Rhode Island Romance Writers presents our annual Zoom retreat, Rescheduled dates: June 5-6, 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, June 5th, Focused Writing Immersion (INK):
Melissa Leto: DESIRE: STIR, NUZZLE, PURR
We are going to look at what desire brings to our stories. What do you desire? What do you want to touch? What are you scared to touch?
Take my hand let me lead you through a generative meditation to the threshold of your own subconscious, touch the story pool
where language and desire swirl where the permission you need to lean in stirs, nuzzles, readies to open its eyes, purr, growl.
We will transcend realm and write together in this workshop that aims to take you deep into desire so when you gasp at the surface you remember
what you are breathing for.
Melissa Leto is an artist from New York exiled near the Salt River inching their way toward Portland, Oregon. They work with a series of pleasure rituals to take the body across art-making thresholds. Their 40-poem fairy tale dervish;wolf howls through four issues of KHÔRA and fragments of their work can be found in various virtual lit spaces. Their art is in conversation with spaces where queerness, desire, kink, erotics, and the color green prism.
Saturday, June 6th :
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).
2026 Retreat Tentative Schedule (June 5 &6)
with: Melissa Leto, Zora Luan, and Sebastian Nothwell
All times are Eastern Zone
Friday Night:
6:30 pm: Pizza Party (BYOP), RAFFLE
7:00 to 9:00 pm: Melissa Leto: Focused Writing Immersion (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: Zora Luan continued (Activity 2: Embracing the Block Through Art) (1.5 hours)
3:00 to 3:30 pm: Raffle/Break
3:30 to 5:00 pm: Sebastian Nothwell: Podcasting for Authors – Everything You Always Wanted to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask) (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.
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