Because my husband and I are moving to Costa Rica at the end of the year (!!!), there will not be a writing retreat in 2025. Please join the waitlist (button at bottom of the page) if you are interested in receiving information about any upcoming writing retreats in Oregon or Costa Rica.

Tipi Village Retreat Center is a unique resort with meadow, forest, and river areas. It’s very special to me because I was married here, and people come from all over the world to relax in this beautiful, welcoming, natural space. Tipi Village is glamping at its most luxurious, with cozy bedding, gourmet meals, and gorgeous scenery.

You’ll love it.

Your all-inclusive Writer Craft registration fee includes…

• All lodging

• All meals

• Writing instruction

• Inspiration

• Community

• Retreat space…

PLUS TWO 30-minute free writing strategy/coaching sessions (before and after the retreat), and optional yoga instruction from the venue host, Janet (suggested $10 donation per class).

Day Passes include:

• All scheduled events throughout the day — workshops, open mics, scene analysis circle, etc. (See the agenda below for the day you are interested in attending. )

• Lunch

• Beautiful retreat space from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Community

• Inspiration

(Day Passes do not include lodging, breakfast, or dinner.)

DATES & LOCATION: Marcola, Oregon—along the MccKenzie River.

“I have attended writers retreats at Tipi Village for five years now, and each year I fall more in love with the setting and the experience. Sometimes I write beside Mill Creek, sometimes on a picnic table off in the native forest. I always bring too much to work on and too much to read, but I love recreating my writing life out there, and I always get work done. Of course, I enjoy the visits with other writers too, over meals and around the fire at night. I don’t get nearly enough quiet time and space for writing IRL, and this is as lovely a writing retreat as I could possibly create for myself if I waved a magic wand. And I don’t have to cook! The food is delicious, healthy and plentiful. The accommodations are the perfect mix of rustic-cozy and tastefully appointed, and I’ve stayed in nearly every space they offer. We had no problem being safely socially distanced in 2020 while still enjoying our communal time with each other. I cherish returning every year.”

Jenny Root, poet, Eugene

AGENDA (from 2024):

Thursday,

• 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Check-in (don’t forget to pick up your swag!)

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

Friday,

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table.

• 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Breakfast Workshop: Transforming Your Limiting Beliefs and Fears to Address Writers Block

  • Writers block often is a product of mindset. Fears that it won’t be good enough, that writing is too hard, uncertainty about word choice, character development and motivation, etc. We’ll examine beliefs and fears by writing them down, reframing them (both with words and perspective), and creating an affirmation to use during the retreat and when you get home to protect your heart, your progress, and your motivation.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 1:30 p.m. Luncheon

• 2:15 p.m. Optional Scene Analysis Circle (bring 14 copies of a scene you’ve written, double-spaced, that you’d like feedback on)

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

• Optional fire and wine

Saturday,

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table.

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.Breakfast Workshop: Aligned Action in Your Business and Marketing

  • Using a coaching technique called the Wheel of Life, we’ll examine our values and prioritize them. We’ll look for any surprises, and then talk about how can you use your value list to create your perfect-for-you marketing plan.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Luncheon Workshop: Using Imagery in Creative Nonfiction

  • Telling a compelling story isn’t just about relaying facts—it's about immersing your audience in a rich tapestry of sensations, evoking emotions that resonate deep within. We'll delve into the nuances of each sense, learning to harness their potential in order to craft deeply evocative narratives.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• 5:30 p.m. Open Mic (Optional): Bring up to five minutes worth of your work for reading aloud in a supportive and non-critiquing space.

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner

• Optional fire and wine

Sunday,

• 8:00 a.m. Optional yoga, beginning with a meditative forest walk ($10 per person, per class), or silent writing at the River Table

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Breakfast Workshop: Character Lab

  • Arguably, characterization is a vital part of your manuscript. If a reader can’t resonate with, believe in, or root for the protagonist, they won’t continue reading. So, who is your character and what do they want? I’ve got some super fun techniques to dive deeper into your character’s backstory and motivation.

• Retreat/writing/nature/rest

• Check-out 1:00 p.m.(ish)

Valerie Ihsan, Transformative Accountability Coach, writes memoirs, women’s fiction, and nonfiction for writers. She co-chaired the Eugene Chapter of Willamette Writers for over eight years, diagnoses manuscripts as a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and helps authors write memoirs. She podcasts at the Writer Craft Podcast, loves dogs, and runs an annual transformational writing retreat and workshop in Marcola, OR. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three dogs. Contact her directly for speaking at your meeting or event.

Amenities:

Lodging choices

• Multiple tipis to choose from (do you want to be closer to the center of things, or less so?)

• One Garden Cottage, with mini deck, near river (can be a shared lodging option)

• One luxury Master Bedroom (with AC) with private bathroom, wheelchair accessible

• One studio apartment (with AC) with private bathroom and balcony (stairs)

All lodging has electricity and is furnished with standard-sized beds (twin, double, queen, or king), complete with bedding. (Please let me know if you have mobility issues, special assistance needs, or any concerns. The owner is very accommodating.)
* Shared lodging options available for a reduced cost.

Two shared full bathrooms with showers. Cleaned daily.
* I’ve been to three major functions here (aside from the writing retreats) and never had to wait for a bathroom longer than a minute.

Lodging includes access to:

• Guest refrigerator

• Firepit

• Jacuzzi

• Smoking areas

• River frontage for swimming

• Little Free Library

• Many places to meditate, write, eat, and relax

• Hand sanitizing stations

• Device charging stations

What to bring:

• Laptop or other writing tools

• Headlamp or flashlight

• Any wine or beer you’d like to drink at dinner

Also consider bringing:

• Snacks for between meals

• Swimming suit

• Shower shoes

• Yoga gear

• Money for yoga classes (optional)

• Books/journals

• Sweater/jacket for chilly evenings/mornings

• A personal towel (though towels are offered)

• Bug repellent for the evening

• Sunscreen

• Water bottle

• Charging cords

Note about cell phone service:

Depending on your carrier, you may not have cell service here. I use T-Mobile and have service in some places on the property. There is WiFi in the breakfast area on the deck.

All-Inclusive Ticket Price

Includes 3 nights lodging, 8 meals, 3 days workshop/retreat tuition, socially-distanced in-person networking with other writers, two 30-minute coaching sessions.

Only 10-13 tickets available, depending on whether writers share lodging or not.

PRIVATE LODGING:

RETURNING ALUMNI Email at valerie@valerieihsan.com.

EARLY BIRD

REGULAR

SHARED LODGING:

RETURNING ALUMNI Email at valerie@valerieihsan.com.

EARLY BIRD

REGULAR

DAY PASSES:

Friday Includes use of space from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., workshops/events, and lunch.

Saturday Includes use of space from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., workshops/events, and lunch.

Refunds not available after April 1st.