Our 2026 Retreat is now Live

Escape to the Sunshine Coast to reignite your creativity at our Rainforest Writing Retreat!

Save the date: February 9 – 13, 2026

Presenting: Linwood House, a magnificent retreat center nestled in the trees, close to the beach, walking trails, and the village of Roberts Creek. And it’s easily accessible from Vancouver (one short ferry from Horseshoe Bay).

Join us for an immersive retreat featuring inspirational workshops, community building, and dedicated writing time. Whether you’re starting a new project or polishing your NaNoWriMo draft, this retreat promises to ignite your creativity and elevate your craft.

What’s new this year?

• Flexible mornings: No scheduled workshops before lunch. Mornings are reserved for writing. We'll provide snacks, coffee, and tea, but breakfast is up to you—bring your own or explore local cafés.
• Evening out: We’ll cater three lunches and one dinner. Thursday evening, we’ll book a spot at a local restaurant for anyone who wants to dine out as a group (optional).
• Book Club for Authors: Back by popular demand. We’ll choose a new award-winning novel to dissect—title to be announced a few months before the retreat.
• Fresh icebreakers: No pitch-fest this time. We’ve got new activities planned to help the group connect.
• Come write your way: All sessions and activities are optional. If you want to skip the workshops and focus on your manuscript, that’s completely fine.

What makes this retreat special?

• Craft Discussions: Deep dives into your most pressing story issues
• Readings: An opportunity to share your writing
• Dedicated Writing Time: Supportive space for you to make progress on your work
• Book Club for Authors: Collaborative dissection of an award-winning novel to uncover what works and why
• Intimate Cohort: No more than a dozen participants

What’s included?

• Gourmet Girl Catering: Three lunches and one dinner, plus snacks, tea, and coffee. Explore local spots for breakfast and other dinners.
• One-on-One Feedback: Get feedback on your work-in-progress from David and Michelle.
• Three Solid Workshop Days: Tuesday to Thursday, with structured discussions in the afternoons.
• Bonus Book: Every participant receives a copy of Fake Queries by Dead Authors.

What do you need to prepare?

• Meat and Potatoes: Bring a work-in-progress (novel, memoir, or story collection), or even just an outline or concept.
• The Logline Lark: Submit a 1–2 sentence summary of your project for our icebreaker game.
• Book Club: Read the selected novel before the retreat (title TBA).

What’s the Cost?

The rooms at Linwood House are unique. Some have extras like a soaker tub or a sauna. Some are shared. Rooms are split between the retreat centre and the carriage house. Prices start at $1800 CAD.

Questions?

Want to get on the list? Have questions about accommodations or programming? Send us a note: michelle@darlingaxe.com.