Two weeks ago, I was blessed to host a Christian women writers retreat at Shadow Rest Ministries in Cape Girardeau, MO, which is my hometown. I learned so many wonderful lessons by hosting this retreat, and I’m retelling the story on my blog today. Be sure to keep reading to discover how you can benefit from an online version of this retreat, now available!
Hosting a Writers Retreat
I decided to host a retreat this year instead of attending She Speaks again, to save money since I’m having a book launch later this fall. In the fall of 2018, I posted on Facebook to gauge interest for attendees. Then I moved everyone into a Facebook event and kept posting updates in there.
My friend Julie, who attended the event, wrote a workbook on how to host a retreat. I purchased her workbook, and it was invaluable for helping me plan this event. Julie is an expert on retreats, and I encourage you to follow her for lots of information if you plan to host your own retreat!
I contacted the retreat site and paid a deposit in September. After collecting money from attendees through Paypal and personal checks, I paid the remainder in March. Eleven ladies attended the retreat. We had three ladies choose their own cabins, seven of us stayed comfortably in group cabins, and two others stayed off-campus as locals.
My mom agreed to cook all the meals for us. She has run a catering side business for over 20 years, and her food could win Food Network competitions. All the ladies enjoyed being treated to her spreads.
Friday Retreat Happenings
The ladies began arriving on Friday afternoon. They drove to Cape Girardeau, MO from other places in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Three of the ladies are in my local writers guild, and I had met two others at another retreat in 2017. It was a joy to meet the others for the first time in person.
We had a wonderful time sitting around the large wooden table in the main cabin, sharing our personal stories over snacks. Then we enjoyed a charcuterie board for supper before we had a brief worship session and my presentation on Spiritual Development for Writers. After the presentation, we answered some individual writing questions while enjoying dessert.
What I Learned from Hosting a Christian Writers Retreat #amwriting #writersretreat #semowriter Click To TweetSaturday Retreat Happenings
We started off Saturday with a delicious breakfast, then we worshiped together. I got to play my flute as we sang hymns together. This is an activity I truly enjoy and don’t get to do in front of others very often!
Our morning session was The Best Writing and Marketing Tips for Writers. We broke for lunch, then covered The Best Social Media Tips for Writers. Both were fruitful discussions where we swapped stories and tips.
My friend Amanda, one of the local attendees, showed us how to use a vision board to keep us motivated in our writing pursuits. She has used them for the past three years, and I’ve had the joy of watching her writing dreams come to life!
We had an extended break in the afternoon. Since many of us are introverts, we needed that alone time to recharge. Plus, it was a rainy day, so we didn’t mind staying inside.
After a hearty supper, the attendees listened to my testimony, moving from beginning a blog in 2010, self-publishing in 2016 and 2017, and signing with an agent to garner a traditional publishing contract in 2018. We were tired and on information overload, but the ladies told me how much they appreciated the information.
Sunday Retreat Happenings
Since I stayed up very late visiting with one of the attendees, I wasn’t sure how I would manage leading the group on Sunday morning. I prayed that God would provide, and he did in a mighty way!
We started with relaxing conversation and colored a printable from Julie’s website. This was a perfect activity after so much stimulation from the presentations.
I was speaking with Leanna about Pinterest, then she reminded me that she had a sensory activity for us to try. It was the perfect solution for our Sunday bonding and worship time.
Leanna read Acts 3:19-20 to us. Then she set up a repentance station, in which we each wrote a secret sin on dissolving paper. Then we placed it in a large bowl of water, swished it around, and watched it disappear before our eyes. One by one, we settled back at the table, full of peace and expectation.
Dorinda, one of the local attendees, spoke up. She was praying on Saturday night after the retreat, and the Holy Spirit redirected her prayers. God told her that this group of ladies needs to host a writing conference in Cape Girardeau in October 2020. We excitedly saw the Holy Spirit moving around the table as each woman volunteered her thoughts about what she can offer. Then each of us prayed in a circle, and we felt so close as a group.
God had told me to pray specifically over each woman as she left, and it was my joy to do so. We said goodbye full of peace and hope.
My Personal Retreat Takeaways
My heart was absolutely full of peace as I drove home from the retreat. I thanked God for all the blessings I experienced, including the following:
- Face-to-face time with other writers who just “get” me
- Iron sharpening iron in conversations about blogging and social media
- Encouragement to lay aside my lack of self-confidence and step into greater faith in my calling
- Fulfillment from using my God-given leadership skills
- Uplifted spirit from worshiping with other Christians
- Heart-to-heart connections with those I had previously known only online
- Deeper relationships with my local writing friends
- New lessons from God as I prayed before bed–he teaches me new things when my routine is shaken up
I loved hosting this retreat. It’s exciting that God is directing me to help host a conference instead of another retreat at this time. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds!
An Online Retreat For You!
Since many women expressed interest in the retreat but could not attend in person, I decided to create an online resource with the same information.
Want your own copy of this printable version you can go through at your own pace? Get your own copy now!
Buy Now!
This 38-page printable workbook includes the following information:
- Spiritual Development for Christian Writers
- Best Writing and Networking Tips (includes video from the retreat)
- How to Use Social Media to Expand Your Platform
- How to Improve Your Writing Through Speaking
- My Testimony: From Blogging to Self-Publishing to Traditional Publishing
- Recommended Resources
- Writers to Follow
- Journal: My Writing Journey
I hope you’ll choose to download your PDF version of this retreat now! The 11 ladies were all inspired by the retreat presentations, whether they were just starting out on their writing journeys or have been doing this for years. This resource will encourage you in your own writing journey as a Christian writer.
You can read one of the attendees’ blog posts about this retreat here to see how it inspired her!
Best Tips for Christian Writers: An affordable and practical course to help you in your writing journey. #writingcourse #amwriting #christianwriter Click To TweetWriters to Follow
These Christian writers attended my retreat in 2019, and they would appreciate your follows! Here are links to the ones who have websites. You can go to their websites to follow them on social media.
Diane Grass
Dorinda Miller
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