Writer's Desert Retreat - Poetry & Lyrics
Disconnect and nurture your craft in the Joshua Tree desert.
Disconnect and nurture your craft in the Joshua Tree desert.
Join us at our secluded venue in the desert and get inspired. This is a place where you can be surrounded by nature, overlook stunning vistas and find the silence you need to uncover your greatest ideas yet. We will take you to the desert of Joshua Tree, with a small group of fellow creatives, where you will be given equal amounts of guidance, and the space to explore where your creative path should take you next. Each edition focuses on a specific mode of writing – novels and short stories, non-fiction and essays, or poetry and lyrics.
We are bringing an award winning chef to prepare your meals each day. We believe every element of your day should have some creativity involved, and the food is no exception.
Stay at our luxury villa or private tee-pee – wherever you'll feel most inspired. All our accommodation is full of character, and finishing touches such as vintage record players, and your own coffee machine that will make you feel right at home.
A key part of this trip is allowing yourself space and time to think creatively. Some days that might mean taking yourself away for some time alone in the desert to hike some of the nature paths such as Hidden Valley and Warren Peak.
We will start each day with mediation and silence, to help you reset the mind, and begin from a place of clarity. Our guests have always found these guided sessions a highlight and really life-changing in how they now approach their work.
We will never have more than 8 people on our retreats to allow us real time to connect with each other and help you develop your ideas. It also means you'll get close to your fellow retreaters and build a creative network you can connect with beyond the retreat.
On our final night, we'll have a fire ceremony as a chance to set new intentions and burn old work that we can now leave behind. A fresh start before you leave the retreat, under the stars of the desert.
Daily Schedule
07.00am Meditation
08.30am Breakfast
10.00am Writing time and workshops
12.30pm Lunch
01.30pm - Free time to work, hike or relax
5.30pm - Optional mentoring
07.00pm - Dinner
08.00pm - Evening group discussion
Included
Accommodation
Guided meditation
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Not Included
Additional drinks
Airport transfers
As award-winning writers, Sarah, Ellen, and Isaac have been running this retreat for over 6 years.
Poet and Musician.
Winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry, Isaac is a poet that's unafraid of playing with structure and poking at taboos. When he's not scribbling away, you'll find him performing spoken word at open mics, strumming on his guitar, and skateboarding by the beach.
Short Fiction Writer & Blogger.
Sarah, who you may know better by the name of her blog 'Spirit Bird in Flight', has been writing creatively her whole life, but really found success when she decided to pack up her life, and buy a camper van to travel the world. She has won awards for her short story series based on her travels. She's also a big believer in the power of meditation in the writing process and will be guiding the daily meditation sessions.
Independent Journalist & Essayist.
As a regular contributor to the New Yorker and VICE, Ellen covers subcultures in America and is well-known for her writing on the skateboarding culture in California. She's passionate about nurturing young writers and volunteers as a mentor in underprivileged communities.
5 nights accommodation
A leather journal with questions and inspiration for each day
Daily workshops on creative writing
3 daily plant-based meals, prepared by gourmet chef
Morning mediation
Access to luxury villa pool
One 1-on-1 mentoring session
Guided hikes
Airport transfers
Travel insurance
Where Two Deserts Meet
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley.
I'm a complete beginner at writing, is this retreat for me?
Absolutely all levels are welcome. No matter what your experience in writing is, this retreat is about finding new ways to work and getting inspired. Everyone will be guided through the same process of exploring creative writing, and sharing their work with the group.
I'm not sure if meditation is for me, can I skip it?
While our meditation sessions are highly recommended and are suited for people who have no meditation experience, it is 100% optional.
How much free time will we have each day?
During the day, you'll have 4 hours of free time to explore the desert, participate in our excursions, or unwind.
Will there be internet access?
Yes! There is WiFi connection in the common rooms at our villa for you to do your writing research.
We’re here to help you reach your writing goals, but you need to know what they are first!
We provide each guest with a typewriter, lined notebooks, and plenty of pens. But if there's something in particular you need to get the creative juices flowing – a laptop or specific book – please bring them with you.
We take you to iconic Joshua Tree sights, like Skull Rock and Cholla Cactus Garden. A chance to continue your adventure and celebrate your new work
$50.00/pp
We're offering a workshop suitable for complete beginners to give it a try.
$160.00/pp
Experience Joshua Tree from a completely different vantage point. Great for first-time riders.
$160.00/pp