Welcome to BRW’s online home, which is under construction. BRW is a meditation and freewriting group that welcomes everyone. Learn more here. As we continue to work on other parts of this site, we want to tell you about our upcoming retreat…
Writing Together:
Women’s Retreat
Friday, October 2 -
in the Catskills
Monday, October 5
Take a break and bring your full attention to your writing.
Sink into the support of group energy.
Begin, develop, or finish a project with structured time and gentle guidance.
We’re currently full, but if you’re interested, sign up for the Waitlist!
photo of Beecher Lake by Karen Dodds
One Fee Covers Everything…
We take a whole-person approach to the project of writing. This retreat is designed to help you bring your full self - body, mind, heart/spirit - to your creative process.
The price covers your program fee, your room, and all your food and beverages.
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BODY
Writers smell, touch, hear, see, and taste the world. We use our senses to show our readers what we want to share.
This retreat gives you a chance to slow down and take in the gorgeous scenery and soundscape and the feels of fall in the mountains. You get to reinhabit your body and bring its aliveness onto the page.
And your body gets supported by delicious, wholesome vegetarian meals, along with healthy (and “splurge!”) snacks whenever you want them.
Stretch and dance breaks support flow ~ release, refresh, reboot ~ and keep the body in the creative mix.
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MIND
Thanks to our daily breaks for meditation, the driving, calculating, fixing, making lists part of your mind can rest a bit. Your imagination has time and room to deepen and expand. And if your project calls for organizational thinking, that’ll be more accessible, too.
Being away from your every-day responsibilities also helps. Connecting with other writers gives your mind the friendly, encouraging stimulation that’s hard to access in our normal lives.
You’ll get clarity from taking time to breathe and communing with the colorful natural world. You’ll be able to feel and trust your intuition about what comes next in your project and/or in your writing life more generally.
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HEART & SPIRIT
Calm body, relaxed mind. This is a chance to connect to your tender, open heart. Having or developing the courage to stay with our hearts when there is pain or sadness or rage is the practice that guides us to stay open to our friends and to the world in the presence of suffering.
Since writing is an act of empathy - the writer needs to be able to put themselves in the reader’s perspective - this softening and strengthening of the heart is crucial.
And the Breathe/Read/Write process, with its supportive-sharing step, embodies this empathetic exchange, setting the ground for rich reader-writer connections beyond the BRW circles.
We also want you to have something to bring the retreat alive again when it’s over.
During and after our time together, we’ll be collecting your poems and stories. Asking you to send your photos and paintings of the trees, lake, mountain, favorite spot on the dock, and writing-together moments.
We’ll compile these into a small pdf “book” and email them to everybody so we can stay inspired.
A Note about Breathe/Read/Write
In BRW circles, we meditate, listen to a selected poem, freewrite in response, and share what comes through. It’s a reliable structure that kindles creativity and connection.
Find out more about BRW and its founder Lisa Freedman…
RETREAT SETTING
Beecher House in the Catskill Mountains
If you want a quiet and beautiful place to get away and focus on your writing, Beecher House is ideal. You’ll be in an old-growth forest at peak leaf-peeping time. You’ll be far from the crowds and their distractions. You’ll be away from light and other kinds of pollution.
You’ll be in a place that lends itself to mindfulness and clarity. You’ll be with other creative people who know the value of going off and getting taken care of so you have time and energy to do your true work.
The layout of the house lets you write alone and connect with companions when you want to.
The retreat runs October 2–5. Best time for extraordinary colors in the Catskills.
Beecher House is…
about 20 miles from Livingston Manor, NY
surrounded by 1,400 acres of forest and meadows in the Catskill Mountains Preserve
perched on a pristine lake
part of the Dai Bosatsu Zendo campus
No hidden costs. Your fee covers food, lodging, program, and more.
Food & Drink
All meals are included — daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each afternoon, tea, wine, and soft drinks are provided, along with appetizers, so we can take a break together after our days of writing. BRW also supplies the snacks and beverages for the evening salons.
Our Beecher House chefs serve fresh, delicious vegetarian food made on site.
Hot and cold beverages (think fresh local cider!) and fruit and nibbles are available all day every day.
Before each meal, we’ll gather for an optional gratitude meditation (a brief pause to acknowledge the earth, the labor, and the food).
Dietary restrictions and food allergies can be accommodated — note them at registration or contact Lisa directly.
OCTOBER 2–5
Click on any “+” to see more info…
Retreat Schedule
DAY ONE · OCT 2
Arrive & Connect
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Check in for our Writing Together Retreat starts at 12:30 pm ET. You’ll be shown to your room.
Tea and snacks will be available. Arrive early if you can to greet your writer companions and to do your first round of leaf-peeping.
