She Couldn’t Find a Writing Retreat—So She Built the Directory Everyone Now Uses

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She Created a Lifeline for Writers Who Want to Actually Finish the Doggone Book

Lisa didn’t set out to become the retreat queen of the writing world.

In fact, when she started down this path, she was neck-deep in genealogical research, chasing family stories across centuries and state lines. What started as a hobby — something between ancestry.com and a personal memoir — quickly turned into a full-time writing project. Letters. Diaries. People escaping persecution. Wagon trains. This wasn’t just data. It was grit and survival and human truth. Lisa knew it needed to be written.

So, she cleared her schedule and committed to the work.

But writing — real writing — takes more than time. It takes solitude. It takes space. It takes a change of scenery and the kind of creative energy that only shows up when you’re out of your routine and surrounded by people who get what you're trying to do.

Naturally, she went looking for a writing retreat.

She did not find one.

What she found instead was a hot mess of blog posts, 37-item listicles, and random recommendations that made it almost impossible to compare options. Different formats, different audiences, different purposes. Some were horror retreats in haunted houses (yes, really). Some were cozy weekend gatherings in the woods. Some looked like yoga retreats with a journal prompt thrown in for good measure.

None of it made sense.

And Lisa — former Air Force, former government ops, lifelong process nerd — was not about to leave it that way.

When You Can’t Find It, Build It

Armed with a spreadsheet, a stubborn streak, and more than a little frustration, Lisa did what most of us talk about but never actually do.

She made the thing she needed.

WritingRetreatDirectory.com is now the only dedicated, searchable directory for writing retreats. Not yoga retreats. Not wellness weekends. Writing. Period. You can filter by location, genre, level, format, cost, and more. It’s clean. It’s updated. And best of all, it’s built by someone who gets what writers actually want.

And that’s just the beginning.

Helping Retreat Hosts Do It Right (and Fill Their Spots)

Lisa didn’t stop at building a directory. Once she started connecting with retreat leaders, it became clear they were struggling too. Questions poured in:

• How much should I charge?

• How do I create a schedule that works?

• What if nobody signs up?

• How do I promote without sounding desperate?

This is where Lisa’s background in systems, operations, and client engagement came roaring back. She started creating simple courses and strategy sessions to help retreat hosts plan experiences that actually work — for them and the writers attending.

She didn’t try to become a retreat guru. She just listened, responded, and created what people needed.

Now? She’s helping hosts design transformational retreats, use email marketing to reach their audience, and avoid the rookie mistake of over-scheduling (seriously — nobody needs 12 workshops a day).

Why Writing Retreats Work (Even If You’re Not Fancy)

If you’ve ever told yourself writing retreats are for “real” writers — the MFA grads, the published authors, the people who have time to burn — Lisa would like a word.

Retreats aren’t about being fancy. They’re about making space.

Whether you’re writing your first chapter or your fifth novel, getting away from your obligations, your laundry, your dog that barks every time you sit down to focus — that’s the magic. The writing happens faster. The breakthroughs come easier. And being around other writers, even weird ones you’d never meet in real life, changes everything.

Lisa’s even seen total strangers become lifelong writing partners. Seen people walk in unsure and walk out published. Seen people get their health, their clarity, and their courage back — all because they made space to write.

The Secret Most Hosts Don’t Know

Here’s what most new retreat leaders get wrong: they think they have to fill the time.

Lisa’s heard it again and again. Hosts cram in back-to-back activities, endless workshops, social hours, yoga classes, and readings. Why? Because they’re afraid people won’t see the value otherwise.

But here’s the truth: free time is the value.

That quiet hour staring out at the trees? That’s where the rewrite of chapter three finally clicks. That conversation over dinner? That’s the seed of a new book. Writers don’t need to be entertained. They need to be held — by the space, the schedule, and the other people who showed up.

Lisa teaches hosts how to design for that. How to build in support and structure without suffocating the creative process. How to help their guests feel safe enough to share vulnerable drafts. How to make it feel less like a program, and more like a haven.

A Lifeline for Writers, Hosts, and Retreat Centers Alike

The ripple effect of Lisa’s work is real. Writers find retreats. Hosts find their people. Retreat centers fill their rooms. And the creative work that’s been stuck in someone’s head for years? It finally gets written.

Her mission is clear: help more writers share their stories.

That means lifting up the retreat hosts, giving them tools, visibility, and structure. It means saying no to expensive platforms that take 15% of every booking. It means saying yes to retreat centers who want to attract more writers. And it means connecting it all — simply, efficiently, and with heart.

No hype. No fluff. Just real support for real creators.

Want to Write? Or Help Others Write? Start Here.

Whether you’re a writer looking for the right retreat, a coach dreaming of hosting one, or a retreat center ready to welcome creative guests, Lisa’s already built what you need.

Explore the directory at WritingRetreatDirectory.com
Get support and resources at PlanAWritingRetreat.com
Or just reach out to Lisa on LinkedIn — she’s one of the good ones.

She’s not just organizing information. She’s changing lives.

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