Writers' Retreat
Writing at the Turning of the Year Retreat
A few days to write, reflect, and reconnect.
October 6 to 8, 2026
Painters’ Lodge, Campbell River
✨ An Invitation
This retreat is a chance to step away for a few days and return to your writing.
We will be right at the edge of the ocean and forest, in a place that invites you to slow down and pay attention.
Kim Bannerman will guide you into the craft side of things, helping you think about place, atmosphere, and how your stories take shape.
Claire Mulligan will take you outdoors and into a more reflective space, where noticing, memory, and feeling lead the writing.
Over the three days, things unfold naturally. You write, you try things, you share if you want to, and you begin to see where your work wants to go next.
🌿 What This Retreat Offers
- Time to write without being pulled in other directions
- Gentle guidance when you want it
- Time outdoors with your notebook
- Small group sharing that feels easy and supportive
- A small group of writers who are in it with you
- Space in the day to rest or wander as well as write
✍️ Who This Is For
If you have been thinking, “I really need to get back to writing,” this is for you.
If you already have something underway and want to spend real time with it, this is for you, too.
You do not need to be published or experienced. You just need a willingness to show up and see what happens on the page.
🌊 Creative Guides
Kim Bannerman
Kim brings a steady, practical approach to writing. She helps you look at how place and experience shape what you are trying to say, without making it feel complicated.
Claire Mulligan
Claire’s work opens things up in a different way. She invites you to slow down, notice what is around you, and follow the emotional thread of your writing.
🌿 What a Day Feels Like
Mornings are quiet. Coffee, tea, and the option to write before anything else begins.
We gather for a while to explore an idea or to try a new approach to the work. Then you go back to your own writing while it is still fresh.
Late morning often takes us outside. You sit somewhere, notice what is there, and let that shape what you write.
Afternoons are looser. You keep going, or shift direction, or take a break. There is time later in the day to share in small groups if you feel ready.
Evenings are simple. Food, conversation, and sometimes reading aloud. Nothing formal, just a sense of being in it together.
📖 Program
Day 1
Arrive between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Settle in, have a walk, or open your notebook.
We gather early in the evening to meet each other and begin with a simple writing prompt.
After dinner, Kim leads a relaxed evening of writing focused on weather, atmosphere, and story.
Day 2
The day begins quietly with coffee and optional writing.
In the morning, Kim guides a session on writing from place and experience.
Later, Claire takes everyone outside for two connected writing experiences focused on observation and attention.
After lunch, the tone shifts inward with a reflective writing session on memory and longing.
Later in the afternoon, there is time to share in small story circles.
The day closes with a relaxed evening of readings and open mic.
Day 3
A slower morning with coffee and time to write if you wish.
Claire leads a final gathering focused on inspiration and carrying your work forward.
We close together before departure.
🌿 Location
Painters’ Lodge sits between the ocean and the trees. It is quiet, open, and a little removed from everything.
🛏 Accommodation
You will stay at Painters’ Lodge. Book your accommodation directly with an event code.
Meals are at Painters’ Bar and Grill.
Coffee and tea are available each morning.
We will send full accommodation details after you register.
💫 What’s Included
Your registration includes all guided writing time, private writing time, use of a dedicated meeting space, and access to the retreat centre's facilities.
Morning coffee and tea are also included.
🌿 Call to Action
If this feels like something you have been needing, you are very welcome here.
Early Bird pricing ends July 15.
Space is limited to keep the retreat intimate.
❓ FAQ
Do I need experience
No.
What should I bring
Your notebook or laptop.
Will I have to share
No. Sharing is always optional.