FALL 2026
Quail Writers’ Retreat
September 9th-13th, 2026
Your Retreat Hosts
19 other writers, 1 Author-in-Residence, 1 Developmental Editor, 1 Workshop Leader, 1 Retreat Assistant, and YOU.
Welcome to our second annual Quail Retreat, a peaceful and relaxing five days and four nights of writing, workshopping, yoga, and community! You’ll take part in daily conversations about the craft of writing with New York Times bestselling author, Rebecca Makkai, and you’ll have the opportunity to workshop your pages aloud for feedback to a group led by Rebecca and editor Heather Lazare.
If you like, you have the opportunity to book an intuitive and relaxing massage with our on-site massage therapist who practices Esalen® massage.
The Quail Retreat offers you uninterrupted writing time, feedback, craft insights, and the gift of community. If you’re a fiction writer who wants to write, read, and support others, please apply! We’d love to hear from you!
What’s included in the Retreat?
Daily read-aloud workshops for immediate feedback
Dedicated, distraction-free writing time
Inspiring & informative craft talks over lunch
Private bedroom (with ensuite bathroom) & all meals
Daily yoga
What’s the daily schedule like?
Wednesday
Arrive anytime between 4-6PM to check in and get comfortable. We’ll eat dinner at 6PM and have a chance to get to know each other!
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast anytime between 7:30-8:30AM, then grab a cup of coffee or tea and head to your first read-aloud workshop led by author Rebecca Makkai, or editor Heather Lazare.
8:30-10AM: Workshop. Two of the days you’re with us will be workshop days. For your third day, you can choose what you’d like to do–write, relax, get a massage, walk into Carmel Valley Village, take a rideshare or drive into Carmel or Monterey, walk on the beach. This time is yours and you can decide how you’d like to spend it, just be back for lunch!
10AM-12PM: Find a table indoors or outside with your laptop or notebook. You can also go back to your room and snuggle under the covers and dive into writing your next pages.
12-1:30PM: Lunch is when we’ll hear from Author-in-Residence, Rebecca Makkai, discuss and provide exercises on the craft of writing. Pick up plenty of tips to revisit your writing through the afternoon. One of our lunches will be led by editor Heather Lazare, talking about how to be your own best editor.
2-3PM: Live piano music to write to will be offered in the theater on the concert grand piano–a truly calming and inspirational experience!
3:15-4:30PM: You’ll meet with your assigned workshop group for the second time today; you’ll either share your pages aloud in the morning or the afternoon, and at both sessions you’ll offer feedback to your fellow writers.
4:45-5:45PM: Yoga with our wonderful instructor, Gemma Peterson. On one of these afternoon sessions, a Sound Bath will stand in for yoga as a special relaxing treat!
6PM: Dinner
After dinner: Fun literary games for generative writing!
Sunday
We’ll have breakfast and ask that you check out of your room by 10AM. You’re welcome to stay until 11AM.
What’s the application process & fees?
Application
All interested writers must apply via application and submit a personal statement. The application fee is $20. Participation is limited to twenty writers in order to ensure that everyone receives the individual attention they deserve.
Northern California Writers’ Retreat is only open to fiction writers. You must be 21+ to apply.
Deadlines
Applications close May 18th.
We will get back to you with our decision on June 3rd.
Fees & Fine Print
All rooms are SINGLE rooms with bathroom ensuite. The bathroom includes a toilet, sink, and shower stall. All linens and towels are provided by the retreat center.
$2,897 for 4 nights and 5 days, all meals, snacks, and beverages included.
Upon acceptance, we will require a $1000 non-refundable deposit.
Needs-based financial aid opportunities are only available for our Spring retreats; we will be announcing those retreat dates in August. Aid varies year-to-year and will be determined after application and acceptance. Fees paid to Northern California Writers’ Retreat are not charitable donations. Deposits and fees are not refundable. Travel expenses and transportation to and from NCWR are not included.
— Cecilia Rabess, Author of Everything’s Fine
— Author-in-Residence 2025 Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist and the Jaipur Trilogy
— Karen Hugg, Author of Leaf Your Troubles Behind and The Forgetting Flower
— Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl
— Kristine Hansen, Author of four nonfiction books including Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin: How America's Most Famous Architect Found Inspiration in His Home State
— Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit
— Colleen McKeegan, Author of The Wild One and Rip Tide
— Theresa Shea, Author of The Unfinished Child and The Shade Tree
— Bethany Browning, Author of Sasquatch, Baby! and Trouble's Afoot
Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process & Fees
Can I share more than 500 words for my personal statement?
Because of the number of submissions we receive, we ask that you keep your statement within the word limit.
Do you offer financial aid?
Not for the Quail Retreat. We offer financial aid for our Poppy Retreats. Aid varies year-to-year and will be determined after application and acceptance.
If I apply, am I guaranteed a spot?
Unfortunately we can’t accept every writer who applies as we have limited space. Please be sure to really tell us about yourself and your writing journey in your personal statement, emphasizing why this particular retreat appeals to you.
Do you provide transportation to and from the retreat?
No, we do not. You will need to coordinate your own transportation to and from the retreat, though once our session participants are finalized, we put you all in touch with each other so you can see who may be flying in at the same time, or if there are other writers in your area who may want to carpool.
The closest airport to the retreat is Monterey (MRY), about thirty minutes away. San Jose airport (SJC) is about an hour and a half away. San Francisco airport (SFO) is about two hours away (all of this is traffic depending!). We recommend Groome Transportation from SFO and SJC and they can even arrange door-to-door drop off/pick up.
