The Alongside Retreat: A Writing Retreat that Co-Exists With Your Life

The Alongside Retreat

A Supported Writing Retreat at Home

The Alongside Retreat is a 100% virtual writing retreat, designed for writers and creative minds who want to sink into a productive and inspired atmosphere at home.

Writing residencies, retreats, and conferences can be wonderful. I've been to a few life-changing ones, and I'm incredibly grateful for the time I spent there. I also see a lot of people I admire creating and hosting very cool and thoughtfully designed in-person retreats, and I always jot them down in my Notes app for another time.

But, in this season of my life, it's once in a blue moon that I can get away for anything longer than a night. Many residencies, which tend to have a minimum stay of around two weeks, aren't in the cards for me. Retreats can be shorter, but they're still tough.

Because of that, I've spent the last few years curating my own writing retreats, and I've spent a lot of time thinking about the value of a retreat in place. I've also realized that a virtual retreat can potentially serve writers in lots of different scenarios.

Logistically speaking, a virtual retreat is a good fit for writers who:

Have childcare and/or family caregiving obligations
Have pets (most retreats/residencies/conferences do not allow them)
Have limited vacation days or PTO
Manage a chronic physical or mental health condition that makes travel and/or changes in routine less desirable
Like to work in familiar spaces vs. unfamiliar ones, and find it easier to tap into creativity with fewer changes in routine
Cannot financially accommodate the cost of a retreat, residency, or conference (though note that some do have scholarships!)

A virtual retreat takes less planning, less activation energy, and doesn't require you to step away from your life. It can co-exist alongside your life and allow you to do your work and create your art in your home and community.

How an Alongside Retreat Works

The Alongside Retreat is a writing retreat that runs alongside the life you already have.

Five days, ongoing 1:1 creative support. $425.

Please note that for Summer 2024, all retreats are priced at Pay-What-You Can rates ($150-$550).

The Alongside Retreat is open writers with any level of writing experience, at any stage in their process.

It goes like this:

1. Consider your project.

What creative project do you need support accomplishing? This is likely a project that you feel very capable of doing--even excited about--but you can never seem to give the project the time and attention it's asking for. Or, it might be a project you've been working on diligently for a very long time--so long, in fact, that you need to inject some novelty into the process for your sake.

2. Pick your date.

You choose a week that works for you from the retreat session dates (see below!). Look at your calendar when you do this; when will you have time to really commit to your project? (Back-to-school week, for example, is probably out; but then again, some writers want the extra accountability during those busy times, which is why I run Alongside Retreats through the winter holidays.)

3. Register, pay, and schedule your pre-retreat 1:1.

After you've chosen your week, you're ready to register. When you register, you'll fill out a form that asks you a few questions about your project and your creative intentions. You'll also pay for your retreat during registration, as well as schedule a pre-retreat 1:1 meeting with me. The pre-retreat meeting happens on the Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday prior to your retreat start date.

4. Watch your mailbox (yes your real mailbox, not your email inbox!).

As your retreat date approaches, I'll put your Alongside Box in the mail. This little parcel will have goodies that set the mood for your week--things that you can use and enjoy that remind your creative brain that "Oh yeah, this week is a little different."

5. Have your pre-retreat 1:1 with me to set intentions.

We'll meet on the Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before your retreat begins to talk about your project, your goals, the hurdles you might face, and how I can support you to help ensure your progress, productivity, and enjoyment during your retreat. You'll also receive the Virtual Retreat Guide to help you prepare your space and plan your schedule for the week ahead.

6. Complete your retreat--with support along the way.

Unless you've opted for an extended retreat (more info on that in the FAQ) your retreat will run for five days, Monday through Friday, and I will be in touch via email at the beginning and end of every day. These check-ins will be short and gentle, and are there to keep you motivated, especially if you had a day that felt like a slog. If you had a great creative day, I want to know that too!

7. Debrief (and celebrate!) your retreat.

After your retreat is over, we'll have a 1:1 to talk about what went well, where you can go from here, and to celebrate what you accomplished. It's a little moment to toast, together, the commitment you made to yourself and the success you found.

Sample Alongside Retreat Schedule

Today / Registration

You register for a retreat.

The registration process will ask you to:

1) Complete a form about your goals.

2) Pay for your retreat.

3) Book your pre-retreat 1:1 meeting.

