The Creative Wilderness is Real—But You Don't Have to Walk It Alone
Let’s be honest, writing a book is lonely, sedentary work. Most of us spend our days hunched over glowing screens, drinking reheated tea or coffee, trying to untangle plot holes all by ourselves. We stare at a cursor, hoping the muse will find us in the wee hours of the morning because it’s the only time you can write undisturbed.
But stories don't grow in vacuums (and they certainly aren’t werewolves transforming by the light of the full moon—well, not always...) Stories grow in the wild.
At Return to the Wild, we believe that to write stories that breathe, you have to step outside and breathe the wild air yourself. We design and host immersive, craft-based writing retreats for women and non-binary writers. Our mission is simple: to help you strip away the noise of everyday life, sink your fingers into the earth, and reconnect with the raw, untamed spirit of your creativity. Oh, and we also believe in the em dash! Long live the em-dash!
A Return to the Wild retreat is not just a holiday with a notebook, it is a dedicated, magic-filled adventure for you, your creative spirit, and your manuscript.
A Traveler’s Inspiration
We gather in places where the landscape demands to be felt. Whether we are walking through the mist-veiled old-growth forests of Bowen Island, exploring geothermal turf houses in Iceland, or listening to the rain hit an oak canopy in England, we use the physical world to wake up our senses. We teach you how to translate the rhythm of the land onto the page, building atmosphere that readers can taste, smell, and feel.
The Mechanics of Story
While we believe in the magic of inspiration, we also believe in the discipline of gentle structure—and how to challenge that very framework. Our daily workshops are hands-on and guided by the infinite world around us. You won’t just think about your book and creative self, you will actively embody your practice. We dive deep, and each retreat explores unique elements specifically designed for Return to the Wild.
Literary Agent, Editor, & Forest-Dweller
By day, Marina is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency and founder & CEO of both Return to the Wild and The Meadow Club for Writers. Not only is she a writer herself, she has also previously worked as a Big 5 acquiring editor and as a bookseller. Marina has seen the industry from almost every angle and, from her experience, helps writers around her to illuminate an industry shrouded in unnecessary mystery.
Marina created Return to the Wild because she wanted to bridge the gap between the creative spirit and the practical business side of the traditional publishing industry. It is her hope that at Return to the Wild you will learn not just how to find your voice, how to pitch your story, and shepherd it into the hands of readers, but also how to reconnect to yourself and the wild world around you.
Your Garden is Waiting
Writing may be a solitary act, but authorhood requires a village. At our retreats, you will share hearth-side critiques, long walks, and late-night laughs with a small, intimate community of writers who understand your unique magic and who will help you see it too!
You bring your curiosity and your manuscript. With the help of Mother Nature, we’ll provide the fresh air, the industry expertise, and plenty of warm tea.
