If you’re a writer with a manuscript draft who is ready to gain clarity, confidence, and momentum to finally finish your manuscript, then join Lauren Carter and two other writers for a transformational retreat, where you'll gain expert feedback, a clear plan forward, time to work, lots of support, renewed belief in your writing— and a closer-to-finished book!
you settle in the sunroom at Painted Sky Studio to write....
Outside, Lake Manitoba glimmers with a soft morning light, and the first golden leaves of autumn edge the shoreline.
Inside, it's warm and calm; the only sounds are the gentle clatter of laptop keys, a pen moving steadily nearby, and someone puttering in the kitchen as the scent of fresh coffee drifts through the space.
There’s no rush, no deadline—only the steady unfolding of your thoughts as you sink deeper into your creative process…
Soon it’s time to join Lauren for an in-depth discussion of your manuscript. Together you explore your questions, and with her guidance you uncover invaluable insights into what’s working, what needs refining, and where to steer your focus next...
You head out for a stroll on the beach to sink into your thoughts, letting the sound of the waves usher you closer to a profound understanding of what your work can truly be...
Bring Your Book was magical. It allowed me the space and time to go deep into my writing project. Lauren set the conditions for openness, vulnerability, and learning in a caring and trusting environment. I learned so much about how to write a story and create meaningful characters, and it felt amazing to share the writing process with other writers.
- Merissa King
you sit at the table, sharing a delicious meal with the other writers. Conversations drift between reflections on the day’s work and shared experiences of solitude and creative process.
There’s a sense of camaraderie, as though this place has drawn you together not just to write, but to connect, to find community. You feel an intense wave of gratitude...
Contented, you wander outside to watch the sun dipping into the lake in hues of amber and orange. For a moment you are held in the beauty... and then
a spark catches—a scene untangles, a line break falls perfectly into place, summoned by the conversation and then the stillness. You move quietly, drawn back to the page.
Because you want to.
Not out of pressure, but pull. Not discipline, but devotion. You are lit from within, amazed at how much can grow in concentrated time.
This retreat has shaped a vessel for your creativity—steady, spacious, and alive with possibility.
"I have been trying to pull this book together for years! This retreat gave me the time, space, encouragement and guidance to rearrange and rethink my work. I am on the road to completing this work that feels very important to me. Worth every penny!"
- Conni Cartlidge
You will feel fully a writer, deeply connected to your manuscript and able to confidently keep moving towards finishing your book.
You'll have obtained clear guidance to help you follow a path towards making your book what you want it to be (and what it wants to be!)
Your creative instincts will have grown, helping you power forward towards completion…
Your confidence will be bolstered, overpowering those lingering doubts that you can't do it.
And since no-one can create in solitude, you will have new writing friends with shared memories of working hard, enjoying optional creative outings, and finding camaraderie around the supper table!
If you are a writer who’s been struggling to complete your manuscript, isn't it time to invest in focused time and experience guidance to get you closer to fulfilling your dream of finishing your book!
Part writing coach, sounding board, and host extraordinaire, Lauren creates a warm and open space for both work and play! Had a fabulous five days!
-Jody Baltessen, Bring Your Book Spring 2025
Ready to enter creative flow and attend to your work in progress? Ready to set out on the next stage of your journey towards--finally!--finishing your book?
Who's to say what will happen if you give yourself--and your manuscript--the time, attention, focus, and professional feedback it needs to grow, get better, and get closer to being completed. This retreat could change your life!
Over these five days you will:
Receive specific, personalized, supportive feedback on your manuscript, helping you to deepen your work and move closer to completion.
Obtain editorial notes from Lauren about a large section of your manuscript.
Experience the unique inspiration that comes from immersing into your writing with other working writers, in a comfortable, safe private home on a street draped in wintry trees.
Make meaningful, focused progress on your book, with lots of writing time to integrate feedback from daily one-on-one consultations with Lauren.
Gain greater confidence in trusting your own creative instincts and a sense of accomplishment from prioritizing your writing in a nurturing environment.
Form a supportive writing community through casual gatherings and creative discussions that can continue beyond the retreat, offering ongoing encouragement and accountability as you complete your manuscript.
Leave the retreat with a roadmap for your next steps, a scheduled check-in, and the resource of the WGW Writers' Support Group so you won't be left on your own!