Monday / Retreat begins

You receive an email from me in the morning on Day 1 of your retreat and respond with your intentions for the day.

AM: Our morning email is very brief so that it doesn't take time away from your writing or pull you out of the creativity dreamland.

PM: In the late afternoon, you receive another email from me. In your reply, you tell me how your day is going, what hurdles you have encountered, and anything you need particular support with.

One week before retreat: Planning

You receive the Virtual Retreat Guide via email a week before your retreat starts.

This guide will help you plan your schedule, prepare your space, and make the most of your retreat.

Tuesday / Retreat continues

Tuesday has the same flow as Monday. You'll work on your project with the support of a morning and evening check-in via email.

Wednesday / Optional 1:1 check-in

If you want extra support mid-way through your retreat, you can book a 20-minute check-in via Zoom. I run Wednesday check-ins from 10:00 am-12:30 pm EST. This is optional! If things are flowing and you don't need the live check-in, that's great too.

A few days before retreat: 1:1

We have our scheduled pre-retreat 1:1 meeting on the Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before your retreat begins.

Your Alongside Box will arrive in the mail around this time as well!

Thursday / Retreat continues

Thursday flows like Monday and Tuesday.

Friday / Retreat concludes

You'll receive a morning check-in as usual. In the afternoon, you'll receive a reflection exercise. This document is just for you, but we'll discuss your thoughts at your post-retreat 1:1, which can be held on the day your retreat ends (Friday), the next morning (Saturday), or during the following week. We'll use the time to reflect, talk about what's next, and celebrate your progress.

Summer 2024 Session: Pay What You Can!
July 1 - August 2, 2024

All Alongside Retreats this summer will be priced at the Pay-What-You-Can rate.

This decision is meant to increase accessibility and connect with the writers who need this offering most.

I understand that Pay-What-You-Can rates can sometimes feel stressful; please don't let this cause you stress. Our financial situations (especially as artists) are fluid; do what makes sense for you in this moment, and know that it's okay if you register at a different tier in the future. I trust that you know your situation best, and I offer Pay-What-You-Can for that very reason.

Pay-What-You-Can fee tiers run from $150 to $550 in $100 increments. You can select your fee level at checkout.

Summer 2024 session dates:

July 1 - July 5

July 8 - July 12

July 15 - July 19

July 22 - July 26

July 29 - August 2

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?
What's included?

An Alongside Retreat is $425.

It includes:

A 30-minute 1:1 before your retreat begins to set intentions
An Alongside Box to set the tone
A morning and evening email check-in every day during your retreat to keep you on track
An (optional) 20-minute 1:1 check-in mid-week during your retreat
A 30-minute 1:1 after your retreat ends to debrief and celebrate
Lifetime access to a resource portal with lectures, videos, and essays about writing and creativity
Discounted access to Alongside Hours for 6 months (Alongside Retreat participant rate: $93)

Can I book a longer retreat?

Absolutely! I'm honored to work with people who are making a commitment to their projects over several weeks.

Extended Alongside Retreat pricing:

Two-week Alongside Retreat: $575
Three-week Alongside Retreat: $725
Month-long Alongside Retreat: $850

Extended retreats offer 30-minute 1:1 check-ins at the beginning of every week. The rest of the benefits are the same: 30-minute 1:1 meetings at the start and end of your retreat, an Alongside Box at the beginning of your retreat, optional mid-week live check-ins, and daily am and pm support via email.

What's in the Alongside Box?

The Alongside Box is a small gift box (valued at approximately $85) that you receive prior to your retreat start date. It is filled with small objects that are designed to make you smile and give you a jolt of creative energy.

The objects are consumables, for the most part (coffee, candles, notebooks, stickers) to bring joy to your week.

As someone with a severe food allergy, I am very sensitive to allergies and other preferences. You'll be able to make note of this on your registration form.

Please also note that if you sign up for an extended retreat, you will receive one Alongside Box at the beginning of your retreat. You won't receive a box at the beginning of each week.

Do you offer discounts?

I offer a few "Pay What You Can" slots per month. If you would like to enroll at the "Pay What You Can" rate, please email me for booking information.

It is important to me that this offering is accessible. If a Pay What You Can slot is not available when you inquire, you will be placed on a waitlist.

