Pencil & Prose Presents: A Writers' Retreat in Ottawa
About this Event
Come spend a day with people who understand the strange magic of trying to turn ideas into stories.
Join fellow writers on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the elegant Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario for a full-day retreat designed to refuel your creativity, sharpen your craft, and remind you that you’re not writing alone.
Whether you’re drafting your first chapter, wrestling with revisions, or trying to reconnect with the joy of storytelling, this retreat offers a welcoming space to write, learn, and breathe.
Your day includes:
- A light breakfast to ease into the morning
- Fresh coffee (and plenty of it) throughout the day
- Interactive workshops focused on craft and creativity
- Dedicated free-writing time to make real progress on your work
- Feedback sessions in a supportive, judgment-free environment
- Opportunities to connect with fellow aspiring novelists outside of a Zoom room.
- Lunch and snacks included onsite
No pitch sessions. No intimidating panels. No pretending to have it all figured out.
Just writers, words, conversation, caffeine, and the quiet thrill of getting unstuck.
Bring a notebook, a laptop, or a half-finished idea that’s been haunting you at 2 a.m. We’ll provide a safe space to work on it.
Space is limited to keep the experience intimate and collaborative. Reserve your seat early.
Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Registration Opens
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Breakfast and Welcome
Info: Connect with fellow writers over a light breakfast.
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Opening and Intentions
Info: Welcome remarks, housekeeping, and setting your writing goal for the day.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Workshop #1: Opening the Door: Beginnings, Voice, and Creative Permission
Info: How do we begin when the page feels blank, the idea feels fragile, or the inner critic is already clearing its throat?
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Focused Writing Sprint #1
Info: Uninterrupted writing time. Write freely on your current project or a prompt provided.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Small Group Share and Feedback
Info: Share a short excerpt of your writing with a small group. Practice giving and receiving kind and useful feedback. Sharing is strictly optional.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch
Info: A proper break — eat, wander, decompress, and let the morning's writing breathe.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Workshop #2: Building Scenes That Work
Info: How do we take a promising draft and make it more vivid, compelling, and alive on the page?
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Focused Writing Sprint #2
Info: A second deep-work block — apply what you've learned or push forward on your manuscript.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Coffee Break & Quiet Writing Time
Info: Refuel with coffee and snacks. Keep writing if you're in the flow, or step outside for fresh air.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Fireside Chat: The Writer's Life — Craft, Blocks & Keeping Going
Info: An honest conversation about sustaining a writing practice — navigating doubt, finding time, and finishing what you start.
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Reflections & Intentions Going Forward
Info: Share one word or sentence about your day. Leave with a concrete next step for your writing.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 216.93 to CAD 241.00