In late September, the east shore of Lake Manitoba offers warm afternoons that still invite a swim, cool evenings rich with the scent of leaves and lake air, and skies painted with astonishing sunsets!
A tranquil creative haven designed for depth, focus, and inspiration, Painted Sky Studio is the perfect place for stepping away from your everyday life and immersing yourself in your creative work.
The property rests at the water’s edge, with an easily accessible beach for contemplative walks. Inside the cabin, natural light pours through the many windows. There are plenty of spaces to settle in, breathe deeply, and focus on your work, from the cozy sunroom to the large second-floor yoga studio to your own private bedroom.
What awaits you at Painted Sky Studio:
A stunning lakeside setting where warm September days might still coax you in for a refreshing swim.
An infinity hot tub overlooking Lake Manitoba, perfect for easing muscles after a long writing session or for stargazing under crisp autumn skies.
A dedicated yoga studio with panoramic lake views, where you can stretch, unwind, and reconnect with your body. (Optional add-on yoga class available.)
A bright, peaceful creative space designed for artists—with ample room for spreading out pages or finding your own quiet space.
Your own private bedroom and communal gathering areas for mentorship meetings, readings, and end-of-day conversations with fellow writers.
Nourishing, home-cooked meals that meet all dietary requirements and are shared family style (unless you prefer to eat alone!)
Shoreline walks that invite reflection, letting your thoughts loosen and settle with each step.
At Painted Sky Studio, the world slows down just enough for you to hear yourself again. You’ll notice the soft lap of waves, the rustle of turning leaves, the distant call of sandhill cranes beginning their migration. This is the season of transition—and the perfect time to step into your next chapter.
This retreat is designed to give you focused time, expert guidance, and the kind of deep creative immersion that will significantly move your manuscript forward--one writer finished her book at our last Bring Your Book and it is now on submission to a publisher!
Here's what your investment includes:
A deep read of up to 20,000 words of your manuscript, your synopsis and elevator pitch
Substantive editorial notes to guide your revision process
A pre-retreat one-on-one session to clarify your goals and create a retreat work plan
A post-retreat one-on-one session to help you assess next steps and move forward with confidence
Daily check-ins during the retreat to keep your writing on track
The option to add on additional coaching sessions at a reduced rate to keep you focused when you go home
A pre-retreat group gathering to set intentions and meet your fellow writers
A post-retreat group gathering to reflect, share progress, and stay connected
Time to write together, talk creativity, and recharge in a supportive environment
Four nights in a comfortable private room at a peaceful venue
Four delicious catered dinners and nourishing lunches
Coffee and tea throughout
All the astounding sunsets you can soak up!
A specially chosen gift to support your creative process
A comfortable, easygoing atmosphere where you’re free to be yourself and tend to your own needs—whether that means taking a break, diving deep into writing, or simply resting
All venue and insurance fees
Planning, preparation, and full facilitation by a professional writer and coach
Everything handled—so you can focus on your work
Your Investment: $2499 CAD, including GST
This price reflects the full value of a deeply supported creative experience, including editorial mentorship and manuscript feedback, private accommodations, nourishing meals, facilitated community conversations, and the space and support you need to move your manuscript forward.
To keep the retreat experience focused and affordable, the following are not included in your retreat fee:
Travel to and from the retreat venue
Local transportation during the retreat (carpooling may be possible and can be coordinated)
Alcoholic beverages
Breakfast and snacks between meals (coffee and tea will be available)
Any additional meals out or personal excursions outside the retreat schedule
A re-reading of revised manuscript materials after the retreat (can be arranged at an additional rate if desired)
You are a writer with a draft of a manuscript you long to complete.
You are fully invested in finishing your book the best way you can.
You crave deeper education in aspects of writing craft.
You are open to suggestions to enrich and polish your work with the awareness that YOU are the expert of your own creative work.
It’s time to finally finish your book!
You’re a good listener who’s okay with being vulnerable about your process.
You secretly think you might be a genius. 🙂
You’re both excited and nervous about this trip!
You don’t want to work hard and focus deeply on your creative work.
You aren’t willing to have surprising epiphanies about your book.
You are attached to what your book is right now and don’t want it to change.
You tend to get defensive when talking about your work.
You are looking for a few days of rest rather than focused creative work (nothing wrong with that but this isn't the retreat for you!)
You try to help everyone else make their books better instead of yours
You just want someone to hook you up with an agent or get you published.
