Tucked into the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains of Sandpoint, Idaho, the Talus Rock Retreat is a boutique lodge on a sprawling private property. The building and its luxurious spaces have been hand-created by local artist, Heather Pederson, with every corner an intricate, wondrous masterpiece. Outside, ponds and creeks trickle, the trees form a natural boundary, and the distant Cabinet Mountains a backdrop of alpenglow sunsets.

The property sits just a mile from the local Syringa Trail System for hiking and biking, and a mile from the small town of Sandpoint and the beautiful shores of Lake Pend Oreille.

Because we understand that nature and wide open spaces are the birthplace of creativity, as much as silence and solitude are, we’ve chosen this location to nurture your mind and body, and feed your creative soul.

Wherever you are in your writing journey, whether your genre is email and wicked witty texts, or you’re a published author, this is a space to serve your story. Perhaps you’re wondering if you should turn your journals into a Substack, or you’re trying to get into your dream magazine, or writing for the sake of writing: This is a retreat that explores the power of words as they shape precisely the story you want to tell.

At this retreat, we offer varied curriculum that supports both generative creativity and the refinement of the craft of writing. We’ll work in large and small groups, share our writing, surprise ourselves and each other, and offer feedback that focuses on what resonates with the listeners.

In our Saturday Workshop Series, we’ll also will explore other creative forms that mingle words: art, song writing, poetry, and more.

On our final day of the retreat, we’re bringing in a collection of creative guides to lead a series of workshops. This day is open to other students to join, and you may participate in as many of the offerings as you like.

Our current offerings (subject to change as we refine) include but are not limited to:

• Poetry workshop

• Your Personal Fairytale

• Song writing and lyrics

• Art and words

Learn more about the day’s offerings and the itinerary here.

Our Faculty are experienced writers, authors, poets, musicians, creatives, and humans from all walks of life. What’s more important, perhaps, is their gifts in guiding others. Each of them has a background in teaching and facilitating, rooted in the creative process and expanded through their practice.

Visit our Faculty page to learn more about each teacher, their background, and their passions.