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OUR MISSION
- The first writers retreat was held in February 2007 with one session consisting of 28 writers. The idea was to create at least one time and place in the year where all but writing was put aside. The objective was to create an annual writers' gathering that focused on:
in an isolated environment...
supported by a collective of contemporaries of like mind and pursuits.
- Writers gather at a location of minimized outside interference or influence, ready to spend an intensive four or five days on their own work, with others involved in the same who were present for support and interactive development of written creative work as art, craft, and science. Balanced against this is a schedule of events aimed at supporting this process, with the number of retreat guests and attendees kept to a limit.
- The retreats are held at the Rain Forest Resort Village situated on Lake Quinault, nestled on the Olympic Pennisula and the Quinault Rainforest. Local populations are small and centers of civilization are approximately 50 miles from the resort. Close enough for those who wish to seek them out, and far enough for others not to have to seek escape from them. The resort has no phones in the rooms or cabins, and has spotty cell phone service. It is its own little village, with a restaurant, general store, gift shop, lounge, post office, and laundromat on site.
- Participants get writing time free of work and daily social life. They get professional advice from, and interaction with, guests who have had success in the writing business.
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This site is devoted to the development and planning of writers retreats hosted by the Rainforest Writers Village. Check other pages to learn about attending and getting involved.
Contact the retreat director through the contact form for more information or to get on the wait list. WANT RAINFOREST SWAG? Check out the store! |
About the Retreat Director
PATRICK SWENSON
Patrick's new novel is The Ultra Long Goodbye, the 3rd book in the Union of Worlds trilogy. Rain Music, a dark fantasy with ghosts, music, and magic, set on the Olympic Peninsula, at the very site of the Rainforest Writers Village retreat, was published in 2021. His first novel, The Ultra Thin Man, appeared from Tor Books. The sequel, The Ultra Big Sleep, debuted soon after. He was the editor and publisher of Talebones Magazine from 1995 to 2009. In 2000, he began Fairwood Press, a book line, which is still running. He has sold short fiction to Unfettered III, Unbound II, Unavowed, Crooked V2, Gunfight on Europa Station, Seasons Between Us, Like Water for Quarks, Madame President, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine, and others. He was a high school teacher for 39 years, and is the proud poppa of Artemis, age 22, who does some art now and then for Fairwood Press. Patrick's author site is at patrickswenson.net. Find him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. |
News
2025 Retreat Registration Closed
4/11/2024
We were open for only an hour, and all spots sold out! If you missed us, get on the wait list via the contact form.
2025 Retreat Registration Opens
4/11/2024
We're open for 2025 shortly. Four sessions are available to give you some flexibility on the week you'd like to attend.
A Success! 2024 Retreats end, Inspirational Award Winners
3/18/2024
The last retreat ended on Sunday, and it was a great inaugural 4th session. In fact, 4th session secured the largest word count of the session. But to be honest, all four sessions were right in the same ballpark, between 220,000 and 235,000 words! Four new Rainforest Inspirational Award recipients were chosen by attendees, and they all received the lovely handmade awards featuring our Pacific Northwest Tree Squid! They will have their names added to the big plaque. Congratulations to all of them!
2024 Retreats in Session
3/7/2024
As I write this today, we're a day into our 3rd session. This year is the first year with four sessions. Writers in all sessions are cranking out the word counts, enjoying talks about writing, and experiencing the magic of the rainforest. Want to join us in 2025? Be ready for registration in the middle of April!
2024 Retreat is full
4/12/2023
The four sessions were sold out before the end of the night of the 11th, and three of them were sold out in the first half hour. Don't despair! Get yourself on that wait list quickly, since cancellations do happen.
2024 Retreat Registration Opens
4/11/2023
We're open for 2024. We've added a fourth session! Though registration opened today, it's already nearly sold out, quick as that. Make sure to get on the wait list if you missed it!
Newest Inspiration Award Winners
4/9/2023
We have new winners! Three new Rainforest Inspirational Award recipients will have their names added to the big plaque, and received some homemade awards to take home.
