Day five of our five-day retreat finds the writers still writing.

We have had the most amazing group of writers on this retreat. Each one of them have brought something so valuable to our first retreat. Among our group of women writers, there are fiction writers, memoir writers, travel writers, and a writer who is searching for her own unique voice – the right fit for her. Jack Riggs has done an incredible job guiding our group during their short stay with us at Sunset Beach. He’s given them truth. He’s given them direction. And maybe, just maybe, he’s given some of them the strength to believe in themselves.

Writing can be a lonely pastime. Linda and I built this retreat so that writers could connect with each other in an environment that supports the belief of dreams. And after these five days, I feel like we’ve accomplished that. The group have not only learned from Jack Riggs, they have dug deep, in those quiet hours alone in their corner of the house, and they’ve learned about themselves–and what they can accomplish.

We spent more time together today than we have throughout the week. Nicole bellied up to the breakfast bar and clicked away on her laptop the entire morning, stopping only to chime in on a conversation or ask a question. She was in the writing zone. It felt like she had come full circle since the day she walked into our retreat, unsure of what to expect (and who to expect), weighed down with enough clothes for a week, even though she signed up for just the weekend. At the end of her weekend stay, she wasn’t ready to leave, and we were happy to have her stay with the group!

Colleen likened us to a “writerly version of Friends,” which was one of the greatest compliments she could share. We connected, during these few days together. This group of writers we brought together — different in every way possible — but similar in more ways than I can count. Bouncing ideas off each other. Reading scenes and clips from novel drafts…how could you not connect?

As the day progressed, one by one, the writers made their exit. There were lots of hugs, and it was tough to see each of them leave. With a promise to reconnect, either by Internet or otherwise, we bid farewell to our first group of attendees. What an amazing experience it’s been for all of us.

We can’t wait to welcome our next group of writers in North Carolina this February!