Woven: A Story Retreat in Ireland
People ask me all the time if Woven is a retreat just for novel writers.
Heavens, no!
So let’s talk about this remarkable week in Ireland…
Who it’s for
This isn’t a publishing bootcamp. You won’t leave with a query letter or a social media plan. Woven is for seekers, for creative hearts, for anyone standing at the edge of something new and thinking: maybe now’s the time.
It’s for you if:
You’ve got “write a book” or “collect Grandma’s recipes” sitting on your list without a date next to it.
You’re in a big transition and the newness feels both exciting and nerve-wracking.
You’ve always wanted to write but life (and laundry) keep getting in the way.
Published authors are welcome, absolutely! But so are absolute beginners, lapsed writers, and the simply curious.
What we’ll do
Yes, we’ll write. But more than that, this is a story-finding retreat. You don’t have to arrive with an idea in hand, just an openness to discover (or re-discover) the stories you already carry.
Here’s our rhythm:
Mornings: Using the Tiny Stories Method, we’ll draft 10–15 seeds of story each day. We’ll talk with our author-in-residence, Bren McClain, and play with words until lunch.
Afternoons: Time to hike, wander the seaside town, write, or take a little nap. Then we’ll gather for teatime inspiration: maybe a musician, maybe an artist, maybe a storyteller with a tale you’ll never forget.
Evenings: Five-course dinners in the castle restaurant, followed by Irish craic: songs, a turf fire, or pints in the castle pub.
Next morning: Gentle movement, breakfast, and back to the page.
It’s less “conference” and more “creative refueling station.” A week to open a new chapter and make new friends who are also beginning again.
The details
📍 Clifden, Ireland — Abbeyglen Castle Hotel
📅 October 19–24, 2025
Castle stay: 8 spots (lodging + two meals per day included)
Day passes: 5 available for those who prefer to stay in town and join us each morning.
Why now
Stories don’t wait for the perfect time. They wait for us to pause long enough to listen. This retreat is that pause.
But don’t pause on reserving your spot!
Learn about all the details here!
