OCTOBER 17-19, 2025
San francisco or Online
"Because of Writing Room, I'm actually getting published. I finally know how to turn my ideas into pieces that are ready to share."
- Sarah, 2023 Retreat Attendee
"The Writing Room weekend was life-changing and deeply healing. It was one of those experiences that feels perfect and leaves you completely fulfilled. I feel grateful and lucky to have been a part of it."
—Effie, 2023 Retreat Attendee
A Writing Room invites you to its critically-acclaimed transformational retreat designed to transform both your writing and you — the writer.
Take a break from the ordinary and step into a secluded weekend full of immersive workshops focused on transformation, craft, and creative breakthroughs.
Learn from the greatest writing teachers in the world alongside a community of passionate writers on a journey of self-discovery, mastery, and the timeless art of storytelling.
Don’t take our word for it, watch testimonials from 2023’s cohort of writers.
Change the way you approach writing as you discover and explore the proven process A Writing Room is known for — a holistic system of habit, craft and completion, all supported by the community you thought only existed in stories.
Invest in yourself as a writer with an immersive hands-on experience of over 22 live workshops taught and meticulously designed by literary legends exclusively for this retreat experience.
The beloved author of ten New York Times bestselling books, California Hall of Fame Inductee, and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, Anne Lamott is a living literary legend. Anne partnered with A Writing Room at our very first retreat in 2022, and shortly after became a full-time artist in residence. She brings her passion, humor, and skill as a writer — and human — to this year's cohort, as well as a little “benevolent pressure.” Through her guidance, you will learn how to stop not writing and officially be able to call Anne a mentor who is in your corner.
Erin Roberts is a speculative fiction writer, game designer, and narrative podcaster whose award-winning work spans short stories and interactive fiction. A host of the Writing Excuses podcast, she’s known for her rich world building and character-driven storytelling. Erin has taught writing as a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Southern New Hampshire University, and Gotham Writers Workshop. She’s also the recipient of the Speculative Literature Foundation’s Diverse Worlds and Diverse Writers grants and a Provost’s Early Career Fellow at UT Austin.
English professor turned creative entrepreneur, Claire has built her life around one simple concept — examining the space between where you are and where you want to be. By deeply examining why we do (or do not) change, Claire is here to help you transform knowledge into action. After building a global agency that helps entrepreneurs identify their zone of genius, she now supports writers who want to turn their ideas into finished pieces as co-founder of A Writing Room.
Andrew Steiner is a fiction writer represented by The Wylie Agency, whose work has been featured in EPOCH, Grain Magazine, Palooka, Pithead Chapel, and Narrative. Andrew has taught English and creative writing at University of Iowa, Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, Juniata College, Grand Valley State University, and Calvin University.
Brad Aaron Modlin's internationally viral poetry has been experienced over two million times, including in the Pushcart Prize, Poetry Unbound with Pádraig Ó Tuama, The Slowdown with Ada Limón, Brevity and The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He is The Reynolds Endowed Chair of Creative Writing and Associate Professor at University of Nebraska, Kearney, where he teaches undergrads and the master's program.
With so many lectures, classes, and podcasts accessible at the touch of a button, we think passively watching prepared talks — safely and anonymously from our seats — is a terrible use of the collective energy produced by a room full of writers. Let our Creative Director, Jack Ashman, show you how we design our uniquely interactive program.
"Energizing and inspiring. I loved every minute of it. From the stunning location, to the luxurious hotel, to the impressive speaker lineup, to the friendly and welcoming attendees. It was like going to the best conference you can imagine, but times a thousand. Thank you so much for putting me (back) on my writing journey."
- Erica, 2023 Retreat Attendee
Every year, A Writing Room looks for the perfect place to host a transformational journey of self-discovery, mastery, and the timeless art of storytelling.
This year, our team has chosen the birthplace of the “writers room” — Hollywood, California. In one magnificent room, you'll feel the buzz 0f collective genius and passion guiding your hand.
See, hear, and feel the unseeable magic that happens when talented creatives embark on the grand quest of becoming a better writer than you were the day before.
Forge lifelong friendships, plant seeds of future collaborations, and make exciting connections you won't find anywhere else.
-- PLUS --
“The team worked so hard to make sure virtual attendees were included — from a vibrant, active chat room to including virtual guests in the open mic opportunities. The best part? It truly changed the way I write on a daily basis.
- Esther, 2023 Attendee
Your virtual ticket provides access to each masterclass, plus Q&A sessions, Open Mics and Silent Writing sessions. You'll receive exceptional writing instruction you can apply immediately.
