Retreat

WRITERCON RETREAT AT THE OKANA RESORT

May 12th – 16th, 2027

Our 2027 retreat takes us to Oklahoma City at the new Okana Resort and Indoor Waterpark. This is a great opportunity to bring your families for a little vacation while you spend a few days getting serious about your manuscript.

We intentionally keep the retreat size limited to a small group. It allows for time to dig into your work, talk through what’s working (and what isn’t), ask questions, and get real feedback from instructors and fellow writers.

Whether you’re wrestling with a plot problem, refining characters, or putting the finishing touches on your manuscript, you’ll have the time and space to focus on making it better.

This retreat will leave you further along in your project and inspired to move forward in your writing journey!

TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve gained invaluable knowledge and found a community of like-minded individuals at WriterCon. This event has been a great source of inspiration and support for me. I attended my first WriterCon in 2022, followed by another in 2023. In addition, I’ve participated in two small-group WriterCon retreats and even went on a WriterCon cruise in 2023. Thanks to the amazing instructors and supportive community, I have become a two-time award-winning author and, more importantly, made lifelong friends.”

Jenny LaBranche

“Family can be a double-edged sword. I finally let my daughter read some of my work. I’ve been reluctant, as she’s been very critical. As she read, she kept saying, ‘this is really good. The retreats are paying off big time.’ I’ve learned more about what I don’t know and it’s been a help. Having fun and kind instructors isn’t a hardship either.”

Katrina Stephenson

RETREAT LEADERS & MENTORS

William & Lara Bernhardt will be your hosts along with additional faculty to be announced at a later date.

William Bernhardt

Host | Fiction | Nonfiction

Lara Bernhardt

Women’s Fiction | Paranormal

SCHEDULE

We will meet for five days, Wednesday through Sunday, with at least 20 hrs of instruction. We will fill those sessions with critique, interactive discussions of various writing and publishing topics, editing, and much more. You will submit a partial manuscript before the retreat begins so your instructors, William and Lara Bernhardt, will be familiar with your work and ready to offer useful feedback when you arrive. We will also have free time for optional activities and other fun surprises. Best of all, you will meet your new writing family, people with whom you can consult, commiserate, or collaborate long after the retreat ends. Many retreat groups we’ve taught have remained in touch and become close-knit writer families.

Wed May 12th

Thu May 13th

Fri May 14th

Sat May 15th

Sun July 16th

Exact details for the day and guest speakers are forthcoming.

VENUE

We will meet at the new Okana Resort & Water Park in Oklahoma City. You can stay at the venue for a special WriterCon rate, or drive in each day.

The Okana special WriterCon room rate is $189 and includes 2 water park passes.

Additional passes for other guests in your reservation are $30/day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on a question below for the answer.

What is the cost of the retreat?

The retreat costs $750 per person. This covers the 20 hours of instruction and evaluation of your manuscript.

You will be responsible for your lodging and meals. The resort has over 10 venues for you to grab a bite.

Are meals included?

Meals will be on your own with plenty of time to connect with your retreat mates. Okana has over 10 restaurant venues to choose from.

Will you cover writing craft, or marketing, or publishing?

All of the above. Happily, having been a bestselling author and publisher in this industry for more than 30 years, William Bernhardt can discuss all aspects of the business. People who are just starting may prefer craft classes, while people who have more polished manuscripts, or who have published in the past, may be interested in marketing, agents, and publishing houses. We will provide whatever will help you most. We can also make referrals to the many agents who have participated in WriterCon programs.

What hours will we be in class?

We let the participants determine the exact hours, but we’ll start in the morning, work for at least four hours, then break so that you can apply what you’ve learned. Talking is fine, but the goal is to get these ideas and improvements down on paper!

If you want. At some point during the retreat, we will ask those in your small group to exchange email chapters so you can get feedback from others. This is invaluable. You’re not only getting feedback, you’re being given beta readers you may keep for the rest of your writing life. You don’t have to accept all the opinions, but it never hurts to hear them hear them.

Why don't you publish the topics you will cover?

Because what we cover completely depends on who is there. We ask for your manuscripts in advance so we can plan accordingly, choosing topics that best serve your needs. When we break into smaller groups, you’ll be paired with people writing similar work, so again we can focus on your needs.

Will you edit our manuscript?

We will certainly read and advise. But most people bring manuscripts in their early stages, and actual line-editing is pointless when there’s still revision to do.

I’ve heard about the famous WriterCon conference swag bag. Will we get one at the retreat?

You better believe it. Our ace team has already started putting them together. They will knock your socks off!