Writing Retreat

Writing Masterclasses with Jonas Saul

Calling all storytellers! 🖋️✨ Unplug from the ordinary and plug into inspiration at our upcoming writing retreats. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, surround yourself with fellow writers, and let the creative energy flow. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting your literary journey, join us for a week of words, wisdom, and wonderful connections. Let’s turn the blank page into a canvas of endless possibilities! 🌿📖

Dates: May 12 – 18, 2025
Location: Amorgos, Greece

Writing Retreat Amorgos

This week-long masterclass with bestselling author Jonas Saul offers deep dives into writing techniques, with personalized feedback to sharpen your craft. Amorgos’ breathtaking landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for creative inspiration, with enriching excursions to explore the island’s unique history and beauty.

Excursions Included:
– Village Tour: Chora: The ancient village of Chora is a magnificent sight to see, with its historic windmills still adorning the hillside.
– Visit to the Monastery: Explore the 11th-century Monastery of Hozoviotissa, a true wonder nestled in the cliffs.
– Village Hike: Enjoy a picturesque hike from the village of Tholaria across a mountain path to the neighboring village of Lagada, offering stunning views and a tranquil atmosphere.

Writing Retreat in Tolo, Greece – Seven Nights!
Dates: September 20 – 27, 2025
Location: Tolo, Greece

Writing Retreat

Set in the picturesque coastal village of Tolo, this seven-night writing retreat offers the same enriching content, including workshops on pacing, character motivation, self-editing, and more. Unwind and reflect while enjoying fascinating excursions that enrich your cultural experience.

Excursions Included:

– Island Tour Day (Hydra and Spetses): Explore the car-free island of Hydra, a throwback to old-world Greece, and continue to the island of Spetses for a day of relaxation and exploration. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the retreat’s lessons and mentally prepare for the days ahead.
– Epidavros Tour: Discover the ancient site of Epidavros, famous for its stunning theater and historical significance, providing a deeper connection to Greece’s cultural heritage.

Topics Covered in Both Retreats:

– The novel idea
– Outlining vs. discovery writing
– Motivation techniques
– Show, don’t tell: with practical examples
– Active voice: tips and tricks
– Style: Cadence, flow, and pace
– Character motivation and scene purpose
– Writing to engage readers psychologically
– Self-editing and tightening your manuscript
– Adding tension and emotion to the page
– Publishing: traditional vs. self-publishing
– Promotion strategies, including social media with Rania Stone

Plus, after the retreat, you’ll receive ongoing support through video calls and promotional opportunities for your books across our 50,000+ social media followers.

Guest Author Jonas Saul:

Jonas Saul is the bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series—more than two million sold!—and has written and published over sixty thrillers. After acquiring an agent, he signed several deals in Los Angeles, with MadRiver Pictures optioning his Sarah Roberts Series—over forty books!—(currently in development).

Jonas has often outranked Stephen King and Dean Koontz on Amazon over the past decade. He’s regularly invited to be a guest speaker, teacher, or workshop presenter at international writing conferences and film festivals worldwide.

He hosts multiple annual retreats in Greece, where he currently lives. He focuses his teaching on how to get tension and emotion in every scene and on every page, how he made it as a creator/writer, the path to success in this business, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Jonas Saul is an acclaimed author, teacher, and professional freelance editor. He lends his editing prowess to several publishers and offers private editing services to clients. His website, www.imaginepress.org, is a testament to his editing skills, featuring numerous testimonials from satisfied authors. Jonas is an email away for those needing professional editing.

Guest Author Dwayne Clayden:

Dwayne Clayden is a bestselling author of crime thrillers and police procedural novels and has served 42 years as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair in Alberta, Canada.

He has been recognized for his outstanding service with prestigious awards, including the Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, the Exemplary Service Medal from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Long Service Medal from the City of Calgary, and the Award of Excellence from the Alberta Paramedics Association.

👥 Don’t miss out on exclusive member benefits! Join our Facebook group, “Travel to Greece – Read, Write, and Holistic Adventures,” to connect with fellow adventurers and stay updated about special discounts on select hotels/restaurants before and after the retreat. Also don’t forget to like our Facebook page for all our future retreats.

Past Retreats

Writing Retreat 15-21 September 2024

Featuring Chris ( C.C) Humphreys

with guest speakers Jonas Saul and Dwayne Clayden

📚✨ “Calling all storytellers! 🖋️✨ Unplug from the ordinary and plug into inspiration at our upcoming writing retreat. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, surround yourself with fellow writers, and let the creative energy flow. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting your literary journey, join us for a weekend of words, wisdom, and wonderful connections. Let’s turn the blank page into a canvas of endless possibilities! 🌿📖

Chris ( C.C) Humphreys at our writing retreat

An award-winning novelist, playwright, actor, and teacher, Chris Humphreys has written 22 novels, including The French Executioner – runner-up for the Steel Dagger for Thrillers, UK – The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad–The Last Confession, and A Place Called Armageddon. Chris adapted his 12th novel, Shakespeare’s Rebel, for the stage, and it received its premiere in 2015 at Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, Canada. His novel Plague won Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015. Chasing the Wind follows the daring adventures of 1930s aviatrix Roxy Loewen. His modern crime novel, One London Day, was published in 2021. He recently completed his epic fantasy series for Gollancz, Immortals’ Blood, beginning with Smoke on the Glass. His novels for young adult readers include The Runestone Saga Trilogy, published by Knopf, and The Tapestry Trilogy.

