A Writing Retreat With Me
Finally, the details have been settled.
The one-day Writing Retreat will take place on September 7, a Saturday, at the Zuma Orchid Ranch in Malibu, California.
Here’s the link for details and to sign up for the Wait List: www.silentwritingretreat.com
The subject matter will NOT be the craft of writing. I won’t be talking about structure or characterization or anything like that.
The day will be about the mindset that the writer/artist/entrepreneur needs to start and finish a project like a novel, a long-form nonfiction piece, a memoir, a biography, or any kind of album/game/startup that may take a year or two years … and that will have to be accomplished essentially ALONE, i.e. without an external supporting structure like a school, a corporation, or a community.
In other words: How do you go into a room all by yourself, with just a laptop, and face down your demons day after day after day until you have brought the project to its successful completion?
This will be a serious, hard-core, tough-love day. Don’t sign up if you’re just sightseeing. You’ll be wasting your money.
Come for real.
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
This is awesome, I’m already jealous of those who sign up. Please do share details if you decide to take these workshops online, I would love to join from afar (I live is Wales, UK). Keep being brilliant 🙂
I agree with Sheree. An online version would be possible and awesome for those of us unable to make a flight.
I, too, would love an online version. Thanks!
Yes, I agree, an online version would be fantastic for those of us who live very far away and won’t be able to make the trip.
LOVE this Offer so much!!! I’m Not a writer but I relate and identify so much with the concept of resistance so I’ve been following you now for about a year and I love your material. Thank you so much for helping me not feel like such a total weirdo by the struggles I have with focusing and getting shit done. So I too am so jealous of the folks who will be able to take advantage of this rare and wonderful opportunity. Best to you with this endeavor. 🙏🏼🫠
Count me in for an online experience too!…I’m In Australia : )
Thank you for that dear Steve.
I envy those who will join you two.
My book took 6 years to end, still on the finish line, but what is true for 1 or 2 years will be equally true for 6 or 10 years.
The chair is the greatest weapon against the Resistance.
Sounds like an oustanding opportunity. I would be there but I am alone in a room completing three projects: A screenplay, a nonfiction book and a short story. Best wishes for all who attend.
Signed up. Await the email with baited breath. Salty (tough love) plums are dancing.
hi Marla I have also signed up and have not received the follow up details. Have you?
Count me in!
So excited for this!!!
Hey Mr Pressfield! I’m curious, why non fiction forms? What about the fictional ones? Thank you so much!
Those are certainly included too 🙂
I signed up 🙂 I’m hoping it’s within my budget and abilities to make it. I just think it’s so cool you’re doing this Steve!! Mindset is everything. Perhaps it’s my childhood competitive gymnastics brain, but viewing the creation to completion process is like a sport. An athlete must train, focus, believe in themselves, condition to build strength, practice every single day, and make sacrifices. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it writers?
I’m ready to breathe spell. Online/Zoom would surely help me,and,it seems,many others.
Thank you
Bill
Hey Steven, I love your books and live in the world of entrepreneurship. On Wednesday’s I look forward to your emails but WISH you would consider adding in your emails a link to listen to an audio version of your email. You could host the recordings at your website or some other platform but I’ve gotten so use to listening to your audiobooks that I want to hear your emails read by you. Please consider. Thanks for your continued inspiration to creative people everywhere.
Reading Govt Cheese nudged me to finish Managing Priorities. I’m grateful for you, your writing, and even the remote opportunity to join you in a writing retreat as I continue my journey as an artist.
Ahh, I wish I could attend.
You taking a day trip to our favorite roman villa?
Já estou vibrando por um próximo retiro! Boa sorte para vocês todos.
Abraços
(I’m already excited for the next retreat! Good luck to you all.
Hugs)
Ooh, any chance to zoom in fir this retreat? If not feasible for the first session, please consider for the future. Thanks from a Hilford, NH admirer.
Ah, but the price isn’t mentioned. If nothing else, Steven knows how to market! I assume the price will be set when the equilibrium of supply and demand is analyzed – how many people sign up for a wait list. But bummer, I wish it were an honest price and a first-come-first served opportunity, instead of having (I assume) price be the determinant of attendance. Though it may be “worth” thousands, some of us just can’t cut that plus the travel to Malibu. Hey, why not have it in Kansas? Oh well…
A “year or two years”? By the time I’m finished writing my play, it will have been three years. All without being paid a cent. All without any guarantee that the play will ever be produced. What drives me? The knowledge that I have to get this out of me. All I’ve ever wanted is to make movies and plays. Writing this play (and others that follow) I can die a happy man.
Wow, the very idea of sitting in the Californian sun, bathing in your wisdom and surrounded by the like minded sounds just, well, heavenly. Unfortunately, I am cowering from the Irish ‘summer’ rain (it never seems to stop!). Hunched over a laptop, painfully dragging myself through the marking of countless student assignments that read like; I don’t care what you told me to write in class, I’m going to send you this shit instead and expect you to read every carless word. But for one brief moment, when I allowed myself my umpteenth distraction, I was with you guys, drinking in every bit of warmth and word. So thank you (Steve) for that. And may I wish you all every success on the day. I hope it’s as sunny and heavenly as my little dream foresees.