Need a break from the chaos of everyday life and a chance to focus on your writing?
Five Days to Write Your Book.
In Barbados.
A working retreat for novelists who are serious about finishing and done waiting for the right time to appear on its own.
Same Chapter. Same Feeling. Same Year.
Here's how the next twelve months go if you don't do something different.
January: "This is the year I finish."
March: "I fell behind, but I'm getting back on track."
June: "Life got busy. Summer will be better."
September: "I really need to carve out more writing time."
December: Same manuscript. Same chapter. Same feeling.
This is what happens when you're trying to write a novel in the margins of a full life before the house wakes up, after everyone goes to bed, in the thirty minutes you carved out before the next thing starts.
That approach works until something interrupts it.
And something always interrupts it.
The writers who finish aren't the ones who found more willpower.
They're the ones who changed their environment.
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein at a writing retreat.
A villa on Lake Geneva, a rainy summer, a group of writers daring each other to produce a ghost story.
What is your Frankenstein?
What book could YOU write if you had the time, the location, and the people around you to make it happen?
What a Retreat Actually Does...
A retreat removes the margin problem entirely.
For five days in November, your only job is your book.
No errands. No meetings. No one needing anything from you.
Morning writing sessions where the pages stack up.
Afternoon craft sessions where the technical problems get solved.
Evenings on the Platinum Coast of Barbados, which take care of themselves.
You don't have to manufacture discipline when you've eliminated everything competing for your attention.
This is about more than relaxing: it's about reprogramming.
Psychologists call it . . .
Attention Restoration Theory
Natural environments, especially those near water, restore the kind of directed attention that writing demands.
The mental noise fades, ideas return, and scenes unfold with more clarity.
The page stops fighting back.
And flow, the state where you lose track of time because the work has completely absorbed you, doesn't live in twenty-minute writing sprints between errands.
It lives in the long, quiet hours of uninterrupted thought.
That's what the mornings are for.
I've studied this. In fact, I wrote the book on it... literally.
The Science (and Magic) of Writing Retreats came out of years of watching what happens when writers change their environment, and the pattern is consistent: people produce more in five days than they typically produce in three months at home because the conditions are finally right.
About Your Hosts
Kevin T. Johns holds a Master's degree in English Literature and is one of Canada's top writing coaches and the author of eight books, including The Science (and Magic) of Writing Retreats.
Over the last decade, he has worked with everyone from the CEOs of Canada's biggest corporations to memoirists writing intimate and personal tales to self-help gurus crafting manuals on how to live a better life.
But his passion is for commercial genre fiction: the types of books that get made into Hollywood blockbusters, spawn trilogies, and become long-running series. He's also the host of The Writing Coach Podcast (230+ episodes) and the founder of The Writer's Craft Summit, The Ink & Impact Writer's Retreat, and the Ottawa Writers Retreat.
If you aim to write page-turners that readers just can't put down or resist telling all their friends about, Kevin is the coach for you. He's held two previous writing retreats, and he knows how to run one, which means you get the pages and the experience.
Kevin T. Johns, Writing Coach
Nathan Lang traded the snowbanks of Ottawa for the white sand of Barbados after years spent traveling the world. Once the island got its hooks in him, he never left.
He's our resident food, travel, and island-expertise guy: the one who knows which fish fry is actually worth the drive, which boat captain to call for a scuba diving tour, and how to get eight writers from the villa to the beach without anyone waiting around.
Before a career in real estate, Nathan spent years managing bars and restaurants, and that hospitality instinct stuck. He's a committed believer in the slow food movement — fresh, local, unhurried, and best enjoyed around a table with good company — which means the meals on this retreat won't be an afterthought. They'll be part of the story.
Equal parts logistics brain and warm host, Nathan is the reason this retreat runs smoothly and tastes incredible.
Nathan Lang, Chef &Hospitality Chief
The Week
Monday, November 9, 2026 — Arrive
You land, you settle in, you meet the group.
That afternoon, we run an orientation session: what you're working on, what's stuck, what you want to leave with.
By dinner you know everyone, you know what week you're in for, and the book is already on the table.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — Full Days
Mornings are for writing. 8 am to noon, every day. No workshops, no instruction, no interruptions. You write. I write. The group writes. This is where the pages happen.
Afternoons are for craft. I run a focused workshop or coaching session each afternoon based on what the group is actually working through in their manuscripts that week. Structure, scene mechanics, pacing, voice, what isn't working and why. You leave each session with specific fixes, not general advice.
Dinner is yours, evenings are your own time, and Mullins Beach has restaurants; Speightstown is five minutes away; Holetown is ten. (Writers tend to end up at the same table anyway.)
Friday, November 13, 2026 — Close and Depart
One final writing sprint Friday morning.
Then we close out: what did you accomplish, what do you fix next, what do the next 90 days look like?
You board your flight with more manuscript than you arrived with and a clear plan for the next push.
"I was able to get back into my manuscript after life got in the way. Kevin and the other retreat attendees were both supportive and motivating."
— Elena Preston, retreat attendee
What's Included
Flights are yours to book. Dinner is yours to enjoy. Speightstown and Holetown are five and ten minutes away, and neither will disappoint.
TESTIMONIALS
What Past Attendees Say
"One of my best experiences ever as a writer. Kevin explains complex structural ideas very clearly, with fun examples, and great enthusiasm and energy. To have other writers talking and living the craft and struggle under the same roof for a week was an unexpected bonus — not even bonus, because the camaraderie became so inspiring and supportive that what the whole group was going through felt like the whole point of it. If you're doubting or wondering if it'd be worth it, just do it and you will be rewarded."
