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What Happens Next? - Sonoma County Writers Camp

Date
July 16 - 20, 2025

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

We welcome back renowned authors Elizabeth Stark and Ellen Sussman for another Sonoma County Writers Camp!


As teachers and authors, Ellen Sussman and Elizabeth Stark have very different approaches to story structure. But we both agree that the simple question, "What happens next?" can, beat by beat, create a gripping plot and fuel a propulsive story.

Story and meditation both require a radical practice of staying in the present, moment by moment, writing or living into now. Staying curious and engaged about this moment, this breath, this step forward, the meditation tools we practice in the optional meditation sessions during camp, lend themselves to writing story: staying curious and engaged about this scene, this story moment. In this session of camp, we will tackle plot, exploring approaches to discovering and shaping your story, staying awake to the unfolding moment.

Find your way to organic character-rooted action with a cause-and-effect build. Make your story—whether short fiction, novel, memoir, or narrative nonfiction—a page turner without sacrificing depth, detail, and the pleasure of surprise for writer and reader. Let your moments unfold in these gorgeous surroundings, with delicious food, optional meditation, hikes, silent early morning writing, afternoon cafe writing, as well as workshops, an author master class, our thrilling student readings, and more.
















 

Bonus Add-On
July 20-23
$1350, open ONLY to Camp Participants

Follow up your camp immersion with three days of writing retreat with Ellen, Elizabeth, seven other writers and YOU. Build on the inspiration you've gained, maintain the focus, and keep writing. Ellen and Elizabeth will be writing, too, with early morning meditative "writing from where you dream," ongoing cafe writing sessions in the later mornings and afternoons, shared meals and walks, and low-key, high positivity evenings of sharing work, chatting about books.
COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination AND negative test result from all visitors to Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.
 

SCHEDULE (Subject to Change):
Wednesday:

3pm  Check-in
5pm  Welcome Party
6pm  Dinner


Thursday:

6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Kum Nye with Andi
6pm Dinner + Ratna Ling Introduction
7:30pm Student Readings


Friday:

6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am  Writing workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm  Hike with Ellen
4pm Master Class with Visiting Author
6pm Dinner
7:30pm  Student Readings


Saturday:

630am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Meditation with George
4:30pm Industry Panel
6pm Dinner
7:30pm  Student Readings


Sunday:

6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch + Closing
1:30pm Checkout

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Getting Here

Location icon Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants. Read More

Accommodation

14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.

For 1 guest in Private Room, Shared Cottage, including meals and classes Read More

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche. Read More

Meals

Menu Types

All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care. We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table. Read More

Customer Reviews

4.94 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Wonderful
Rarely do the pictures in the ads match the reality of the location. In the case of Ratna Ling, the facility is more magnificent than the pictures. From the grounds, room, and retreat center, everything was beautiful. The staff was graceful and ever-present. As a non-vegetarian, I was skeptical that I would enjoy the food. But the food was plentiful and delicious. Thanks for a great retreat. Read More

5.0
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Thank you
I had a wonderful time at the spring Yoga retreat. The center is beautiful, the staff helpful and friendly, the food amazing and the Yoga practice just the right mix of slowing down and effort. I will be back ! Read More

5.0
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Nikki Estrada Yoga Retreat
This land holds so much love and is exquisitely tended to. I woke up in the morning with joy in my heart to have landed there. The cabins are well appointed with gorgeous natural woods. I loved sitting by the fireplace in the morning with my hot tea looking out over the redwood studded hills.
Nikki is a seasoned teacher. She teaches with much clarity and precision. Savasana was a dream on heated floors.
The food was well balanced cooked with love. The staff was very attentive and kind. I will definitely be back and shared ratna Ling‘s website with many of my friends. I highly recommend this place. Read More

5.0
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Surpassed all my expectations
The location was incredibly peaceful, surrounded by gorgeous trees. The facility is spacious and pristine. The food was outstanding. I was blown away by the cabins! Beautiful, clean, terrific porches to enjoy the birds and nature. My only complaint is that we didn't get enough down time to enjoy it as much as I wanted. That said, the retreat itself (led by Mark Matousek) was simply life changing. Thank you to all of the volunteers for making this place what it is! Read More

5.0
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Wonderful!
The Ratna Ling retreat center was more than I could have imagined. The cabins are spacious and inviting the welcome center and dining hall are beautiful and the grounds are immaculately kept. All the food was amazing abundant I will definitely be coming back for another retreat. Read More

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