Write a Winning Book Proposal

January 27 - 30, 2022

Address: South Beach, Newport, Oregon, USA

Sample Schedule:
8:00 am: Fresh coffee and tea available
8:30 am-11:00 am: Breakfast and Workshop/Writing (Eggs, baked goods, fruit, oatmeal etc.)
11:00 am-1:30 pm: Break/Writing time
1:30-3:30 pm: Lunch and Workshop (May include sandwiches, salads, soups)
3:30 pm-7 pm: Break/Writing time
7 pm: Dinner (May include fresh seafood; pasta; grilled veggies and meats.)
Fireside critiques

Check in/Out and Food and Drinks:
Check-In: After 5 pm. Casual veggie chili dinner available as you get settled.
Day One, Two, Three: Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, two drinks (beer or wine)
Day Four: Breakfast, lunch, snacks. Check out 5 pm.
*Coffee, tea, seltzer, and juices available all day.
*Dietary restriction will be respected with prior notice
*Extra days do not include food, but leftovers may be available

  • Adventure Suite - Private – $3,618.00
  • Adventure Suite - Shared Bed – $1,320.00
  • Adventure Suite - Shared Room – $1,719.00
  • Fantasy Room - Private – $2,118.00
  • Fantasy Room - Shared bed – $1,320.00
  • Humor - Shared Room – $1,518.00
  • Humor Room - Private – $2,118.00
  • Mystery Room - Private – $2,118.00
  • Mystery Room - Shared room – $1,518.00
  • Nature Room - Private – $2,118.00
  • Nature Room - Shared Bed – $1,320.00

Have an idea for book? Writing a book proposal is the best first step to writing a nonfiction or creative nonfiction book. (Also enormously useful for memoir and short story collections.) An excellent proposal helps you organize your ideas, understand the competition, and can help you land a publishing contract even before you write the book.

This retreat will take you step-by-step through the major parts of the book proposal: the overview, competitive analysis, the market, marketing and promotions, author background, and outline. Come with an idea, come ready to write, and you can leave with a rough draft of a proposal.  (For writers of books for adults and children, nonfiction, memoir and linked short story collections.)

This retreat is a 10-week intensive condensed into four days. We gather for two-hour workshops that include prompts to generate material for your book proposal.  You have time to write each day. At dinner we share community, questions, and updates on our work. After dinner, we gather around a crackling fire to read aloud sections and to get and give feedback.

The official retreat is four days, four nights, but you can register to add extra writing days to the end.

Class Offerings

Day One Morning: The Overview

Day Two Afternoon: Competitive Analysis

Day Three Morning: The Market

Day Three Afternoon: Marketing

Day Four Morning: Chapter Outline

Day Four Afternoon: About the Author/Query Letter