-- PLUS --
"This retreat pulled me in right from the start. From their line-up of speakers to the authenticity oozing from everyone throughout the weekend — I was smitten. My writing habits have come back to life since the retreat. I’ve gone from the sole privacy of my journal back to sharing snippets of myself with the world thanks to the encouragement of these beautiful hosts and mentors. The safe place they are creating is my newfound greenhouse… this is the community I’ve been missing for the past several years."
- Kimberly, 2023 Retreat Attendee
Spend the day with your literary heroes in this uniquely intimate learning opportunity. Unlike other writing retreats, signing up for an intensive gives you the chance to submit your writing and have it reviewed.
The day begins by receiving written feedback from Penguin editor, Jake Morrissey, during which time you’ll review exactly what editors look for when considering the publication of a manuscript.
You’ll then receive two hours of mentorship from Anne Lamott and Neal Allen based on their forthcoming book, Good Writing: Tools of the Trade (NOW SOLD OUT).
You’ll end the day with Mark Matousek (1pm-5pm) examining the nuts and bolts of memoir, one of our most popular genres inside A Writing Room.
This day provides a level of in-person guidance you won't find anywhere else. With the intimate feel of an MFA cohort, you’ll gather in a smaller classroom with capped attendance to discuss the rules of writing and editing.
Our Intensive is being hosted at Writing Room's headquarters: 301 8th Street, San Francisco, 94103.
There are several major hotels close to our HQ, a few in walking distance include:
Marriot Marquis, 780 Mission Street
Hyatt Regency, 50 3rd Street
The St. Regis, 125 3rd Street (the pricey option)
There are also several other lovely neighborhoods in San Francisco that are only a rideshare away. We encourage you to arrange your own lodging with an AirBnb or local hotels that best suit your needs and budget, however please check reviews before booking to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Street parking and parking garages are available, however we recommend rideshares like Uber and Lyft for the easiest experience.
Our studio is cozy, so in-person tickets will sell out fast. However there is no cap on virtual tickets, we encourage you to invite a friend!
This year's Craft Intensive applies to almost all genres and formats, especially fiction and creative non-fiction/memoir.
For example, this Intensive might not necessarily benefit a straightforward business book, but a self-help book that's more grounded in personal essays and stories about a person's life will fit perfectly. The classes will particularly help those working on novels, short stories, memoirs, and essays.
Do you have questions, comments, or need extra assistance? Reach out using the contact form and we'll get back to you shortly, or email support@awritingroom.com.
Enter your information below for immediate access to Anne Lamott's 30-minute guided video lesson and 52 weekly writing prompts delivered to your inbox. PLUS, instant download of the 2024 Writer's Roadmap e-book.
Amie McNee is here to tell you that you are important, worthy, and the world needs your art. Her life’s calling is to create supportive, empowered communities for writers and artists, and she furthers that mission with handwritten notes to artists, and through her podcast, Unpublished. Amie believes art is an incredibly brave and generous act, and she wants to create space for everyone to become the artists the world needs them to be.
Cole Arthur Riley understands the connections between spirituality, the body, and writing with a deep and powerful intimacy. The creator of Black Liturgies, Cole is also the author of This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us. An instant New York Times bestseller, This Here Flesh explores belonging, liberation, and dignity through three generations of family stories.
Anyone who identifies as a highly-sensitive person knows that a teacher can either be a lifeline or an obstacle in your path, and Judith Orloff’s heart for the creative is unmatched. An empath herself, the core of Judith’s practice is helping empaths and sensitive people tap into their creativity and intuition. As a UCLA psychiatric clinical faculty member, she synthesizes conventional medicine with intuition and spirituality, which she writes about in her New York Times bestselling books, including her newest, The Genius of Empathy, which includes a foreword by the Dalai Lama.
To write is to give yourself a voice — and if you feel like no one is listening, Jen Pastiloff is here to say, “I’ve got you.” Thousands of people have seen themselves and recognized their own experience in her online essays, podcast, and book, On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real and Listening Hard, which recounts her journey through depression, shame, and rebuilding her family. Her focus on authenticity, healing, and vulnerability, along with her unique teaching style, have seen her featured on Good Morning America, CBS News, New York Magazine — and is exactly why she’s joining the 2024 cohort.
If you’ve ever wished you could break your creativity free from self-imposed limitations and negativity, Gay and Katie Hendricks can show you the way. Their mission is to help create a world of deep intimacy, satisfying creativity, heartfelt appreciation, and wild play through their 40 books, the thousands of coaches they’ve trained, their seminars held around the globe, and even their appearance on Oprah. We’re delighted to bring their practice of conscious living and loving to Writers Rising.
