Retreat on your own time, at your own pace with the Virtual Creativity Summit!

To fellowship with other writers participating in the retreat, attend our Online Discussions and Activities

March 26-28

Take a magical journey through the wardrobe door of creativity with noted author and speaker Allen Arnold. In this recorded event, we’ll take a fresh look at the world of story and storytellers through the eyes of C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and Jesus.

The goal is to restore a sense of wonder, curiosity, freedom, and imagination to the stories we’re writing—and living—by exploring some of the key practices, insights, and stories of C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and Jesus.

Allen will lead three all-new sessions filled with teaching and exercises that will stretch how you look at your own creative process. This transformative retreat offers mythic and practical ways to get unstuck, ignite your heart and your art, and illuminate your creativity.

Plus, you’ll have the chance to connect with a community of modern-day Inklings in our private, online community.

Our Instructor

Allen Arnold is a creativity coach, author, and speaker. As the founding publisher of one of the largest Christian Fiction imprints of the past several decades, he led the launch of more than 500 novels. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous New York Times best-selling authors (both fiction and non-fiction) and offered his proven, counterintuitive insights to creatives of every stripe at events around the globe. He is the acclaimed author of three books on creativity and God: The Story of With, Chaos Can’t, and Waves of Creativity.

Sessions offered by Allen

Introduction:

Finding Your Story. Discover how the stories you’re living and writing intertwine.

Day 1

The Creativity of Jesus: The Catalyst of All Creation

Day 2
The Creativity of C. S. Lewis: Not Safe, But Good
Day 3
The Creativity of Madeleine L’Engle: Cosmos from Chaos

Discussion Content

You’ll have access to videos of the in-person event where Allen guides discussions of topics like:

Survival Practices for Creative Bohemians

* Survival Practice #1: Playing The Long Game

* Survival Practice #2: Staying Wildly Curious

* Survival Practice #3: Releasing All Expectations

All of this for just $169

For even more deep-dive content, you can also add on the Post Retreat Intensive. ($75)

Allen’s 11 Steps To Manuscript Mastery

In this bonus session, Allen reveals how to maximize your manuscript through an 11-step process he’s crafted to uncover your concept’s hidden potential, illuminate blind spots that sabotage a story, and pursue your creativity more actively with God. Allen combines his proven insights gleaned from publishing more than 500 novels as well as 30+ years helping writers for this 3-hour intensive designed to empower you with new ways to see your story (the one you’re writing and living), hands-on exercises, and a robust Q&A that will leave you refreshed, expectant, and ready for the next chapter!

Retreating at Home

For those of you selecting the online retreat option and seeking a virtual group experience, we’ll host online activities to connect you with other writers registered for the event.

Wednesday, March 26, Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28

Starting with an evening discussion on Wednesday, we’ll gather as you’re able to encourage one another, learn, and expand on content we’ve watched.
Thursday and Friday, from 2 pm EDT to 9 pm EDT, you can participate in writing sprints, fellowship, and discussion groups.

You will have access to teaching videos starting during the week of the in-person retreat, (March 17-21) typically next morning after the talk was recorded.

If you have time to watch the recordings before the online discussions begin, great! If you don’t, you’re still welcome to come to the calls we schedule. Links for those events will be sent to you via email in March.

The in-person retreat registration is currently closed, but read on for location and schedule details

The 2025 retreat takes us back to The Hideway, tucked in the beautiful forests outside Colorado Springs, CO. Experience cozy accommodations, lovely meals, and a view of Pikes Peak!

ADDRESS:

3805 Walker Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80908

Lodging costs for in-person attendees are all-inclusive (4 night stay and 11 meals.) You can opt for a shared room or private accommodations—whatever suits your needs and budget. Details on pricing can be found on the registration form. Please note that deposit payments for the retreat are non-refundable.

Retreat Schedule

Monday:

4 pm: Check in at The Hideaway

5:30 pm: Dinner

7:00 PM: Introductory session Finding Your Story. Discover how the stories you’re living and writing intertwine.

Tues/Weds/Thurs

8:00 am: Breakfast

9:00 am- noon:

* Tuesday – The Creativity of Jesus: The Catalyst of All Creation

* Wednesday – The Creativity of C. S. Lewis: Not Safe, But Good

* Thursday – The Creativity of Madeleine L’Engle: Cosmos from Chaos

12:00 pm: Lunch

Afternoon free time to write/relax

4:00 – 5:30 pm:

Discussion together with daily themes:

Survival Practices for Creative Bohemians

* Survival Practice #1: Playing The Long Game

* Survival Practice #2: Staying Wildly Curious

* Survival Practice #3: Releasing All Expectations

5:45 pm: Dinner

Evenings, 7:30-9:00 pm:

Author Huddles-you’ll be divided into groups for discussion, reading pages (if you have some you want to read), and brainstorming. Allen will join one group each evening to participate in your discussion

Friday

9:00 am -Noon: Post-retreat intensive (add on ticket)

Checkout

Departure

New for 2025 - Post-Retreat Intensive

The Realm Maker Post-Retreat Intensive: Allen’s 11 Steps To Manuscript Mastery

Session will run from 9 am to Noon on Friday, March 21