WRITE BY THE LAKE
February 26 - March 5, 2025
March 13 - 20, 2025
Writers’ Intensive: March 19 - 27, 2025*
The 2025 Lake Atitlan Write by the Lake workshop — February 26 - March 5, March 13 - 20 or the Writers’ Intensive* March 19-27, is held at Joyce’s retreat property, Casa Paloma. This memoir-writing workshop promises to deliver not only guidance in the art and craft of writing memoir, but also the healing to be found when a rare group of strong, adventuresome women come together to reconnect with nature and share the stories of their lives.
As always when she teaches, Joyce will be offering close, detailed guidance for each writer, informed by fifty years of her own writing and publishing life, and a quarter century of teaching—both in the writing circle with the group and in private one-on-one conferences, as well as daily craft talks and evening readings around the fire.
This is an all-inclusive retreat which begins with your arrival at the Guatemala City airport, where we will have a taxi waiting to take you an hour away to the small, beautiful and historical city of Antigua. Here you'll meet the rest of your group for drinks and a fabulous dinner and boutique hotel stay. The following day you will board a shuttle to Lake Atitlan.
See here for a general itinerary, here for FAQs and here for more photos of Casa Paloma.
pricing
Private (single) room - $4495 - $5495
Shared (double) room - $3995 - $4095
What’s included?
Three extraordinary and healthy meals a day prepared fresh and served by our private chef, Rosa Navichoc Chac - gluten/dairy free options are available
Healthy homemade snacks, coffee, tea, and filtered water are available to all guests throughout the duration of your stay
One private professional one-hour lakeside massage
One night stay in a lovely boutique hotel in Antigua and dinner
Wi-Fi and airport transportation
Daily sauna access
Swimming and water activities including paddle boards and kayaks
Daily morning group yoga class
One hour private group conference about your work
Group discussion of each writer’s work, which can focus on a manuscript submission of up to 2500 words. Closely discussed by Joyce, with the other writers, or - for those who may not yet have created a manuscript - a whiteboard session on how to structure a story yet to be written
Daily craft talk with the group - accompanied by appetizers and drinks for those who choose - exploring valuable writing tools
optional activities
Sunrise hike
Artisan market shopping in San Juan
Cacao ceremony
Traditional Mayan Shaman fire ceremony
Visit to women’s weaving cooperative guided tour and shopping opportunity
Waterfall hike
Cloud forest hike in search of the Quetzal
Evening readings of other samples of your work
If you have reviewed the itinerary and FAQs and would like to move forward with next steps, please continue to the form below.
Accomodations
Rooms are reserved on a first come, first served basis.
See here for more photos and descriptions of each room at Casa Paloma.
*Cancellation policy: Full refund (minus $500 admin fee) if cancellation is 10 week prior to retreat start date.
*The Writers’ Intensive will follow the same general format of Write By the Lake, with less group workshopping and more designated private writing time to focus on your work. Joyce will be available throughout the week for guidance and one-on-one discussion.