Write, Think, Grow.

Swap the day-to-day for space and time to write and create.

Come and join other creators in beautiful Barwon Heads, where the river meets the sea, on the lands of the Wadawurrung people. Take inspiration from the natural blending in Barwon Heads as you blend your creativity into your writing.

✅ Step away from everyday distractions

✅ Build meaningful connections with fellow writers and creators

✅ Spark new ideas and reignite your motivation

✅ Move forward with clarity and focus on your book or creative project

✅ And leave with progress made

To ensure the best creative experience, you’ll enjoy creativity practices such as:

🌴 Mindfulness (Breathwork and movement)

🌴Setting an early morning productivity cadence ‘But next, coffee’

🌴Weaving in the impact of place

🌴Weaving in intention-setting rituals

🌴Weaving in transition tasks

Why Retreat?

Whether you’re sifting through ideas, planning your masterpiece, just starting, or on a roll and looking for time, space and support in that final push, we’ve got you.

Write and create in a beautiful space designed to inspire creativity, with access to a pool, gym, pilates, a beach and lovely walks, to shake out those ideas.

Designed for relaxed creativity, workshops, time with other creatives and 1:1 support will show you the way.

You deserve some dedicated time and space for your ideas and words to form.

Come alone, with a writing or creativity partner, or in a group.

What we'll be doing:

1.Work out what to write

Find the joy in writing.
Action: Set your personal goals for writing, determine where writing fits in your day or your business and get clear on your target audience.

2.Work out how to write it

Set yourself up with an achievable plan to write, including downtime and knowing when to take a break. The magic is often in the pause rather than the push.
Consistent manageable action + sustainable progress = completed projects.
Action: Create your personalised plan will create the discipline you need to show up consistently making your practice a regular habit.

3.Work out when to write it

Establish a consistent writing cadence is the ideal. While this isn’t realistic for some people, waiting for inspiration to strike doesn’t work. You need to be able to create the conditions for writing and creativity, it doesn’t just happen.
Action: We’ll showcase tips and tricks to work out the best time for you to write regularly.

4.Write

Write. Beside the pool, at the beach, in the garden, in your room. Amongst the company of other curious writers, with allocated writing time, feedback sessions and plenty of time to think and relax.
Action: Choose your environment and Write

5. Reflect and share

Work out what's working and what's not.
Action: Reflect on your progress and how to improve. Share within a generous group of like-minded creatives, choosing whether to receive feedback or simply be witnessed in your art.

What’s Included

Focused Writing sprints
Writing sessions and prompts, including a writing exercise and session facilitate by Kelly Irving, Founder of the Expert Author Community
Creativity exercises
Sharing sessions
Feedback sessions
Facilitated dinners, including the opportunity to learn about the joys and challenges of writing to deadline everyday and creating a freelance writing business from Kim Wilson, a 25+ year mainstream newspaper journalist, now a successful freelance journalist
The opportunity to take a dip in the pool, swim in the sea, walk, relax, connect

FAQs

Refunds

Up to 2 weeks prior to the Retreat, a full refund will be provided for the retreat (does not include your own accommodation arrangements)
50% refund is offered if cancelled between 1-2 weeks prior to the Retreat
No refunds if canceled within a week of the Retreat

Where is the Retreat?

The Writing and Creativity Retreat by the Sea will be run out of the Barwon Heads Resort.
Barwon Heads Resort is located at 13th Beach Golf Links/36 Fourteenth Road Barwon Heads VIC 3227
If travelling by car, it will take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from Melbourne
You can also access the Resort by public transport ie Southern Cross from Melbourne to Marshall station in Geelong and then a bus to Barwon Heads, alighting directly outside of the entrance to the Barwon Heads resort (and call from the top of the driveway)

How many people are attending?

The Retreat is designed to accommodate 5-10 people

What do I bring?

Something to write with and/or on, analog or digital, you decide
Comfortable clothing and walking shoes
Bathers for the pool and beach
Yoga mat if you have one
Sunscreen and hat
Water bottle
An open and curious soul

Do I need any prior experience?

No, all experience levels are catered for
If you’re new to writing or a seasoned author, we ask you bring along an idea or a project you’d like to work on

Is accommodation provided?

Accommodation is reserved at Barwon Heads Resort (based on two people sharing at additional cost) or you are welcome to book elsewhere. Please contact us for help.

Is there car parking?

There is a large, free carpark at Barwon Heads Resort for guests and attendees.

Join us.

Hosted by Penelope Barr and Joanna Lippold

Penelope is an author, innovator and coach, with 2 non-fiction books written, and two in progress. Penelope has designed her life in seasons she calls 6:3:3. She combines interim executive roles, with creating books, communities and courses and travels.Penelope has been a mentor and community champion in the renowned Expert Author Community for the past 4 years, supporting other writers to remove barriers, find their stride, and write. Penelope’s writing builds on 25+ years of a successful global career, creating digital products and leading teams to transform and change. She now pragmatically blends the best of her corporate expertise with coaching to help people and organisations transition through the messy middle to your personal best.

Jo is a London-born poet, writer, performer, theatre maker and collager. She believes that everyone is creative. She is the founder of Good Cheer Leadership - a place for women to learn how to lead a life they love and a job that lets them live it. After studying drama and performance art at university, Jo found herself back in her hometown of London, embarking on a career in PR coming up with creative campaigns and collecting, connecting and sharing the dots as stories, which led her to know that everyone has a story to tell. Since moving to Australia Jo has trained as a yoga and mindfulness teacher, and facilitated How To Be More Creative Workshops with The School of Life. She tries to inject a healthy amount of warmth, humour and tender truth in all she does.