Stephen Weinstock
Retreat attendee and author of 1001:The Reincarnation Chronicles
"Exactly what I needed to recharge my creative energy. Powerful coaching that felt fresh and practical — but honestly, the other writers inspired me just as much. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and plenty of practical takeaways. If you're looking for inspiration, clarity, and real tools to grow as an author, this retreat is absolutely worth it."
Sherilyn Decter
Retreat attendee and author of The Promise Trilogy
"I was able to complete an outline for my next book and walked away with a clear plan to make meaningful progress in my writing. The opportunity to share ideas and connect with other writers — priceless. The retreat was exceptionally well-organized, balancing moments for deep work with valuable sessions on the craft of writing. Having time to both create and learn was a rare and rewarding experience."
Lorraine Johnston
Retreat attendee and author The Call to Witchery
"Kevin is an excellent coach and teacher, responding to everyone's individual concerns at every stage of the writing process."
Margot Stornelli
Retreat attendee and author of The Big Red Suitcase
"My biggest fear of not writing a thing was just that — a fear. It never transpired. Having other writers, whom I met in person, in the same setting was more powerful than I could have imagined. We learned together, and I found my writing became instantly stronger as I implemented the new knowledge. Then, when the other authors were tucked away in a quiet corner writing, I figured, if they can do it, so can I. I never dreamed being among other writers — in a live setting — would be that powerful."
Victoria M. Jurgens
Retreat attendee and author of Keep Creating!
The Location
Mullins, Saint Peter, Platinum Coast Barbados
The retreat is based in a collection of luxury condos steps from Mullins Beach, one of the most photographed beaches on the island.
King beds, private baths, chef's kitchens, a shared pool, private covered balconies, television, wi-fi, and air conditioning.
Speightstown is five minutes north.
Holetown (restaurants, nightlife, luxury shopping) is ten minutes south.
November is the beginning of Barbados's dry season, so it will be sunny, warm, and far less crowded than the January rush.
This is not a budget retreat. The accommodation is good because the experience is good.
When the environment is right, the work is right.
This Event is for You, If...
A Note for Introverts
This is not a group-bounding retreat. No trust falls, no mandatory socializing, no pressure to be "on."
You write in your own space in the mornings. You show up for craft sessions ready to engage with the work.
The evenings are completely yours.
Writers who attend retreats tend to be serious and like-minded, which means the people around you will understand exactly what it's like to spend forty minutes getting one paragraph right.
You don't have to be the loudest voice in the room to get something powerful out of the week. You just need a space where you can finally hear yourself think.
The mornings are structured. The afternoons are educational. The evenings are yours. It's a working week.
Payment Options
Here's what you're getting:
five days of structured writing time, three afternoons of craft coaching, a week of meals and luxury accommodation three minutes from one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, airport transfers both ways, and a group of serious writers doing the same work you are.
Breakfast, lunch, and snacks included. Flights and dinner are on you.
How booking works:
Reserve your spot with a $500 USD deposit. Full balance is due 30 days before the retreat. Deposits are fully refundable until October 15, 2026.
Spots are limited by accommodation. When they're gone, they're gone.
You Alone
$4,000
$500 deposit
Get a full one-bedroom condo apartment to yourself.
Deposits refundable until October 15, 2026
Shared Room
$3,500
$500 deposit
Share a two-bedroom condo apartment with another writer.
Deposits refundable until October 15, 2026
You + Spouse
$6,000
$1,000 deposit
Bring a friend or spouse who will not participate in the workshops.
Deposits refundable until October 15, 2026
FAQs
Do I need to be one of your existing students?
No. This retreat is open to any serious novelist. If you write commercial genre fiction and you have a manuscript to work on, you're welcome.
What genre do attendees write?
Mostly commercial speculative fiction — fantasy, thriller, horror, mystery, sci-fi, paranormal, urban fantasy. That said, the craft work applies across genres. If you're a serious novelist with a manuscript, you'll fit in.
What if I'm not very far along in my manuscript?
That's fine. You don't need to be near the finish line — you need to have something real to work on. Come with chapters, an outline, a draft in progress. We'll work with where you are.
Do I need to book my own flights?
Yes, flights are on you. Once you land at Grantley Adams International (BGI), we take it from there. Airport pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't need to sort out a rental car or taxi. BGI is served by direct flights from most major North American and UK cities.
What is your cancellation policy?
Deposits ($500) are fully refundable until September 15, 2026. After that date, deposits are non-refundable but transferable — you can send someone in your place. Full balance payments are non-refundable after the 60-day mark, so we recommend travel insurance if your schedule is unpredictable.
What about dietary restrictions?
Let us know when you register. We'll sort it.
Can I bring my spouse even if they're not a writer?
Yes, the $5,000 option is for you plus a partner, whether they're a writer or not. They'll have Barbados to enjoy while you're in sessions.
Is there a payment plan?
Book a call with Kevin to discuss.
Not Sure Yet? Let's Talk.
Not sure if this retreat is the right fit?
Wondering about travel, the schedule, or whether this is the right time for your manuscript?
I'd love to hop on a quick, no-pressure call with you.
Whether you're curious about the vibe, the logistics, or just want to make sure you'll get what you need out of the week, I'm happy to walk you through it all.
Five Days. Your Book. Barbados.
You've been waiting for the right conditions. Here they are.
November 9–13, 2026 · Mullins Beach, Barbados
Deposits refundable until October 15, 2026
Not Ready to Book Yet? Start Here
This episode of The Writing Coach Podcast is your introduction to the retreat, Nathan Lang, and what five days on the Platinum Coast will actually look like. Kevin and Nathan cover the island, the location, the food, the accommodation, and much more. Check it out now:
Get the Writing Retreat Book
The Science (and Magic) of Writing Retreats is Kevin's book about what actually happens when writers change their environment (and why it works).
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