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We’re FULL!

Unblocked: Fall in Love With Writing Again 

Check out our next Santa Fe Writing Retreat:

Sept. 24-27, 2026

Replenish Santa Fe Writing Retreat

April 30-May 3, 2026
with Jane Thatcher and Joy Sawyer

Our spring retreat is FULL!

Watch here for information

on our fall Santa Fe retreat

September 24-27, 2026.

The “Unblocked: Fall in Love with Writing Again” retreat is designed to help you find greater joy, freedom, skill, and purpose for your writing.

Through a combination of hands-on writing prompts, creative exercises, art-inspired activities, stimulating discussions, and spacious time to write, write, write. . .you might fall just fall in love with your writing again!

As part of our creative weekend, you’ll receive personalized, one-on-one coaching with Joy and Jane.

You’ll also have plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous sunsets and desert beauty, delicious Mexican food, one-of-a-kind shopping, a visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe museum. You’ll leave our time refreshed, invigorated, and…replenished.

We’'ll meet in a charming Santa Fe-style house, a 10-minute walk to the Square. Find a place in Santa Fe to stay that fits your budget and sparks your inner creativity, and we’ll provide the rest!

Our spring Santa Fe retreat

is FULL!

Watch here for info

about our fall retreat

Sept. 24-27, 2026

Retreat Schedule

  • 6 pm: Wine & Cheese meet and greet

    • Prime your inner writer for a weekend of creative inspiration and get to know your writing tribe!

    • We'll also have a sign-up sheet for 20-min coaching sessions to be held throughout the weekend

  • .‍ 9:30 am-12 pm: Unblocked: Play and Risk Workshop

    The power of flow, risk, and play for the writer

    . 12 pm-1 pm: Lunch (on your own)

    . 1 pm: OPTIONAL Continued Art-Play Workshop with Jane

    Explore other creative mediums to enrich and deepen your storytelling

    . 1 pm-5 pm: Writer’s Choice

    Contined writing time, hiking, shopping, museum-hopping…or maybe even a nap!

    . 5:30 pm: OPTIONAL dinner together in Santa Fe

    . 7:30-9 pm: Evening Writing Time

    Creative space to both write and share your work with others

    ‍ ‍

  • 9:30 am-12 pm: Unblocked: The Joy of Creative Self-Discovery

    . Unlock your creative voice and fall in love with storytelling again

    12-1 pm: Lunch (on your own)

    1-5 pm: Writer’s Choice

    . Shopping? Museums? Strolling? Writing? Ahhhh….

    6 pm Dinner, poetry reading, and music performance provided by Joy & Jane

  • 9:30-12 pm: Unblocked: Creative Juice for the Writing Journey

    Brainstorm on how to develop a consistent creative practice, grow in your skills as a writer, begin and finish your projects—and sharing your work with the world.

    Leave refreshed and inspired for the writing journey ahead!

  • Cost

    EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $599

    AFTER MARCH 1: $649

  • ​Cancellation policy

    Before March 15: 100% refund

    Before April 10: 50% refund

    After April 10: no refund

  • Places to Stay

    There are loads of wonderful hotels, motels, Airbnbs, and VRBOs in Santa Fe!

QUESTIONS? REACH OUT!

  • Joy’s “Writing from the Soul” retreat was a truly profound and unexpected gift. She cultivates an environment that encourages genuine inquiry and thoughtful exploration, all while guiding you forward in your writing process. She is a rare and remarkable soul.

    BECKY HENSLEY

  • If you are looking for renewed energy for your creative project, you are certain to find it by spending a weekend retreat with Joy! I’ve found new ideas, inspiration, and passion for my writing in many of Joy’s retreats, and I always walk away with both new vision and immense gratitude.

    OLIVIA SIMON

  • Joy guided us through a schedule filled with energizing activities and thoughtful conversation. My writing skills improved that weekend, because Joy always shines a light on what’s working in my pieces, and gives me useful guidance about craft. As a result of the retreat, I found the motivation and courage to keep moving forward on my creative journey.

    MAGGIE MILLER

  • I’m not a writer but I thoroughly enjoyed this retreat. I found that by exploring a different art form, it helped with creativity in other areas of life. I came away feeling grounded, open, and refreshed from having met such wonderful women, and from exploring parts of myself I tend to ignore in the rush of daily life. I would encourage others to allow themselves to experience these retreats as well.

    ROXANN LLOYD

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