Not sure? Want to talk about it? Email lauren@wildgroundwriting.com to book a chat to talk about whether this retreat will meet your needs!
I am a writer who intimately knows the frustration of wanting to finish a manuscript in the face of uncertainty about how to improve it and too many distractions. That's why I regularly go on retreat, either alone or with other artists, to focus and prioritize my creative work. Finding ways to slow down in order to deeply attend to our creative projects is essential! As the author Junot Diaz says, “The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.”
I have been listening to the art for my whole life. I’m the author of two poetry collections, a collection of short story, and two—soon to be three—novels. My last novel, This Has Nothing To Do With You, won the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction, and I was also named Manitoba’s Most Promising Writer In 2020. Places Like These, my spring 2023 short story collection, was a recommended read in the Globe and Mail and a finalist for the 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Represented by Transatlantic Agency, my next novel The Longest Night will be out in September 2025.
I also have an MFA in Creative Writing and am certified in Teaching and Training Adults and in the Amherst Writers Workshop Method which posits "a writer is someone who writes."
Writers I’ve worked with have obtained agents, signed publishing contracts, won or been shortlisted for awards, and learned how to manage anxiety and settle more deeply into their work. I hope that you will join me for Bring Your Book so I can help you immerse into your work, understand what it needs, and make progress towards its completion within the inspiring circle of a group of working writers.
Find out more about my books and creative career with a visit to my website.
Settle into your private room at our lakeside accommodations before we gather for dinner. After eating, we'll get to know each other, clarify our intentions, and create personal schedules that include your daily meetings with Lauren.
Work independently on your project in between connecting with Lauren for daily meetings (and you can always grab me with any burning questions as I am around!).
Join the group for collective mealtimes at lunch and dinner and conversation about your day's work, the creative process, and more!
Ease your mind and stretch your body with yoga in the yoga studio (one class is available as an add on!), walks on the beach, swims in the infinity pool or (if the weather cooperates) dips in Lake Manitoba.
Share a sample of your work as we gather for storytelling around a lakeside fire under the full moon.
After a busy morning of last words and final meetings as well as connection over lunch, we'll say goodbye to one another and the lake!
Q: What do you mean by "manuscript draft"?
By "draft of a manuscript," I mean a long-form project that's complete in structure. For a novel or memoir, you should have a rough sense of a beginning, middle, and end. For a poetry collection, around 40+ poems that feel somewhat cohesive. For a story collection, seven or more finished stories. It does not need to be polished as this retreat is all about revision, understanding your work more deeply, and getting on a clear path towards finishing.
Q: What does your feedback and coaching involve?
This retreat includes support before, during, and after our time together. You'll send me up to 20,000 words plus a synopsis and pitch (guidance will be given!), and I’ll email notes ahead of a pre-retreat Zoom to help you shape your work plan.
During the retreat, we’ll meet one-on-one each day, with additional group discussions in both structured and casual formats.
Afterwards, we’ll connect again to outline next steps, and extra sessions can be added on at a additional fee.
Q: Do you have a payment plan or any advice on how to pay?
Past participants say this retreat is worth every penny for the feedback and progress they made.
That said, retreats are an investment—especially one this comprehensive! Once you’ve decided it’s the right fit, here are a few flexible payment options:
After your deposit, pay what you can, when you can—chip away at the fee on your own schedule.
Set up a fundraising page through WeTravel to gather support (great for gift lists!). Find out how here.
If you qualify, apply for a professional development grant through your local or provincial arts council—like the Manitoba Arts Council.
Q: I have dietary restrictions. Can I come?
Yes! I am gluten-free and leaning into veganism, so I get it! We will accommodate all dietary needs with delicious options; let me know your specifics on the form when you register.
Q: What's your cancellation policy?
Great question! We all know life can, um, happen despite our best laid plans! Your deposit and any payments are refundable until June 15th should you change your mind. You will also be able to review the cancellation and other policies during the registration process.
More questions? Send me an email at lauren@wildgroundwriting.com so that we can arrange a chat to see if this is the right retreat for you and your work!
Wild Ground Writing Retreats offers transformative retreats in inspiring and unique locations. We provide supportive instruction, dedicated writing time, and vibrant community to nurture both your writing and your creative spirit.
Website: https://wildgroundwriting.com/
Email: lauren@wildgroundwriting.com
Phone: 1 2049780272