We don’t recommend arriving after dark. It’s easy to miss the turn off for the long driveway.
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We will gather in the living room at 4 pm to do our first round of BRW*: a brief guided meditation, freewrite off a prompt to introduce ourselves, and supportive (and optional) sharing.
Followed by an overview of our schedule and the layout of Beecher House and the surrounding woods and lake.
Topped off by a wine or tea happy hour with appetizers!
***
*If you’re new to BRW, here’s how it works!
Breathe/Read/ Write: We get quiet and tune into our bodies. We sit with the silence and with whatever’s happening inside and around us.
Then we add a poem to prompt a round of free-writing (5 to 10 minutes). We put our pens on the page* and let the words come, without correcting or trying to make sense.
After that, we have a chance to share what we’ve written with people who want to hear our words and who receive them with appreciation, sometimes awe. And we get to take in our companions’ writings.
The BRW circles make us feel less alone, and we often feel at least a little more powerful.
*If writing by hand is difficult for you, no worries. You’re welcome to use your keyboard.
BRW is open to meditators and writers at all levels. Please come with beginner’s mind and let what you need to say - as rough or polished as it may be - come through.
-
Before each meal, we’ll have an optional pause to acknowledge the earth, the labor (including our on-site kitchen staff), and the food!
All meals are vegetarian. Let me know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
We’ll gather again in the living room to breathe and give ourselves (body, mind, heart) a chance to land.
Then we’ll freewrite off a prompt to explore what we love and what we struggle with when it comes to writing and any fears and hopes we might have for this retreat.
Sharing will be optional and feedback will be guided to be supportive.
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As our Writing Together Retreat gets underway, we’ll take a moment to check in and give everyone a chance to think about what kinds of shared behaviors and attitudes will help them do their best work and feel supported.
Things like respecting the quiet times (for writing and for sleeping), honoring confidentiality, and acknowledging and working through any tensions that might arise.
As a group, we will agree to the understandings that work for us. We will revisit and update our agreements whenever that feels right.
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Dance Break: When we’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in the mental realm and lose track of the body. But the body’s wisdom and energy are important parts of the creative process.
That’s why we tune in to and connect with the body when we meditate. It’s also why we end our days of writing with a chance to dance together and shake stuff out or flow stuff in.
Unless other formats emerge, our dance breaks will last about 15 minutes. They’ll involve well-known songs that make you want to move. Requests welcome.
The dancing will be as free as the free-writing - Anything that’s reasonably safe goes. Dance together. Dance with your eyes closed. Dance in your chair. Dance in stillness.
The Salons will be a chance to share your work and to hear what others are writing. Everyone will get at least one chance to share over the course of our three evenings. Time limits and other parameters will be determined when we see how many people want to read their work.
Beverages and nibbles will be available.
-
This is a chance for us to gather before bed and mark our transition from the waking world to the dream world:
We might go outside and take a moment of silence as we gaze at the stars.
We might sip tea around the fireplace and share a few favorite poems.
We might sing a sleepy song together if someone can guide us.
We’ll all respect quiet hours between 10:30 pm and 7:15 am: Speak softly, no device audio sounds without headphones or earbuds, move with as little noise as you’re able.
DAYS TWO & THREE · OCT 3–4
Time to Breathe & Write
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Begin your day with an optional round of meditation. We will meet in the meditation room of Beecher House.
After Lisa guides us to settle into our bodies and get rooted, we will practice “peacefully abiding” meditation and rest our attention on the breath and/or the sound scape for about 20 minutes.
Like the free-writing, this is a free practice beneficial for beginners as well as expert meditators. The idea is to get quiet and make friends with your mind, whether it is calm or busy or sleepy or eager to get moving!
Chairs, cushions, and props to help you find a good posture for your body will be available.
-
All meals are vegetarian. Let us know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
The Morning BRW Circle
We’ll do a brief meditation and freewrite off a poem prompt designed to get the creative juices flowing.
Sharing will be optional, and responses will be supportive.
Think of this session as your portal into a day of deep writing.
***
If you’re new to BRW, here’s how it works!
Breathe/Read/ Write: We get quiet and tune into our bodies. We sit with the silence and with whatever’s happening inside and around us.
Then we add a poem to prompt a round of free-writing (5 to 10 minutes). We put our pens on the page* and let the words come, without correcting or trying to make sense.
After that, we have a chance to share what we’ve written with people who want to hear our words and who receive them with appreciation, sometimes awe. And we get to take in our companions’ writings.
The BRW circles make us feel less alone, and we often feel at least a little more powerful.
*If writing by hand is difficult for you, no worries. You’re welcome to use your keyboard.
