2025 RETREAT WEST: ALBUQUERQUE
Registration is open for WFWA members as well as non-members.
A WFWA member-favorite annual retreat held at Hotel Albuquerque Old Town in New Mexico features…
- One speaker facilitates three-hours of workshop/classroom sessions each day.
- Five additional mini-sessions led by WFWA members.
- Plenty of free time for writing!
Retreat Dates: September 24–27
Retreat Cost: $590.00
Room Rate: $229.00 per night + tax
Maximum attendance = 125
Registration closes: August 1, 2025
- Hearty breakfast buffet provided daily.
- Welcome reception on arrival night with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
- Afternoon snack breaks.
- Dining Ambassadors for off-property lunch and dinner guidance.
- Celebration reception on final night with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
- Rising Star and STAR Awards presented during the catered Awards Dinner in the Franciscan Ballroom on the final night.
This year's speaker is Vanessa Riley, award-winning author of over 25 novels.
Speaker BIO:
As a member of Regency Fiction Writers, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, Women's Fiction Writers Association, Christian Book Lovers Retreat, and the Historical Novel Society, Vanessa Riley advocates for diverse voices.
She was honored as the 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author of the Year for Sister Mother Warrior. Vanessa also served as the leading historian for Hallmark Mahogany's recent adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.”Vanessa has a robust social presence on Substack and a regular podcast on Spotify called Write of Passage.
Speaker Sessions:
Held daily from 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM.
Thursday 9/25: Rethinking the Hero’s Journey for Today’s Storytelling Trends
- Deep-dive workshop exploring how to craft narratives that break away from traditional arcs. You will gain fresh insights into crafting compelling, character-driven stories that resonate today.
Friday 9/26: Write Fast, Write Now —Unveiling Character Arcs
- The secrets to crafting dynamic, emotionally compelling characters. Vanessa will guide you through the art of writing fast without sacrificing depth.
Saturday 9/27: The Substack Strategy — Building an Author Platform That Works
- Engagement is everything in today’s publishing landscape. Vanessa shares her successful strategies on growing your audience, monetizing your content, and strengthening your career.
Before registering, PLEASE READ the 2025 RETREAT POLICIES
Members will be required to acknowledge—on the registration form—that they have read and understand each policy before their registration can be completed.
WFWA Members can access additional details in the Retreat West: Albuquerque Guide, updated regularly in the Online Community: our members-only private platform.
Non-members who register for the retreat will be given access to the private platform, including the complete Retreat Guide, during the week of the event.
For specific questions, please email [email protected]
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