His latest novel is Someday I’ll Find You, a WWII epic romance. Doubleday Canada published it on June 6th, 2023, and worldwide on September 5th, 2023. His novels have been translated into thirteen languages. He holds a Master in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of British Columbia. He has been a keynote speaker and Guest of Honor at several conferences – including the HNS North American Conference in Denver in 2015. A busy audiobook narrator as an actor, Chris has performed on stages from London’s West End to Hollywood.

Let’s go!

We will have an amazing, fun-packed week for everyone joining us—you won’t want to leave! Added details are listed below for travel to and from the island and general retreat information.

Before traveling to Greece:

We ask that you arrive in Athens a few days before the 15th of September to acclimate to the time difference and deal with jet lag. If
a large portion of the group has arrived two days early or more, we will schedule a dinner in Athens and perhaps a tour of the Acropolis
(not included in the island retreat fee).
On the day we travel to the island by Blue Star Ferries, Jonas and Dwayne will meet everyone at the docks in Piraeus, the port in
Athens, with their boat tickets in hand. The boat ride on the Aegean Sea to the island of Amorgos is approximately eight hours.
Upon arrival, the hotel will supply a bus to take us to the hotel, where our rooms will be waiting for us. Upon arrival at the island’s retreat, a gift bag will be waiting for everyone.

The Retreat Week Summary:

Each morning, we meet for a buffet breakfast between 08:00 – 08:30,and our morning session begins at 09:30, running to 12:30, with a
coffee break in between. These sessions are detailed below. The afternoons are yours to write, edit, walk the beach, swim, hike from
one village to another, or take a nap—whatever you like. We meet for dinner in the early evening by 8:00 p.m. and then spend
the evening chatting about writing. We’ll have readings, critiques, and motivational stories of successes and how to manage that in your own
career.

Day One – Sept 15

Arrival Day: relax and settle in and get ready for an amazing week!

Upon your arrival to Amorgos, a hotel van (or bus) will be waiting to transfer you to the Lakki Village Hotel, where you can check in, rest, swim, or read.

Day Two – Sept 16

Introductions and Discussions

During this first morning session, everyone will introduce themselves and discuss what we’re writing and what we’re looking for from the retreat. The guest authors will talk about the industry and offer clarity on direction. We break for lunch and plan a few hour-long one-on-one sessions, sometime throughout the day, to discuss your career and what you want to do with your writing.

Day Three – Sept 17

The Mountain: Beginning The Novel and Finishing It!

Description: Award winning historical, crime and fantasy novelist, Chris (CC) Humphreys will reveal his secret of successful writing. Chris will break the writing journey into stages and guide students through each stage of the writer’s journey using a blend of anecdotal examples and writing exercises.

Day Four – Sept 18

Revealing the Emotional Quotient

The discipline of creating the novel, how much emotion should be on the page, and how to place the tension in the right spots to keep readers turning the pages. On this day, we will discuss setting up the book to be psychologically pleasing to the reader, which will leave them with the emotional experience readers read for! Reading is an emotional journey, so make them feel it, and they’ll love you for it and tell all their friends about you (your book).

Day Five – Sept 19

Write the Good Fight – The Sex Scene

Writing a good fight scene entertains while advancing the plot and revealing the character. How characters fight can reveal as much about them as how they make love. A chance to delve into the dark side. To broaden and deepen? Fight and sex scenes are a huge opportunity for any writer to confirm a suspicion or to startle with a revelation. A “character in peril” keeps the pages turning.

Day Six – Sept 20

Promote without yelling, “Buy my book!”

Today we will discuss promotion outside social media. Once you’ve written your breakout novel and you’re looking for sales, we’ll supply you with tricks and tips that’ll help with promotion. Mr. Humpheys and Jonas Saul will demonstrate through proven results how to get your work in front of readers.

After Retreat – Sept 21

Heading Home – Checking Out

The hotel will provide transportation to the port to get you on the ferry, which will take everyone back to Athens (or to other islands if you want to keep touring Greece!). Once on the boat, you can continue to other European cities, keep touring, or stay in Athens longer.

If you’re leaving for home immediately, please consider that the boat ride back to Athens is approximately eight hours. Be sure to give yourself an extra day before flying out to ensure you arrive on time for your flight.

Visit WETRAVEL for fees and payment plans here: Writing Retreat

Book your spot!