Rhode Island Romance Writers presents our annual Zoom retreat, February 6-7, 2026:
“Ink & Echo”– From Insight to Impact
The idea behind this theme is simple: “Ink” is the quiet act of creating on the page. “Echo” is what happens when we bring that work into the world (through voice, presence, and connection). The retreat is designed to support writers at every stage: drafting, revising, unblocking, and building an audience. Creative wellness + creative visibility.
Attendance will be limited to 40 participants, with RIRW members getting first dibs starting December 8th. This year’s Retreat includes three stellar workshops, one Friday night and two on Saturday, plus multiple other elements, from pizza party, to raffles to writer connections.
Friday, February 6th, Focused Writing Immersion (INK):
Janet Jones Bann will lead a Community Writing & Conversation session.
- Janet’s Community Writing sessions are a combination of forty-five minutes of writing together on Zoom with our mics off, followed by conversation about what emerged. She will provide prompts for those who like them, or you can use the time to get more words on a WIP or to explore ideas for possible new projects. Janet will suggest ways for you to challenge yourself as you write.
- Janet Jones Bann is a writing teacher, freelance editor, and book coach. Clients tell her she creates a kind and supportive space where they build trust in their own voices, lessen their resistance to revision, and become more comfortable putting their work into the world. They appreciate her ability to ask questions that bring them deeper into their stories and her suggestions for engaging readers more deeply, too. Janet has published short fiction, essays, and poems in several literary magazines and newspapers. Her website is www.wordsforabetterworld.org. Her always-free Substack writing platform is at https://substack.com/@janetjonesbann.
Saturday, Feb 7th :
SATURDAY MORNING: Unlocking Story Through Art (INK)
Zora Luan will guide a mindful art session: Mindfulness Creativity: Exploring Art and Flow for Writers
Overview: This workshop helps writers tap into their flow state through mindfulness and artistic expression. It’s a freeform drawing activity to embrace creative blocks.
Meet Zora: currently completing her graduate degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing at Yale, Zora merges neuroscience, creativity, and innovative technology into a unique approach to mental wellness. With a background in literature, fitness, and diverse nursing roles in oncology and mental health, she brings a multicultural perspective and integrates imagery into her mindful art classes. She is also the co-founder of Emma’s Story, a Yale-funded startup and interactive journaling initiative for kids with cancer. Zora invites writers and creatives to explore the intersection of mindfulness, artistic expression, self-discovery, and personal growth. Her classes provide a supportive and innovative space for introspection, mindfulness, and exploration.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Your Story in the World (ECHO)
Sebastian Nothwell: Podcasting for Authors – Everything You Always Wanted to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Overview: Want to promote your writing through podcasting? Whether as a guest or a host, it’s not as scary as you might think! Sebastian Nothwell is the editor and cohost of the podcasts Right Here Write Queer (since 2023) and Antiques Freaks (since 2018). He provides insight from the perspectives of both an author who gets booked as a podcast guest and a podcast host who wants to book authors.
REGISTRATION COSTS:
- Early bird price for RIRW members $25 – before January 1st.
- Regular price for RIRW members $30 starting January 1 until slots fill up
- Price for non-members $40. Registration opens for non-members starting January 1. (Non-members: you can BECOME a member and get the early-bird price of $25 or mark your calendars and sign up on Jan. 1st for $40).
Tentative Schedule (all time Eastern Standard Time):
Friday Night:
6:30 pm: Pizza Party – RAFFLE
7:00 to 9:00 pm: Janet Jones Bann: Community Writing & Conversation (2 hours)
9:00 pm: Another raffle before we break for the night
Saturday:
9:30 am: Welcome: Attendees introduce yourselves!
General discussion or break out rooms.
10:30 am: Zora Luan: Mindfulness Creativity: Exploring Art and Flow for Writers (Activity: Embracing the Block Through Art) (1.5 hours)
12:00 to 12:30 pm: Raffle/Discussion
12:30 to 1:30 pm: LUNCH
1:30 to 3:00 pm: Sebastian Nothwell: Podcasting for Authors – Everything You Always Wanted to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask) (1.5 hours)
3:00 to 3:30 pm: Raffle/Break
3:30 to 5:00 pm: Breakout Rooms: Genre Brainstorming, Writing Sprints, Guided Intuitive Writing Sprints. (1.5 hours)
5:00 to 6:00 pm: Raffle/Break for dinner
6:00 to 7 pm : Discussion of our questions/thoughts from the workshops in Breakout rooms (one breakout room per workshop) for 30 minutes to gather insights and questions. Then we’ll come together to hear what each group came up with & further discuss.
7 pm: Raffle / Wine & words (bring up to two pages to read in a comfortable, supportive setting.)
Fill out the online form below to register and pay.
EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION FOR MEMBERS ONLY WAS AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025
ON JANUARY 1ST, TWO PAYPAL BUTTONS BECAME AVAILABLE, ONE FOR MEMBERS, ONE FOR NON-MEMBERS.
BEFORE HITTING SUBMIT, please add RIRW.Register@gmail.com and Treasurer.RIRW@gmail.com to your safe senders list so your confirmation will not get filtered out by your email program.