wasn’t too bad (not too good either). Those things are heavy!

We carved vegetable flowers and made scrumptious spring rolls, then learned to make special Vietnamese yellow rice pancakes – YUM! Beverley definitely won the prize for best pancake flipper. I think I was even worse than last year.

We had a fun and silly day and laughed a lot.  On the way home, Lee wasn’t feeling well, and the driver of our electric shuttle bus gently rested his hand on her back, then pulled over to rub tiger balm on her temples. These moments are what make Vietnam so special. The kindness and care of the people is genuine and heart-warming.

We had to fiddle with our program to line up with the sun so we could enjoy our new outing to the beach at An Bang where we did tarot readings and had drinkies and beach walks and chats by the sea under a blue sky. YAY! A beautiful afternoon topped off with a ceremonial fire, leaving behind what no longer serves us and sending our wishes to heaven. Hope it worked! We’ll all be best-selling sensations by the end of the year. Ha! After an evening walk along the beach and through the meandering alleyways of AnBang, to our seafood feast at AnBang Beach Village Restaurant. Yummy!

We feasted the whole week, with dessert at every meal. Yes, even breakfast. They spoil us at A Villa. Fresh fish and rice paper rolls, green papaya salad, special soups, herbal teas made fresh, tropical fruit and crepes with chocolate. All made with love – fresh, colourful and delicious – by the smiling women in the kitchen.

Participants teamed up and explored the Old Town and visited the giant Quan Yin statue and bonsai gardens in Danang, and took a night boat ride in Hoi An complete with lanterns.

I love helping people to connect and share experiences and we make sure there’s plenty of free time in the afternoons for traveling adventures.

Tailors made lots of fancy new clothes for our guests, and the massages, which you can get in your room, were “the best of our lives!”. Near An Villa was a spa where they gave organic facials with herbs from their own garden which Jess, our resident make-up artist expert and tragic romance writer, highly recommended.

We finished our week with readings over breakfast and a wonderful mini-belly dancing class with Jeanelle. She made it all look easy.

A full week of workshops and yoga and excursions and feasting and fun. And then, just as we’re all starting to get into the swing of things, suddenly the retreat ends and we all head in different directions. But I will be taking a little of each participant with me. Shari’s kindness and care, Jeanelle’s swaying hips, Ange’s infectious laugh, Carol’s sweetness, Harry’s deep thoughts, Jess’s stories of Spain, Bev’s giggle and deep wisdom, Brenda’s fortune cookies and fun, and Lee’s fabulous Feral Cheryl and her smile and nod during workshops that encouraged us to keep going. THANK YOU to our wonderful guests who make these retreats so special. 

Kerstin and I come out the other end of retreats ready for silent retreats of our own. After a week of talking our way through yoga classes and workshops, and listening and engaging and reflecting and planning and arranging and caring for our guests, we’re ready for a little lie down. 

But you know what? It’s the best job in the world! 

We get to share our love of writing and yoga and travel with fascinating people who always inspire and uplift us, and each other.

Come along and join us on retreat! Italy in October still has rooms available. Can’t wait for that one in our glorious palazzo! All the info here. Blissful Bali 2025 is now sold out!

Lots of love,

Edwina 🙂 xx