If you’ve ever struggled to reach your artistic goals, chances are that Mark Matousek has helped someone just like you. Matousek’s Writing to Awaken method, which he offers at workshops internationally, has helped thousands of people around the world bring their creative visions to life. A Writing Room partnered with Mark because his focus on self-exploration, personal growth, and spirituality will prompt you to explore your own gifts, challenges, and opportunities for creativity and passion.
Self-judgment is the bane of any writer, making our stories seem foolish, our words clumsy, and the blank page itself a condemnation. HeatherAsh Amara has something to say about that. She’s spent three decades and nine books — including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training and upcoming release Wild, Willing, and Wise — guiding her readers from self-judgment to discernment and victimhood to authentic vulnerability. We’re thrilled to have her skillful guidance and openhearted worldview join the Writers Rising’s cohort.
Jacob teaches from his personal experiences of trauma healing, transformation and creative recovery. Author of Blessed are the Weird and The Creative Cure, Jacob is an avid student of psychology, spirituality and human potential. His teachings will help you claim your creative birthright and live the truth of who you really are. As co-founder of A Writing Room, Jacob brings his insights as an entrepreneur, author and fellow creative to each of his dynamic workshops.
If you love to read, you’ve almost certainly loved a book that Jake Morrissey helped bring into the world. From Calvin and Hobbes to The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store to Bird by Bird, Morrissey’s taste has largely defined the modern bookshelf, and he has a deep love for making a writer’s work shine, even if his own influence is invisible. An editor at Penguin and one of Writing Room’s industry experts, we’re deeply grateful to have Jake join us at Writers Rising to offer his unique insight gained through an editor’s lens.
English professor turned creative entrepreneur, Claire has built her life around one simple concept — examining the space between where you are and where you want to be. By deeply examining why we do (or do not) change, Claire is here to help you transform knowledge into action. After building a global agency that helps entrepreneurs identify their zone of genius, she now supports writers who want to turn their ideas into realities as co-founder of A Writing Room.
As a teen dad, college dropout and ex-meth-head, Jack alchemized his origin story into art and emerged as a creative leader. Creator of the award-winning podcast Hello Humans and life-long advocate for recovery and mental health, Jack channeled years of artistic collaboration into his role as Creative Director and co-founder of A Writing Room. He's designed every facet of the Writers Rising retreat with you in mind, ensuring each session is highly interactive and co-designed by you.
Transformation, power, love — these are things we all seek, but perhaps none so much as writers, and Reema Zaman’s story will lead you to them all. Her critically acclaimed memoir, I Am Yours, has been adopted into the Oregon high school curriculum through an Innovation Grant, and through her consulting and coaching, she teaches authors and speakers “the art of being unforgettable.” She was the 2018 Oregon Literary Arts’ Writer of Color Fellow and is a two-time RACC Award recipient.
For anyone seeking an example of boldness and courage in creativity, look no further than Kemi Nekvapil. She’s one of Australia’s leading coaches, an author of three books (with one forthcoming) and a highly sought-after international speaker. Nekvapil has studied leadership at The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan and trained with Dr Brené Brown. Out of 350+ attendees, Kemi was also the winner of A Writing Room’s Pitch Your Workshop event in 2023, so we’re thrilled to welcome her back this year as a presenter.
The starving artist trope has long perpetuated the idea that stress and trauma are necessary for great art, but Lynda Monk is here to change that narrative. Monk thrives on guiding people through their healing journeys, helping them align with their true desires and discover their true life purposes. Known for her profound insights into the therapeutic and life-changing power of journaling, she’s the author of several books on the subject and the Director of the International Association for Journal Writing.
If your inner critic keeps you from growing into your creative potential and literary freedom, Neal Allen is here to help. He offers insight through his book Better Days: Tame Your Inner Critic, and unpacks the keys for leveling up your writing through his upcoming book Good Writing: Tools of the Trade, co-written with Anne Lamott.
If there’s one thing Karen Salmansohn can teach you, it’s turning pain into purpose. For each step in her life that didn’t go as planned, she created the tools and resources she needed to bounce back, leading her to successfully transition from a career in New York’s top ad agencies to her own platform (NotSalmon.com). When she’s not writing and selling over 2 million copies of her bestselling books (like How to be Happy, Dammit), she’s using her extensive experience in marketing to coach other authors towards growth in their businesses.