BRW is open to meditators and writers at all levels. Please come with beginner’s mind and let what you need to say - as rough or polished as it may be - come through.
-
This is your time to work on your own in the presence of others or in your own space.
You might have a poem or essay or book you’re ready to dive into.
You might have a deadline you’re ready to dive in and meet.
You might be a new, shy, or stuck writer who’s ready to dive in and get words on the page.
You might find it helpful to get one-on-one guidance from Lisa. Details here.
Based on the flow of BRW’s Studio Time Sessions in Zoom, I predict that you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the end of this open writing time by how supported and accomplished you feel.
***
You can also walk around the lake and admire the fall leaves. More ambitious hikes are available, too, either on the grounds of Beecher Lake (if the trails are in good shape) or in nearby parks.
Downtown Livingston Manor is about 40 minutes away by car. There you can find quaint cafes and one-of-a-kind shops and galleries.
-
Before each meal, we’ll have an optional pause to acknowledge the earth, the labor (including our on-site kitchen staff), and the food!
All meals are vegetarian. Let us know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
Groggy after lunch?
If you tend to feel sleepy after lunch, come to this optional gathering in the living room. We will gently stretch, shake, and/or dance to avoid the mid-day doldrums.
Then we will do a brief round of Breathe/Read/Write as a portal into our afternoon of writing.
***
If you’re new to BRW, here’s how it works!
Breathe/Read/ Write: We get quiet and tune into our bodies. We sit with the silence and with whatever’s happening inside and around us.
Then we add a poem to prompt a round of free-writing (5 to 10 minutes). We put our pens on the page* and let the words come, without correcting or trying to make sense.
After that, we have a chance to share what we’ve written with people who want to hear our words and who receive them with appreciation, sometimes awe. And we get to take in our companions’ writings.
The BRW circles make us feel less alone, and we often feel at least a little more powerful.
*If writing by hand is difficult for you, no worries. You’re welcome to use your keyboard.
BRW is open to meditators and writers at all levels. Please come with beginner’s mind and let what you need to say - as rough or polished as it may be - come through.
-
This is your time to work on your own in the presence of others or in your own space.
You might have a poem or essay or book you’re ready to dive into.
You might have a deadline you’re ready to dive in and meet.
You might be a new, shy, or stuck writer who’s ready to dive in and get words on the page.
You might find it helpful to get one-on-one guidance from Lisa. Details here.
Based on the flow of BRW’s Studio Time Sessions in Zoom, I predict that you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the end of this open writing time by how supported and accomplished you feel.
**
You can also walk around the lake and admire the fall leaves. More ambitious hikes are available, too, either on the grounds of Beecher Lake (if the trails are in good shape) or in nearby parks.
Downtown Livingston Manor is about 40 minutes away by car. There you can find quaint cafes and one-of-a-kind shops and galleries.
-
As we transition out of our deep writing time, we will take a moment to breathe and reset.
We will open up all of our senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and bring them to our beverages and appetizers. Then, with the help of a prompt, we will do a five-minute sensory freewrite.
As we sip and nibble and watch the sun start to set, we’ll have a chance to share these freewrites in small groups.
-
Before each meal, we’ll have an optional pause to acknowledge the earth, the labor (including our on-site kitchen staff), and the food!
All meals are vegetarian. Let us know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
Dance Break: When we’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in the mental realm and lose track of the body. But the body’s wisdom and energy are important parts of the creative process.
That’s why we tune in to and connect with the body when we meditate. It’s also why we end our days of writing with a chance to dance together and shake stuff out or flow stuff in.
Unless other formats emerge, our dance breaks will last about 15 minutes. They’ll involve well-known songs that make you want to move. Requests welcome.
The dancing will be as free as the free-writing - Anything that’s reasonably safe goes. Dance together. Dance with your eyes closed. Dance in your chair. Dance in stillness.
***
The Evening BRW will be a chance to pause and get centered and freewrite, with the help of a prompt, a reflection on the day’s joys, challenges, and accomplishments. You’ll have a chance to share these in small groups.
***
The Salons will be a chance to share your work and to hear what others are writing. Everyone will get at least one chance to share over the course of our three evenings. Time limits and other parameters will be determined when we see how many people want to read their work.
Beverages and nibbles will be available.
-
This is a chance for us to gather before bed and mark our transition from the waking world to the dream world:
We might go outside and take a moment of silence as we gaze at the stars.
We might sip tea around the fireplace and share a few favorite poems.
We might sing a sleepy song together if someone can guide us.
We’ll all respect quiet hours between 10:30 pm and 7:15 am: Speak softly, no device audio sounds without headphones or earbuds, move with as little noise as you’re able.
