Whistler One Day Writing Retreats
Stay tuned for One Day Writing Retreats in 2026 by joining our newsletter!
What to Expect: June 2024 retreat
We’ll start with a meet and greet, including a summary of what you’re working on and/or your writing goals. Alli Vail will then lead a creative writing workshop before you find a quiet writing spot in the lodge to spend the rest of the day. Writers will meet again for a delicious potluck meal to share ideas on craft and troubleshoot projects.
Retreat Date: Stay tuned for dates in 2026
Where: The Point Artist-run Centre on Alta Lake Rd in Whistler – Note: This venue is not wheelchair accessible.
All writers any stage of their writing journey are welcome.
Investment: tbc
Please bring a snack and food to share for the potluck meal. Maximum of 15 participants per retreat date.
* The Point Artist-run Centre is a rustic cabin located in a rural area. There are three flights of stairs to access this venue. If accessibility is a concern, please contact us at writers@whistlerwritersfest.com to discuss an alternate access option.
** If cost is a barrier to your attendance, please contact us at writers@whistlerwritersfest.com so we can discuss options to make a writing retreat happen for you.
2024 Retreat: Using Dialogue to Elevate Emotional Arcs
It can be hard to pull off punchy, moving dialogue that sounds natural and carries an emotional payload. In this one hour class, we’ll review published examples of strong inner and outer dialogue to learn how to pack an emotional punch into a few small words. We’ll explore dialogue that handles tough subjects authentically, how to make sure your characters aren’t saying too much, and how to make written dialogue sound like real people are talking (but better). Learn how to say more with less and experiment with what your characters are talking about.
2024 Guest Author: Alli Vail
Alli Vail is a former journalist for national and provincial award-winning community newspapers. She is a content writer and marketer for literary festivals and nonprofits, and has worked in tech, video games, and politics. She studied creative writing at Simon Fraser University and is working on her third novel. Alli lives in Vancouver with her anxious dog (who she wrote about for The Globe and Mail) and her partner. Brooklyn Thomas Isn’t Here is her debut novel.
