Our fabulous fun bunch of writers this retreat!
Last retreat of the year was a hoot! What a wonderful group of women. I know, I know, I say it every time, but it really is the people who come along on these retreats that make them so special. As we share stories, tears and laughter, we build strong connections to carry us through our writing lives, to encourage and support us. Encourage is one of my favourite words because when you break it down, it’s En – COURAGE. When writers come together we help each other build courage to continue, because writing isn’t always easy and sometimes we need a cheer squad to get us back on track again.
Some of the fabulous writing cheer squad this retreat!
The sun shone for us this glorious spring retreat, with morning swims on the menu for me, yoga, writing workshops, and lots of Gay’s delicious home cooking to warm our bellies and our hearts. The focus this time was memoir and life writing – how to turn the events of our lives into compelling and publishable narratives. The weather was so good we even held a workshop outside listening to the birds and the whispering of the tall trees that watched over us all. Stories from the heart flowed freely and words poured onto pages that were no longer blank but filled with ideas to bring our stories to life.
On Saturday night at our traditional readings we had some beautiful pieces and an hilarious song which had us all weeping with laughter, from Jacqui who was visiting all the way from Townsville where she’s a founding member of Sistas in Comedy . Laughter really is the best medicine!
Our wonderful Chief Cookie Gay Liddington (whose own inspiring memoir Will I Ever Be Who I Am is due for release in May 2025 – stay tuned) did her very best to fatten us all up like Christmas geese with her homemade cakes and biscuits as well as with the healthy vegetarian meals that kept our writing brains fuelled.
Monique DeGoey of Reconnect Holistic Bodywork provided a special movement class and expert nurturing treatments that had everyone floating around so relaxed they resembled forest jellyfish! Thank you to dear Gay and Monique and our special helpers this time, Kylie, Sharon and Tash. And thank you to all the special souls who came along and made this retreat so warm and enjoyable.
Yummy!
Workshops covered finding the heart of your story, the central quest or question and how to shape a story that may not have a lived ending yet. We wrote to prompts that brought out some beautiful pieces, unfiltered and powerful. Women of all ages connected through shared truths, learning from each other, growing not only as writers but as seekers and human beings. I am so honoured to be able to bring these incredible people together. A special magic happens on retreat. You have to be there to feel it!
All weekend the sun shone brightly for us, the pademelons barely glanced sideways as the writing women descended, birds sang their own stories to the tree tops, the creek babbling never-ending tales. The wisdom of the Kombumerri people of the land grounded deep in the earth, seeped into our stories, hushed whispers in our ears. As always the view was magnificent and humbling. How lucky are we to be alive to experience it all?
The next Springbrook Memoir retreat is April 4- 6, 2025. Places are already filling so BOOK YOUR PLACE SOON!
And if you’re ready for a GRAND ADVENTURE! Then come and join us in Heavenly Hoi An for our Vietnam Writing Retreat. SIX NIGHTS and SEVEN DAYS of writing workshops, excursions, yoga, breath work, tarot readings, one on one feedback, feasting and more fun than you can poke a stick at all in unique 4 star accomodation by the river, with an overwater yoga studio! Prices start at only $2750 ALL INCLUSIVE.
PLUS TAKE AN EXTRA 15% off – VIETNAM NOW ON SALE! Book soon to make sure you don’t miss out. Hoi An is delightfully balmy at this time of the year, everything has just been scrubbed clean for New Year and the gentle kindness of the locals will blow you away. Isn’t it time you treated yourself to a writing dream? Plenty of writing time (or shopping/exploring time) plus the benefit of two highly experienced writing coaches and published authors. I’d love to have you with us! ALL THE INFO HERE
Now, go on, set your timer for 5 minutes and JUST WRITE. Need a prompt? My writing dreams.
Off you go! Now write like the wind!
Lots of love
Edwina 🙂 xx
Edwina Shaw 