If you are able to contribute on the higher end of the sliding scale, know that your contribution is deeply appreciated and acknowledged and that you support my ability to offer Pay What You Can weeks to others.

What if I like in-person retreats?

That's great! An Alongside Retreat won't be for everyone, but I don't think that liking in-person residences and liking virtual experiences are mutually exclusive. If you're someone who thrives at in-person gatherings, you may find that a virtual retreat helps you bridge the time until your next writing getaway. I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on this as the offering evolves, so don't hesitate to reach out.

What if I don't want a box?

Absolutely fine! I respect that many of us are being conscious about our consumption. You can absolutely choose not to receive an Alongside Box; simply mark this preference on your registration form.

Does it matter what genre I write in?

Alongside Retreats are open to writers of all genres--poets, fiction writers (including all genre fiction), memoir writers, essayists, playwrights, screenwriters--the list goes on!

Because the support provided centers around creativity, not craft, it truly doesn't matter what genre you work in. In fact, if you are a musician, visual artist, or other kind of artist, and feel very called to do this, please reach out!

What if I'm a beginning writer?

I'm thrilled to work with writers who are just finding their way into their practice. You don't need to have any credentials to sign up for an Alongside Retreat, and there is no application process. The only thing you need is a creative project in mind and a desire to work on it.

Alongside Retreats are meant to support writers at any stage of their development. Everyone from emerging to published authors are welcome.

Do you give feedback on work?

I don't give feedback on work as part of an Alongside Retreat because this time is for YOU and your work. I hold it sacred in that way--it's truly a space for you to let your creativity flow, get weird, and do whatever it wants to do, without the pressure of outside critique.

However. if you would like editorial feedback on your work, please feel free to explore my feedback offerings and discuss your needs with me. I help with ideas as well as manuscripts, and it is a great privilege to read your words.

Can I start tomorrow?

Two things generally have to happen before your Alongside Retreat begins:

1) I package/ ship your Alongside Box

2) We have our initial 30-minute 1:1 meeting to set the intentions.

For this reason, you must sign up for a retreat that begins at least a week from your sign-up date. For instance, if you sign up on Wednesday for a retreat that begins the following Monday, that's likely not sufficient time for USPS to make the magic happen! However, you can sign up on Monday for a retreat beginning the following Monday.

How should I prepare?

When you sign up, you'll fill out a registration form. It includes a few short questions meant to get you thinking about what you want to accomplish during your retreat.

In the days leading up to your retreat, you'll also receive a guide to help you prepare. It will help you think about how to carve out time and mental space. Things like...do you need to meal prep? Schedule childcare a little differently? Ask for help from your partner or friend? Get a big client project off your desk so you can sink into creative mode? All of these things can be helpful to think about in advance, if that's possible.

Do I have to clear my schedule?

Absolutely not. The Alongside Retreat runs alongside your existing life, where you have other commitments to yourself, to your physical health, to your kids, to your partner, to your work, etc!

You may decide that your Alongside Retreat looks like 2 hours of writing each day, or even 90 minutes.

Most people aren't committing their entire days to their retreat, though if that's something that you are able and want to do, that's wonderful too. All of these decisions are up to you and what your current life can accommodate.

On a personal note...

My name is Gemma (she/her). I'm a writer, editor, and the founder of Alongside Editorial. For a decade, I worked at a 7-month residency program for emerging artists and writers. For several years, I even lived on site, and I got to soak up the magic of being in a creative haven. (That apartment is where my book began.) At this organization, I also spent many years managing the online writing workshops program, an experience that cemented my belief in the power of virtual spaces.

The Alongside Retreat is something I have (unknowingly!) been creating for my whole life. I've always been someone who needed to carve out quiet, special, creative places in my mind, and I don't think it's hyperbole to say that my inner creative world has been life-saving on some occasions. I feel so grateful for it.

I am equally grateful for the creative friends and colleagues who fill my life. It would be entirely too lonely to do this alone. Solitude is helpful for my process, but it can't be the only thing.

It's my hope that the Alongside Retreat will bring you a steadying sense of support, a chance to be curious and inspired by your own work, and the opportunity to feel wonder at your own creative soul and inner world.

Your projects and ideas, whether they are in your head, on paper, or in the ether somewhere, are real and important to me and I am grateful for the chance to talk with you about them and hold a commitment to them alongside you.

Alongside Editorial