Why the $20 application fee?
We want to be sure that the writers who apply are serious about their writing and their intent of attending Northern California Writers’ Retreat.
What's the difference between the Quail and Poppy retreats?
Our Quail Retreat happens in the fall with new retreats announced in March. The Quail Retreat is focused on craft, generating new pages, and sharing your creations aloud. Our Author-in-Residence and editor Heather Lazare run daily workshops and writers will get a chance to workshop with each of them. Our goal with this retreat is to provide inspiration and guidance, as well as uninterrupted hours for writers to delve into their work.
Our Poppy Retreats occur every Spring, with new retreats and dates announced in August. Poppy Retreats are publishing focused, featuring 1 Author-in-Residence, 2 Guest Literary Agents, and 1 Editor, to give you a well-rounded understanding of the publishing industry. We do written workshops of 20 pages submitted prior to the retreat, and workshops are facilitated by each literary agent and editor Heather Lazare. Our goal is to create community and bring together writers with similar publishing ambitions, and give them the tools to understand the next steps in their publishing journey.
Can I share my nonfiction or poetry?
No. We are a fiction retreat and the pages you share need to be fiction.
I’m ready to apply!!
Wonderful! We are currently OPEN for submissions and would love to here from you, so please APPLY!
Make sure to sign up for our newsletter & listen to our Book Journey podcast wherever you like to get your pods, plus follow us on Instagram to learn more about future retreats and our Virtual Courses (check our upcoming ones out here!).
Do you offer financial aid?
Not for the Quail Retreat. We offer financial aid for the Poppy Retreats. Aid varies year-to-year and will be determined after application and acceptance.
If I apply, am I guaranteed a spot?
Can I share more than 500 words for my personal statement?
Because of the number of submissions we receive, we ask that you keep your statement within the word limit.
Why the $20 application fee?
Can I share my nonfiction or poetry?
No. We are a fiction retreat and the pages you share need to be fiction.
What's the difference between the Quail and Poppy Retreats?
Our Quail Retreat happens in the fall with new retreats announced in March. The Quail Retreat is focused on craft, generating new pages, and sharing your creations aloud. Our Author-in-Residence and editor Heather Lazare run daily workshops and writers will get a chance to workshop with each of them. Our goal with this retreat is to provide inspiration and guidance, as well as uninterrupted hours for writers to delve into their work.
Our Poppy Retreats occur every Spring, with new retreats and dates announced in August. Poppy Retreats are publishing focused, featuring 1 Author-in-Residence, 2 Guest Literary Agents, and 1 Editor, to give you a well-rounded understanding of the publishing industry. We do written workshops of 20 pages submitted prior to the retreat, and workshops are facilitated by each literary agent and editor Heather Lazare. Our goal is to create community and bring together writers with similar publishing ambitions, and give them the tools to understand the next steps in their publishing journey.
I’m ready to apply!!
Wonderful! We are currently open for submissions, so please use the APPLY link to submit your personal statement.
Make sure to sign up for our newsletter & listen to our Book Journey podcast wherever you like to get your pods, plus follow us on Instagram to learn more about future retreats and our Virtual Courses (check our upcoming ones out here!).
Retreat & Location
Can you tell me more about the location?
Northern California Writers’ Retreat takes place at Hidden Valley, an Institute of the Arts, in Carmel Valley, California–you may have seen it featured in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. The Hidden Valley campus is a rustic, 10-acre site in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. All facilities and rooms are on the ground floor and easily accessible. It is walking distance to the shops and galleries of Carmel Valley Village. Should you have any questions about the property, please contact us.
Can I bring a guest?
I'm local, do I need to stay overnight?
Yes. Our retreat price is all-inclusive and your experience is further enhanced by being amongst community throughout your time here (plus you don’t have to go home and do dishes or cook!).
Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
What are the rooms like?
The vibe is very adult summer camp–rooms are simple, and each has a bathroom ensuite (with shower, toilet, and sink). All linens and towels are provided by the retreat center. Most rooms have two beds, though we’ll only have one writer in each room in order to allow everyone privacy and quiet. Our goal is to provide a peaceful, tranquil experience that both fosters community and respects the space needed to create.
Can you tell me more about the location?
Northern California Writers’ Retreat takes place at Hidden Valley, an Institute of the Arts, in Carmel Valley, California–you may have seen it featured in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. The Hidden Valley campus is a rustic, 10-acre site in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. All facilities and rooms are on the ground floor and easily accessible. It is walking distance to the shops and galleries of Carmel Valley Village. Should you have any questions about the property, please contact us.
What are the rooms like?
The vibe is very adult summer camp–rooms are simple, and each has a bathroom ensuite (with shower, toilet, and sink). All linens and towels are provided by the retreat center. Most rooms have two beds, though we’ll only have one writer in each room in order to allow everyone privacy and quiet. Our goal is to provide a peaceful, tranquil experience that both fosters community and respects the space needed to create.
Can I bring a guest?
I'm local, do I need to stay overnight?
Yes. Our retreat price is all-inclusive and your experience is further enhanced by being amongst community throughout your time here (plus you don’t have to go home and do dishes or cook!).
Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
Join Us For Our Next Northern California Writers’ Retreat!
Writing time, workshopping, publishing talk, inspiration, connection, and more