The CBB Writers' Retreat
July 17-21, 2026
Join us in the mountains of Washington State for an amazing long weekend of writing, comradery, and growth.
Only nine writers can attend—don't wait to register!
Register Here"Craft Better Books has done it again. For the second year in a row, their writing retreat was more than a way for authors to isolate themselves with a keyboard. It was a way to build community, decompress from the noisy world, and fill our emotional and creative cups. Just like last year, I benefited from the one-on-one coaching. Working together in person is what makes the retreat worthwhile."
— P. E. Robinson, Speculative Fiction Writer; alumnus of the 2023 & 2024 retreats —
The 2026 Craft Better Books Writers' Retreat Includes...
Room & Board
Once you arrive at our retreat location, you don’t have to worry about anything but writing.
- When you register, you'll be able to select a single-occupancy or bunk room—no surprise roommates.
- Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are all self-serve, while dinners are home-cooked by Andrew. The self-serve options and dinner menu will be tailored to align with the group's preferences (and to omit allergens as needed).
"Imagine being transported to a beautiful location in the Cascade mountains with peaceful surroundings, no distractions, and the ability to just focus on your writing... then add in a layer of fun and relevant workshops and dedicated coaching time to talk about your work. As if that weren't enough, add in delicious food and comradery! Despite being a beginner and not having previously worked with Katie and Andrew, I was welcomed with open arms and it was well worth the trip. I can't wait for next year!"
— MC Silver, Contemporary Romance Writer; alumna of the 2024 & 2025 retreats —
Dedicated Writing Time
Been craving an uninterrupted block of time to work on your book? We've got you! Each day we've intentionally blocked off time specifically for focusing on your writing so you can make the most of being far from all your usual day-to-day responsibilities.
"The CBB retreat was an amazing long weekend of rest, recharging, connection, and growth. I was able to learn more about my craft surrounded by beautiful scenery, delicious food, and new author friends. With access to coaching daily and writing time, I was able to make incredible progress on my manuscript and came home ready to take my next big steps in writing. I would highly recommend this retreat to any author at any stage of writing."
— Lindsey Brooksbank, Fantasy Writer; alumna of the 2024 & 2025 retreats —
Community
Writing can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. Meet other writers—some for the first time, others for the first time in person—and grow your writer network/community by nerding out about story at the dining table as we eat together each night or chatting about the publishing industry around the firepit.
"The CBB Retreat was exactly what I needed. Everyone was incredibly dedicated to storytelling and the atmosphere was inspiring. I came to the retreat to re-establish my relationship with writing and not only I accomplish that, I also gained a better understanding of writing craft, worldbuilding, and logistical strategies for writers. More than anything else, I was accepted into a warm and amazing community of inspiring fellow writers that I could connect with during and after the retreat. "
— Rose Marry, Fantasy Writer; alumna of the 2024 retreat —
Opportunities to Grow Your Craft
Part of being a writer is continuing to learn more about the craft of writing and how to handle the challenges that come your way in the writing journey. To that end, you'll be able to take advantage of the following during the retreat:
Writing Craft Presentation
We will have a guest virtual presenter walk us through a crucial aspect of crafting a compelling novel. This year's presenter is still being selected, but at previous retreats we've enjoyed presentations taught by Jennie Nash (CEO of Author Accelerator) and Tiffany Yates Martin (career editor and author of Intuitive Editing and The Intuitive Author).
Personalized Support For Your Writing Journey
Each writer will have the opportunity to sign up for a 1.5-hour 1-on-1 coaching slot with either Katie or Andrew. In these sessions we'll discuss anything about the writing life, brainstorm how to get past particular blocks or places you're stuck, and field any other questions you have! Our goal with these sessions is to help your make progress on your current WIP or get started on your next one.
Live Edit Session with Katie
Volunteer some of your pages for Katie to offer live feedback! Katie will guide us as a group in thinking through various ways to strengthen the volunteered pages. Other writers stand to get just as much out of this session as Katie's feedback will be easily applicable to their own writing.
Library of Craft Books
We'll bring a selection of nonfiction books about world-building, story planning, and writing craft from our library. Previous attendees have enjoyed being able to explore these resources and have often found one or two they decided to order for their own libraries.
"The CBB retreat is perhaps the best investment I could have made in my journey as a novelist. It was learning on steroids, plus personalized coaching right by the coffee machine—I couldn't have asked for more. I left with renewed motivation, a multitude of insights, writing materials, inspiration, book recommendation, and the sense of belonging to a wonderful community. Thank you Katie and Andrew!"
— Serena Emet, Women's Fiction Writer; alumna of the 2024 retreat —
Opportunities to Fill Your Creative Cup
 As creatives ourselves, we understand how crucial it is to recharge. After all, it's hard (impossible!) to be creative when our cups are empty. That's why our schedule sets aside intentional time to fill your cup—in whatever way that happens best for you. The following mix of solo and communal optional activities will be available:
Time in Nature
Our retreat location has panoramic views of the surrounding forest, which can be enjoyed from one of the outdoor seating areas, from the hot tub, or even from inside through the large windows. You're also welcome to take advantage of the walking trails and park that aren't too far from the retreat location.
This can be a communal or solo activity.
Reading
As always, reading is a great way to fill your creative cup! We'll bring a selection of books from our personal library that you're welcome to enjoy during the retreat. And you're encouraged to bring a book or two from your own TBR pile!
This is a solo activity.
Board Games
We'll bring some favorites from our collection of board games! Some are classics (e.g., Scrabble, Rummikub) and some are... less universal (*cough*more nerdy*cough*), such as The Big Book of Madness (pictured) and Call to Adventure.
This is a communal activity.
Soak in the Hot Tub
Take a break from writing in the seven-person private hot tub.
This can be a communal or solo activity.
"Katie and Andrew are wonderful! I liked that they brought a library of books on writing, fiction, and non-fiction books so we could peruse them. This helped me learn about books I did not yet have but would like to purchase. The people who attended were wonderful, too. Andrew is a wonderful cook. The communal dinners where we had discussions added to the comradery. I very much would like to attend the retreat next year."
— Elizabeth, Women's Fiction Writer; alumna of the 2025 retreat —
Sample Retreat Schedule
Click each date to see the schedule for that day; all times are in PDT. The sample schedule given here may change slightly once we have finished selecting and booking our virtual presenter, but the changes won't be a complete overhaul.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
"I'm constantly amazed by the inspiring insights I receive at these retreats and how beneficial they are for me. It's always the perfect setting and experience to clear my creative blocks, fill my cup, recenter myself, and help set me up for a better mindset and success with my writing for when I go home. It's been one of the best investments I've made and I can't wait for the next fantastic retreat experience."
— Annette M. Webber, Speculative Fiction Writer; alumna of the 2023 & 2024 retreats —
Meet Our Coaches
Well, hello there! We're Andrew and Katie Wall, the husband-and-wife team behind Craft Better Books.
Katie is a writer, book coach, and lover of stories, words, and grammar (yes, really!). She has over a decade of experience working with writers and is certified through the Author Accelerator Book Coaching Program. She is known for her meticulous eye for revision and undying enthusiasm for brilliant plot twists.
Andrew is a book coach and World-Building Consultant. He loves reading, watching anime, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and nerding out with writers over their books. If you like developing complex fictional worlds that transport readers to another dimension or stories with deep and relatable characters, you are going to get along just fine.
"I found spending 5 days with other writers contributed so much to my own writing."
— K J Capacci, Contemporary Romance Writer; alumna of the 2025 retreat —