DAY FOUR · OCT 5
Time to Write, Collaborate & Say Au Revoir
-
Begin your final day of our WRITING TOGETHER Retreat with an optional round of meditation. We will meet in the meditation room of Beecher House.
After Lisa guides us to settle into our bodies and get rooted, we will practice “peacefully abiding” meditation and rest our attention on the breath and/or the sound scape for about 20 minutes.
Like the free-writing, this is a free practice beneficial for beginners as well as expert meditators. The idea is to get quiet and make friends with your mind, whether it is calm or busy or sleepy or eager to get moving!
Chairs, cushions, and props to help you find a good posture for your body will be available.
-
All meals are vegetarian. Let us know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
BRW Circle for Our Last Morning Together
We’ll do a brief meditation and freewrite off a poem prompt designed to help us reflect on the retreat and what’s next:
What discoveries, challenges, breakthroughs, insights, and/or connections have emerged over the past few days?
What do you envision for your writing as fall flows into winter?
Sharing will be optional, and responses will be supportive.
Think of this session as a portal into processing the retreat and metabolizing its nourishment.
***
If you’re new to BRW, here’s how it works!
Breathe/Read/ Write: We get quiet and tune into our bodies. We sit with the silence and with whatever’s happening inside and around us.
Then we add a poem to prompt a round of free-writing (5 to 10 minutes). We put our pens on the page* and let the words come, without correcting or trying to make sense.
After that, we have a chance to share what we’ve written with people who want to hear our words and who receive them with appreciation, sometimes awe. And we get to take in our companions’ writings.
The BRW circles make us feel less alone, and we often feel at least a little more powerful.
*If writing by hand is difficult for you, no worries. You’re welcome to use your keyboard.
BRW is open to meditators and writers at all levels. Please come with beginner’s mind and let what you need to say - as rough or polished as it may be - come through.
-
As our WRITING TOGETHER retreat begins to wind down, you might want to focus on your own project and set yourself up to dive back in when you’re at home.
Alternatively, you might want to work and play!! with your companions on a free-spirited, imaginative souvenir booklet to commemorate our time together. We’ll gather our freewrites, poems, and other writings.
We can also include images of gorgeous fall leaves, one another (with permission), Beecher Lake, our works of visual art.
Whatever we gather today will lay the ground for the booklet that Lisa will compile and share with everyone in the coming months.
-
Before each meal, we’ll have an optional pause to acknowledge the earth, the labor (including our on-site kitchen staff), and the food!
This will be our final meal together at Beecher House, so it’s a good time to thank the kitchen crew face to face.
All meals are vegetarian. Let us know ahead of time if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions. We’ll make sure you have what you need.
-
We’ll take a moment to breathe in the beauty of Beecher Lake in the fall and the beauty of your fine work and the connections that are taking root.
Then, if you’re willing, we will snap a WRITING TOGETHER group photo and send everyone off with blessings for safe travels.
***
Will we be able to keep in touch after the retreat? Yes. Lisa will compile the contact info for everyone who opts into a group sheet and send this out in the coming weeks.
Lisa Freedman, founder of BRW, will guide the morning meditations, the BRW sessions, the pre-meal “give thanks” circles, the evening dance breaks, and the salons. She and her assistant will be on-site and available to answer any questions and address any concerns. In addition, you can sign up for one-on-one meditation or writing coaching with Lisa during the retreat. Details here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Choose your room
All room types include your lodging and your daily meals, snacks, & beverages and all your daily activities.
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Room w 2 Twin Beds for 2 People
Share a room with one other attendee. Accessible price point — and thoughtful roommate matching.
Price per person:
From $770 early bird · $1,100 regular
SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist
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Room w Queen Bed - Private
Your own room. Ideal if you do your best writing in solitude or simply want the space to fully land.
From $1,015 early bird · $1,450 regular
SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist
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Room w Queen Bed - Paired
Coming with a friend or partner? Book together and share a deluxe room.
Price per person:
From $875 early bird · $1,250 regular
SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist
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Room w 2 Twin Beds - Private
A room for one person with two twin beds - space to spread out your books and papers, if you like.
From $1,015 early bird · $1,355 regular
SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist
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Room w Full Bed - Private
A room for one person with a full bed.
From $935 early bird · $1,370 regular
SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist
We’re full. Sign up for the Waitlist!
We’re so glad you’re interested in BRW’s Writing Together Retreat this fall. Because the response to BRW’s retreat has been so great (yay!), at this point we are only accepting sign ups for the Waitlist.
As soon as we can confirm that there is room for you, we will reach out to schedule a conversation to make sure that the retreat is a good fit for you. If it is, I will show you your room option(s), and we will make sure your lodging is also a good fit.
If this retreat doesn’t work out for you, I will share recommendations of other options that can be helpful.