Name: Wellspring Fall 2026 Literary Retreat: Equestrian Estate
Start: 2026-09-24
End: 2026-09-27
Location: Seven Oaks Farm, Dickerson, MD, 20842

Wellspring Writing Collective

Email address verified

7 reviews

Sep 24 - 27, 2026

Group size: 5 - 7

Wellspring Fall 2026 Literary Retreat: Equestrian Estate

Seven Oaks Farm, Dickerson, MD, 20842

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Wellspring Writing Collective

Email address verified

7 reviews

$NaN

Sep 24 - 27, 2026

Group size: 5 - 7

Lodging for 3 Nights
Private room; Private Bath
Breakfast (3 Mornings)
Continental style--quiche, yogurt, fruit, pastry, etc.
Two lunches
Veg and nonveg options
Thurs. and Sat. Dinner
Catered or Created by Cindy: Vegetarian and Nonvegetarian options
Coffee/Tea
All weekend long--Keurig and drip coffee; a variety of teas, sweeteners, and creamer.
Community Writing
Community Writing Sessions kick off each day to get you in the frame of mind to create, generate, then revise. All genres and levels of writing welcome.
Individual Writing Space
Hours of Individual Writing Time each day. Serene areas exist both indoors and out.

45-Minute Editor Session

$55

Available until August 25, 20267 left

Full Manuscript Review

$550

4 left

Deposit: $0

Poetry Chapbook or Book Edit

$350

6 left

Deposit: $0

Cindy's: Wild Woman: Memoir in Pieces

$15

Bring a Writing Roommate

$500

Available until September 17, 20264 left

Deposit: $100

Day 1: Thursday Evening
Day 1: Thursday Evening
Arrival and Introductions
Arrive between 4:00 and 5:30; Settle in and get your bearings (perhaps take a few minutes to reflect on your surroundings in your journal.)
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome Dinner (provided)
Meet the other attendees.
Enjoy a welcome dinner while getting to know one another.
Participants receive a welcome package, including a schedule and writing resources.
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Opening Session - Setting Goals and Accountability
Introduction to the retreat's goals and schedule.
Set personal intentions for the retreat.
Setting realistic and attainable writing goals.
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. a time to socialize or write on your own (or sleep or eat etc.)
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Day 2: Friday
Day 2: Friday
Write, Plan, Engage!
Sunrise to 10:00 AM: Breakfast and Time On Your Own
Eat breakfast on your own (or make a plan to join others.)
Quiet, uninterrupted time for personal writing, walking by the water, meditation, or whatever wakes you up in the mornings!
Explore the optional writing prompts in your welcome packet for inspiration.
10:00 AM - NOON: Community Writing
Discover new writing strategies/techniques. Depending on the weather, we may choose to write outside.
Share any thoughts from the night before or the morning.
Prompts and Strengths-Based Feedback by Cindy
Each participant sets daily writing goals.
Noon-6:00 :

Lunch (Provided)

Individual Time--Write, Read, Walk, Write, Daydream, Nap, Write

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM: One-on-One Coaching/Manuscript Reviews
Pre-scheduled private sessions with Cindy for personalized writing advice.
Feedback and guidance on writing challenges.
Make a plan for moving forward.
6:30 Dinner at local restaurant. (To be determined as we get closer to the date.)

8:30-10:00 PM: Evening Share
Bring something to read and share.
Share your original work or a (short) piece of literature that inspires you.
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Day 3: Saturday
Day 3: Saturday
Diving Deep
Sunrise to 10:00 AM: Breakfast and Morning Time On Your Own
Eat breakfast on your own (or make a plan to join others.)
Quiet, uninterrupted time for personal writing.
Write outside or in the home.
Take an early walk.
Explore writing prompts in your welcome packet for inspiration.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Writing for Inspiration
Writing in community to short prompts intended to focus your day's work.
Strengths-based feedback by Cindy.
Set Daily Goals.
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Break for lunch
Writing, napping, walking, etc. on your own.
Prescheduled meeting with Cindy.
5:15 - 7:15 Writing Prompts as a group.
7:30 Dinner (provided)

8:30 PM - 10:00-ish PM: Open Share
Share your work or favorite, short published pieces during this informal and supportive session.
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Day 4: Sunday
Day 4: Sunday
Closure

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast on your own. Pack up for checkout.

8:15-9:30 CLOSING SESSION -- Final community write.

CHECK OUT IS 10:00 AM

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Day 1: Thursday Evening

Arrival and Introductions

Wellspring Writing Collective

7 reviews

Cindy is a writing coach, retreat leader, and author of memoir and poetry. In her studies of Psychology (BA), creative writing (MFA), and literature (PhD), she explored myriad ways that writing can rejuvenate a person’s core identity. She realized that the only narrative about our life that matters is our own. She loves nothing more than bringing a diverse group together to share stories of joy, sorrow, loss, celebration, and life in all of its glorious chaos.

Tasty food, met nice folks, it was freezing cold outside but I was warm the entire trip. Oh, and we wrote things. Thank you!

By Susan S for Writers at the Beach Winter 2026 on Feb 17, 2026

I absolutely loved the serene retreat with Wellspring. Cindy if a gifted curator of insightful experiences designed to lift up writers of all sorts. We loved the beautiful house, the delicious, and the stimulating workshops - still with ample time to recharge and work on our writing individually. I’m always at my best at these retreats!

By Lisa L for Outer Banks: Writers at the Beach Winter 2025 on Mar 11, 2025

A Writer’s Retreat. I was there to work on my book. It seems that most of the people were writing whatever they wrote while they were there, but Cindy and her excepting attitude made it possible for everybody to do what they wanted even if it was different from the other people. I would’ve liked to participated with Cindy’s activities, but I had a goal in mind and I wanted to stick to it.

By Donna C for Seaside Retreat: Writers at the Beach Fall 2024 on Nov 20, 2024

I got so much writing done at the retreat! Surrounded by the beautiful ocean view, a personal chef, fellow writers, and plenty of writing tables/rooms/nooks, I made tremendous progress toward completing my manuscript!

By Pat M for Seaside Retreat: Writers at the Beach Fall 2024 on Nov 13, 2024

Porches is my favorite place to be and being there for this retreat was wonderful. Good group of writers. Cindy is a fantastic instructor and facilitator.