Can I be honest with you about writing retreats? Most of the time, you get a lot of information about writing, but few have the goal of helping you actually finish your book. That’s where we’re different.
You have a book inside you. Maybe it’s been there for years. Maybe you’ve started it a dozen times, or it’s a quiet dream.
We have something to say about that… watch this video, then read about our unique retreat!
Well, what do you think?
You tell yourself you’ll write your book after the kids are older. You plan to do it after life slows down. Then you hope for a free weekend to make progress.
But here’s what my friend Amber Lia and I have learned after writing and publishing hundreds of books between us: a productive weekend never comes unless you plan for it. And the good news? We’ve planned it for you!
Watch this video and then read about the retreat we’ll be hosting!
My family and yes… I’ve learned to be a productive writer while also being Mom and Nana!
The Real Reason Your Book Isn’t Finished Yet
When Amber and I sat down recently to talk about what actually holds writers back, we didn’t discuss talent or time. We talked about three things that quietly steal your finish line:
- You’re waiting for life to slow down. (It won’t. Trust me. I have 10 kids. Amber has four sons and lives in what she affectionately calls a “testosterone house.” We both write anyway.)
- You’re trying to figure it all out alone. The editing process, the structure, the audience, the next steps. It’s a lot to carry by yourself. No one should have to.
- You have no finish line. Nobody at the front of the classroom is saying, “Get it done by 3 o’clock.” Without accountability and a clear target, even the best intentions drift.
Does any of that sound familiar? I thought so. You’re not alone, and that’s exactly why Amber and I are doing something about it.
Amber’s family keeps her busy!
Three Writing Tips That Will Change Everything
Before I tell you about the most exciting thing we’re doing this October, let me share a few of the things that have made the biggest difference in my writing — and in Amber’s.
1. Stop Writing for the Editor. Start Writing for Your Reader.
So much of our creative energy gets strangled when we’re worried about proposals and word counts and what an editor might think. The moment you shift your focus to one specific reader (someone you can picture, someone with real pain points you understand), everything gets clearer, faster, and more alive.
I never scroll social media just for fun. I’m always asking: What does my reader need from me today?
Our audience asks questions and posts about their struggles. These are HUGE clues about what they need from us as writers.
That’s the secret behind writing four books a year with a full house… focus on the reader and write FOR them in the fringes of your day.
2. Understand Your Format Before You Write a Single Word.
When I wrote my very first novel, I had my heroine going shopping for winter clothes and visiting a travel agency before her big adventure even started.
An editor finally told me: “Think of it like a movie. Cut to the next scene.”
That one moment of feedback saved me years of confusion. Once you understand story structure — the inciting incident, the midpoint, the climax — writing stops being a mystery and starts being a map.
3. Get the Words Down. Then Make Them Beautiful.
Early in my writing life, I would edit the same first page over and over again, trying to make it look like a bestselling book on the shelf.
Here’s the truth: nothing we write at first is “good enough.” And that is perfectly, wonderfully okay.
Write it rough. Write it messy. Write it imperfect. You can’t polish something that doesn’t exist yet.
What Would You Do With Four Focused Days?
Imagine this: four days where the only thing on your agenda is your book. No dishes. No to-do lists. No one needing anything from you. Just you, your words, the most beautiful fall foliage in Arkansas, and two bestselling authors right there beside you — cheering you on, coaching you in real time, and helping you finally cross that finish line.
That’s exactly what Amber and I are creating this October at our very first writing retreat in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Friend, we have been praying over this.
Everything has fallen into place.
In the most providential way, we are ready to welcome you.
Register for The Finish Line Intensive
✨ Writers Intensive Retreat📍 Hot Springs, Arkansas
📅 October 2026 (Thursday–Sunday)
🙋 Only 24 spots available — 6 already confirmed!
Register Now!
Here’s What Your Four Days Will Look Like
Thursday — Your Personal Deep Dive
We kick things off with a pre-conference day at my home. Yes, my actual house, with the medieval-European-castle kitchen, I fell in love with the moment I walked in.
We are all yours. We end the evening together over a shared dinner right here in my home.
This is your day for one-on-one attention from both Amber and me. Whatever you need:
- clarity on your project
- help choosing between ideas
- a fresh perspective on a stuck chapter
Friday & Saturday — Deep Work at Mariposa Retreat Center
We move to the stunning Mariposa Place of Wellness. Twenty breathtaking acres owned by my friend Dr. Keisha Bryant, nestled between my home and Hot Springs.
There are nature trails for brain breaks, a commercial kitchen, hills overlooking the trees (which will be ablaze with fall color), and wildlife around every corner. It is the most inspiring place I can imagine doing this work.
This is where the magic happens. We’re not just going to talk about writing. We are going to write.
Amber says it best: it’s easy to get obese on information if you never exercise it. So we’re building in real, dedicated writing time, with Amber and me right there in the room with you, available to look over your shoulder and say, “What about this? Have you tried that?”
One evening, we’ll head into Hot Springs itself (where hot water actually bubbles up out of the earth!) for a fun outing together.
Fun fact: Hot Springs was once the spring training hub for Major League Baseball and the mafia. So, you know. It has stories.
Sunday — Send-Off at My Home
We close the weekend back at my place with a shared breakfast, a time of prayer, and the most important thing you’ll leave with: your concrete next steps.
We’ll also help you discover a real, specific, actionable plan mapped to where you are and where you want to go!
The Food, the Fellowship, the Fun
We are not messing around with the details. Every meal is included and prepared by our personal chef. Think nourishing soups, fresh salads, healthy snacks, and food that keeps your blood sugar stable and your creative energy flowing.
Your body and your brain are going to be so well taken care of.
And the people? Oh, the people.
Let me give you some backstory… some of my dearest author friends (bestselling names you’d recognize today) were complete beginners when we first met at a conference years ago. We got where we are now … together!
What about you?
The community you build at an event like this can last a lifetime. We’re also creating an online community that continues throughout 2026 and 2027, so the support doesn’t stop when you drive home.
This Is For You — Wherever You Are
Maybe you have a half-finished manuscript. Maybe you have three ideas and no idea which one to chase. Maybe your book is technically done, but you have no clue what to do next. It doesn’t matter. We will meet you exactly where you are.
There is no judgment here — only encouragement, strategy, and a whole lot of joy. And you don’t need more talent. You don’t need a quieter life. You probably just need this.
And you don’t need more talent. You don’t need a quieter life. You probably just need this.
Your 30 Seconds of Brave
Amber and I had our own 30 seconds of bravery when we hit “publish” on the application form and asked ourselves, Is anyone even going to want to come? People showed up. Because God is clearly up to something here.
Now it’s your turn.
Don’t wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow has a way of never arriving. You’re reading this for a reason. The obstacle in your way — the busy schedule, the self-doubt, the unfinished draft — that’s not a stop sign. That’s the very thing we’re going to tackle together. The obstacle, friend, is the way.
To claim your spot, fill out the JotForm application. We’d love to have you. Grab a friend and come together. There’s nothing better than doing something brave with someone you love.
Only 24 spots total. Six are already gone. Don’t let this be the thing you put off until someday.
Register Now!
We love you, we believe in your book, and we cannot wait to see you in Arkansas this October. 🍂
With so much love and excitement,
Tricia Goyer (and Amber Lia 🌟)