1st session: Tracy Moore
2nd session: Jeff Soesbe
3rd session: G.R. Theron
2023 Retreats a Success
3/13/2023
Over a hundred writers over three sessions. About 600,000 words written. 9 enlightening talks about writing and art. Breakfasts, soup, grilled cheese, new restaurant and lounge staff, and things getting closer and closer to normal. Thanks to all the participants for a great series of retreats. Bring on 2024! Registration is forthcoming in April.
First Session Complete
2/28/2023
If you're just coming to this site, we begin 2nd session tomorrow, and 3rd session next Wednesday. All sessions are full. If you have any questions about attending future retreats, send us a note with the contact form. Registration for 2024 will begin sometime in April.
Retreat 2023 Spots Popping up Once in a While
1/31/2023
If you're not on our wait list, give it a whirl! You never know when we might have spots to fill. If you're interested in attending one of our retreats next month and into March, let us know. Use the form in the CONTACT US menu item.
2023 Retreats Full
4/12/2022
As usual, retreat standard time goes by super fast. All three sessions filled in less than an hour, and several of them were full in under half an hour. Don't despair! The wait list will be small to start, and I'll most certainly be pulling from it earlier than later once I see how the rooming situations are looking. When writers room together, it opens up more rooms, so stay tuned.
4/11/2024
We were open for only an hour, and all spots sold out! If you missed us, get on the wait list via the contact form.
2025 Retreat Registration Opens
4/11/2024
We're open for 2025 shortly. Four sessions are available to give you some flexibility on the week you'd like to attend.
A Success! 2024 Retreats end, Inspirational Award Winners
3/18/2024
The last retreat ended on Sunday, and it was a great inaugural 4th session. In fact, 4th session secured the largest word count of the session. But to be honest, all four sessions were right in the same ballpark, between 220,000 and 235,000 words! Four new Rainforest Inspirational Award recipients were chosen by attendees, and they all received the lovely handmade awards featuring our Pacific Northwest Tree Squid! They will have their names added to the big plaque. Congratulations to all of them!
- 1st session: Randy Henderson
- 2nd session: Brenda Cooper
- 3rd session: Erik Grove
- 4th session: Barb Ferrer
2024 Retreats in Session
3/7/2024
As I write this today, we're a day into our 3rd session. This year is the first year with four sessions. Writers in all sessions are cranking out the word counts, enjoying talks about writing, and experiencing the magic of the rainforest. Want to join us in 2025? Be ready for registration in the middle of April!
2024 Retreat is full
4/12/2023
The four sessions were sold out before the end of the night of the 11th, and three of them were sold out in the first half hour. Don't despair! Get yourself on that wait list quickly, since cancellations do happen.
2024 Retreat Registration Opens
4/11/2023
We're open for 2024. We've added a fourth session! Though registration opened today, it's already nearly sold out, quick as that. Make sure to get on the wait list if you missed it!
Newest Inspiration Award Winners
4/9/2023
We have new winners! Three new Rainforest Inspirational Award recipients will have their names added to the big plaque, and received some homemade awards to take home.
1st session: Tracy Moore
2nd session: Jeff Soesbe
3rd session: G.R. Theron
2023 Retreats a Success
3/13/2023
Over a hundred writers over three sessions. About 600,000 words written. 9 enlightening talks about writing and art. Breakfasts, soup, grilled cheese, new restaurant and lounge staff, and things getting closer and closer to normal. Thanks to all the participants for a great series of retreats. Bring on 2024! Registration is forthcoming in April.
First Session Complete
2/28/2023
If you're just coming to this site, we begin 2nd session tomorrow, and 3rd session next Wednesday. All sessions are full. If you have any questions about attending future retreats, send us a note with the contact form. Registration for 2024 will begin sometime in April.
Retreat 2023 Spots Popping up Once in a While
1/31/2023
If you're not on our wait list, give it a whirl! You never know when we might have spots to fill. If you're interested in attending one of our retreats next month and into March, let us know. Use the form in the CONTACT US menu item.
2023 Retreats Full
4/12/2022
As usual, retreat standard time goes by super fast. All three sessions filled in less than an hour, and several of them were full in under half an hour. Don't despair! The wait list will be small to start, and I'll most certainly be pulling from it earlier than later once I see how the rooming situations are looking. When writers room together, it opens up more rooms, so stay tuned.