Squam Writes - June 2025 - Writing Retreat

Squam Writes - June 2025 - Writing Retreat

Writers — Come join us for a long weekend of creativity and inspiration at the Squam Writes Retreat! Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, our retreat is the perfect opportunity to connect with other creatives, attend workshops, immerse yourself in nature, and connect deeply with your work. Get ready to unleash your creative spirit and recharge your writing in the beautiful surroundings of Squam Lake NH. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to take your writing to the next level (more information at squamwrites.com)!

The Squam Writes Retreat is unique.

Unlike other retreats that are run like mini conferences, our event does not include the pressure of pitching to agents and editors, and we don’t run sessions on the business side of writing. Instead, we provide inspiration and support for you to go deeper into areas you can better control: advancing your craft, strengthening your resolve, and helping you make meaningful connections with other writers.

Our flexible schedule helps you find and maintain your creative flow

Squam Writes Retreat begins with a warm welcoming reception on Thursday, June 5th and follows daily informal programming through lunch on Sunday, June 8th. Our offerings include hikes to invigorate you, spectacular views to expand your soul, creative meditations to help you focus, prompts to help you get in a creative flow, peer critiques if you want fresh eyes on your work, thought-provoking craft discussions to help you reflect and grow, shared meals for companionship and conversation, and large swaths of quiet free time so you can dive into your writing.

Meet your hosts:

Jilly Gagnon is co-director of the Squam Writes Retreat. She’s the author of the novels All Dressed Up, Scenes of the Crime, Love You, Mean It, and What if it’s You? as well as a young adult novel, #famous. She is also co-author of the Choose Your Own Misery dark comedy series with Mike MacDonald. Jilly lives with her family and two black cats in Salem, MA.

Melissa Hed is co-director of the Squam Writes Retreat. She is an author, freelance editor, attorney, energy medicine practitioner, transitions coach, and death doula. She is also the former managing editor at Your Teen Media, where she edited hundreds of articles and personal essays. Her latest short story, "Wings," appears in the Left Turns anthology. If you talk to trees and imbibe moonlight, you probably knew Melissa in another life. She lives with her family in Westwood, MA.

Sign up today and join us for our ninth Squam Writes Retreat!

Also check out other Arts events in Holderness, Literary Art events in Holderness, Workshops in Holderness.