Writing Retreat
Are you looking for time to devote to your writing? Interested in building community with other writers Curious about the creative energy and inspiration to be found in Detroit?
Then this retreat is for you!
Join award-winning author and writing coach Lynne Golodner April 30-May 2, 2027 for an interactive writers retreat in Detroit.
Our third annual retreat will use nature as inspiration! Writers will spend time outdoors in unique Detroit spaces and learn how to weave nature into writing to enhance their storytelling. We’ll meander through iconic Detroit landscapes and taste some of the best flavors the Motor City has to offer.
This generative retreat is open to writers of all genres and experience levels. Coach Lynne Golodner offers focused instruction — with readings, writing prompts and writing time — in a supportive environment. Morning writing sessions will tentatively be held at the Wayne State University Press and/or Michigan Central Station. We’ll then venture on excursions throughout the city, weather permitting.
The retreat includes a welcome happy hour, two breakfasts and two lunches. Participants will receive writing materials and DWR swag, including a purple journal, pen, drawstring backpack and reusable water bottle.
The retreat begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 30 and concludes at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 2. Attendees are invited to an optional happy hour with DWR coaches on Sunday.
Note: We pack a lot into our time together, which means this retreat does not offer multi-hour writing blocks for freewriting during the day. Participants are encouraged to reserve their evenings for uninterrupted writing time.
Accommodations and transportation to Detroit are on your own. Our recommended hotel for guests will be announced soon!
Photos feature the 2025 and 2026 Detroit Writing Retreats.
Retreat Fees:
Tuition is $997.
Writing Room members and Lynne’s students receive 10% off.
Space is limited to 15 people. Tuition is nonrefundable.
How to Apply:
To apply for this retreat, fill out the form below. Include a writing sample of no more than 500 words, along with an explanation about why you would be an ideal participant for this retreat.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2027.
ABOUT LYNNE GOLODNER:
A former journalist and marketing expert, Lynne Golodner is the award-winning Detroit-based author of 12 books. With a degree from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Poetry from Goddard College, Lynne has taught writing and led retreats for more than 20 years. She lives with her archivist husband and a rotating roster of her four young adult children. Learn more at lynnegolodner.com.
Thank you to our sponsor
Wayne State University Press
What Writers Thought of Past Retreats
