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Do you need a little time and space away from the pressures of everyday life to focus on your writing? Join us for our Nov 2026 Facilitated Retreat; this retreat is perfect for beginner or emerging writers who have never been to a SWG retreat and would like to dive deeply into their writing for a few days.
We are hosting our Facilitated Retreat from Nov 12-15, 2026 at St. Peter’s Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan. At the SWG Facilitated Retreat, our Writers-In-Residence will give an introductory talk on an aspect of writing and meet with each retreatant individually to discuss your writing and/or answer your writing-related questions. Retreatants will also enjoy undisturbed writing time, provided meals and socialization with each other, the inspiration of St. Peter’s Abbey and a sharing of each other’s work on Nov 14. The facilitated retreat is designed as a time for you to focus on the writing you would like to do and to gain encouragement and motivation by interacting with the Writers-In-Residence and your fellow participants.
What You Can Expect to Gain at a Facilitated Retreat
The cost is $475 per person and includes a private room and all meals, as well as interaction with the Writers-In-Residence as described above. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the retreat; carpooling may be available (please inquire).
To apply, applicants 19 years and older should submit 10 pages of writing they would like to have evaluated by one of the Writers-in-Residence, a letter describing their writing experience and why they want to attend the SWG Facilitated Retreat, and a completed application form. Please see our full application guidelines before submitting.
Retreatants will have the opportunity to meet with one VWIR for their consultation: please note in your application if you’d like to meet with Beverley or Dwayne, or matches will be made based on writing genre and the VWIR’s expertise.
Application deadline is Wednesday, October 7, 2026 (midnight).
Preference will be given to Saskatchewan-based SWG members who have not traditionally published a book and who have never attended any SWG retreats. This facilitated retreat is primarily a retreat for beginning and emerging writers, and priority will be given to these writers. However, if there is space available, we will consider applications from more experienced writers, non-SK residents and non-SWG members. A maximum of ten participants will be accepted.
Payment is due upon acceptance to the Facilitated Retreat. A non-refundable late fee of $35 will apply to all applications received after the application deadline.
Eligible retreat applicants may also apply for the Doris Hillis Scholarship, which provides one recipient with full fees for the Facilitated Retreat at St. Peter’s Abbey. The scholarship is for an emerging BIPOC Saskatchewan writer working on poetry or drama. To apply, please fill out this application form in addition to your Facilitated Retreat application form.
Please contact Program Director Yolanda Hansen at programs@skwriter.com or 306-791-7743 with any questions.
Beverley and Dwayne Brenna are the Writers in Residence for the November 2026 Facilitated Retreat.
Beverley Brenna has 18 traditionally published books for young people, earning a Printz Honour, a Dolly Gray Award, and a Stuchner Award for humour. Her work has also been shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award and listed on CBC’s Young Adult Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian. Bev’s adult poetry and short fiction have appeared in magazines, anthologies, and on CBC Radio, and her recent explorations combine writing with her visual art. Bev spent five years as the Children’s Editor with Red Deer Press and continues to work as a freelance editor in children’s publishing.
Dwayne Brenna is an award-winning author of traditionally published books of fiction, short fiction, poetry, and humour, with short stories and poems appearing in Grain, Nine, Intima, The Cold Mountain Review, and The Antigonish Review. His most recent release is The Laundryman (Shadowpaw Press, 2026); a sequel, Wolverine Creek, will appear in 2027. Dwayne’s stage plays have been performed across Canada, and The Adventures of Eddie Gustafson had a five-year run on CBC Radio. Brenna has taught theatre and creative writing at the University of Saskatchewan, acted at the Stratford Festival, and appeared in national and international television programs and movies.
Beverley and Dwayne will be co-presenting the Thursday evening talk:
Ten Trampoline Tricks To Elevate Your Writing
This talk shares ten of our favourite writing moves, including how to create tension through opposites and obstacles, and the magic of crafting elevator pitches early in the writing process, as well as exercises for writing dialogue, plotting strategies, descriptive writing, and choosing points of view. Whether you’re a writer of fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, and whatever your audience, we’ll tailor our talk to support you on the glorious springboard we call the writing life.
Funding provided by:
In proud partnership with:
