How to Lead a Writing Retreat People Never Forget

Pause for Peace: Small Pleasures

Episode Title: Pause for Peace: Small Pleasures — featuring a poem by James Crews Episode Description: In this Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares a poem that arrived as a personal reminder: that attention itself is something we still get to choose. James Crews' "Small Pleasures" doesn't ask us to look away from what is hard — it asks us to notice what else is also there. Paired with peaceful imagery, this episode is a midweek invitation to lean, even slightly, toward whatever small beauties are within reach. What Laura Covers in This Episode: Why this poem landed for Laura as a reminder that directing her attention remains within her control How Crews holds darkness and tenderness side by side — without minimizing either The quiet practice at the heart of this poem: learning to gather what is good from the life immediately around us An introduction to James Crews — editor of beloved bestselling anthologies and author of four prize-winning collections of poetry About Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal." Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation. Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world. Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content. About James Crews: James Crews is the editor of several bestselling anthologies, including The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy and How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, which has over 100,000 copies in print. He has been featured in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Christian Science Monitor, and on NPR's Morning Edition. James is the author of four prize-winning books of poetry — The Book of What Stays, Telling My Father, Bluebird, and Every Waking Moment — and a book of short essays, Kindness Will Save the World: Stories of Compassion and Connection. He also speaks and leads workshops on kindness, mindfulness, and writing for self-compassion, and lives with his husband on forty rocky acres in the woods of Southern Vermont. Read his work and subscribe to his poems on Substack [https://jamescrews.substack.com]: https://jamescrews.substack.com/ [https://jamescrews.substack.com/] and learn more about his books and teaching on his website: https://www.jamescrews.net/ [https://www.jamescrews.net/] CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm. The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/]   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Two Hundred Days of Photographs

Episode Title The Photo Challenge That Just Kept Going Episode Description Laura Davis returns with an update on the daily photo challenge she introduced last winter. What started as a 100-day commitment with a friend has taken on new dimensions, including a second participant and a fresh set of discoveries. Laura reflects on what she found when she looked back at months of daily images, and how the practice has continued to evolve. You can see the photos described in this podcast episode here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/8feb3699-80e5-43d0-8817-92e8f7620e2b [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/p/8feb3699-80e5-43d0-8817-92e8f7620e2b] What Laura Covers in This Episode A quick recap of how the original 100-Day Project concept works An update on where the challenge stands now, well past the original 100 days The simple rules that have kept the practice sustainable How a friendship and an impromptu photography lesson on a pilgrimage sparked the original idea The decision point at day 99 and what came next What Laura discovered when she reviewed her second hundred images How a second friend joined the practice and added her own creative voice The role of community, accountability, and small daily commitments in creative life Episode Highlights Laura revisits the origin of the 100-Day Project and the well-known author's virtual creative hour where she first encountered it The specific three rules that have kept the challenge sustainable over many months A story from the Camino de Santiago involving tortilla de patatas, pimientos de Padrón, and an unplanned photography lesson The moment on day 99 when Laura asked her friend a simple question, and the answer that kept the project going What Laura discovered when she looked back at her second hundred images and realized what the practice had quietly become How a chance conversation over a game of mahjong led to a second version of the same challenge with a different friend The way two people photographing the same moment can create an unexpected "conversation" Laura's reflection on what centers a day around "one tiny beautiful thing" About Host Laura Davis Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping people find their voice through the written word. She is the author of the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars, winner of the 2021 BookLife Prize, and co-author of the landmark bestseller The Courage to Heal. Laura teaches writing in all its forms through weekly classes, workshops, and retreats around the world, and leads international pilgrimages, including her Creative Camino program on the Camino de Santiago. She is the host of The Writer's Journey podcast and writes a companion Substack publication exploring the craft of writing, creativity, and living a full, examined life. Resources Laura Mentions Suleika Jaouad's Isolation Journals [https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/] — creative hour sessions Michael Bierut and the 100-Day Project [https://designobserver.com/five-years-of-100-days/] (Design Observer) The Courage to Heal [https://lauradavis.net/books/] by Laura Davis and Ellen Bass The Burning Light of Two Stars [https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars] by Laura Davis Laura's Creative Camino pilgrimage program [https://lauradavis.net/camino/] Commonweal Cancer Help Program [https://cancerhelpprogram.org/], Bolinas, California The Writer's Journey Substack [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Key Takeaways from This Episode A simple, repeatable creative practice can offer stability and possibility, especially during difficult seasons of life An accountability partner can make the difference between abandoning a creative practice and sustaining it Keeping the rules of a creative challenge minimal makes it far more likely to last Looking back at a body of daily creative work can reveal patterns and shifts a person didn't consciously notice while living them Creative practices can expand naturally, drawing in new participants and taking on a life of their own Episode Call-to-Action Listeners are encouraged to consider starting their own version of a 100-day creative practice, choosing any medium that appeals to them, and reaching out to a friend to join as an accountability partner. Laura invites listeners to subscribe to The Writer's Journey on Substack to follow along with future updates on the ongoing photo challenge and other reflections on creativity and craft. Connect with Laura Davis Listeners can follow Laura's writing, classes, retreats, and pilgrimages at lauradavis.net [http://lauradavis.net], and subscribe to The Writer's Journey [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] for regular essays, curated poems, and updates on Laura's creative life. The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Pause for Peace: Loving in a Broken Time

Episode Title: Pause for Peace: Loving in a Broken Time — featuring a poem by Frederick Joseph Episode Description: In this Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis brings a poem that looks directly at the wreckage of our moment — and finds something glowing in the rubble. Frederick Joseph's "Loving in a Broken Time" neither flinches from the mess nor surrenders to it. Paired with peaceful imagery, this episode offers a midweek breath for anyone who needs a reminder that love and hope still have something to say. What Laura Covers in This Episode: Why Laura was drawn to this poem's rare ability to hold unflinching honesty and tenderness at the same time The thread of hope Joseph weaves through a landscape that doesn't pretend the world is anything other than broken How poetry can serve as a nervous system reset — even, and especially, when it names hard truths An introduction to Frederick Joseph, a three-time New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose work spans poetry, nonfiction, and young adult fiction About Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal." Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation. Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world. Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content. About Frederick Joseph: Frederick Joseph is a three-time New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from Yonkers, New York, whose work spans poetry, nonfiction, children's literature, and young adult fiction. His books include the poetry collection We Alive, Beloved; the bestselling nonfiction titles The Black Friend and Patriarchy Blues; the collaborative volume Better Than We Found It; and the acclaimed YA novel This Thing of Ours. He is the recipient of both the Letter Review Poetry Prize and Essay Prize, and has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and honored with the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award, among many other honors. Visit him at: https://frederickjoseph.com/ [https://frederickjoseph.com/] and on Substack at https://frederickjoseph.substack.com/ [https://frederickjoseph.substack.com/] CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm. The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/]   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Work I Am Not at Liberty to Quit

Episode Title The Work I Am Not at Liberty to Quit: A Writing Prompt That Gets to the Heart of What Matters Episode Description In this episode, acclaimed author and writing teacher Laura Davis shares one of her most powerful and enduring writing prompts—a favorite she's returned to again and again in more than twenty years of teaching. Drawing on a beloved essay-turned-poem as inspiration, Laura invites listeners into a prompt designed to strip away the noise and get straight to the core of what a person is here to do. She reads her own raw, deeply personal response, offering a rare glimpse into her own creative and emotional life. What Laura Covers in This Episode The essay Laura uses as a launching pad for one of her most resonant writing prompts Why this particular prompt cuts through surface-level answers to reach something truer Laura's own unfiltered response to the prompt, touching on family legacy, marriage, creativity, and presence How repetition and rhythm can become a writing tool for emotional excavation The difference between what we do and what we are not at liberty to quit Why Laura believes this prompt works for writers at any stage, on any subject Episode Highlights Laura introduces the essay-turned-poem that inspired this week's prompt and explains why it resonates so deeply with writers She reveals the exact prompt she gives her students: "The work I am not at liberty to quit" Laura reads her own response, beginning with a raw, repeated line about opening her heart She reflects on inherited anxiety, ancestral legacy, and the pull toward stillness Laura explores what she's learned about love and marriage from a place of hard-won self-awareness She names the habit she considers the "antithesis" of her real work—and why she keeps circling back to it Laura shares a story about a friend's parenting philosophy that changed how she thinks about saying yes The episode closes with an invitation for listeners to try the prompt themselves About Host Laura Davis Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with more than 35 years of experience helping writers uncover and tell their most essential stories. She has written seven books, including her BookLife Prize-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars, and co-authored the groundbreaking The Courage to Heal. Laura teaches online writing classes, workshops, and international retreats through The Writer's Journey, including her Creative Camino pilgrimage program through Spain. She writes and podcasts weekly at The Writer's Journey, sharing prompts, craft techniques, and reflections on the writing life. Resources Laura Mentions "An Address to My Fellow Faculty Who Have Asked Me to Speak About My Work" [https://brevitymag.com/nonfiction/an-address-to-my-fellow-faculty/] by A. Papatya Bucak, published in Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars [https://lauradavis.net/the-burning-light-of-two-stars/] The Writer's Journey Roadmap [https://lauradavis.net/] — Laura's weekly writing prompts The Writer's Journey Substack and podcast [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Key Takeaways from This Episode A single, well-chosen writing prompt can bypass the surface and lead straight to essential truth Repetition of a phrase or line can be used deliberately to build emotional momentum on the page Naming what you're "not at liberty to quit" can clarify priorities far more effectively than a goals list Writers can use another writer's work as a springboard without losing their own voice The habits that feel most productive—like multitasking—can sometimes be the biggest obstacle to real creative and emotional work Episode Call-to-Action Listeners are invited to try the prompt for themselves: "The work I am not at liberty to quit." Laura encourages writers to let the phrase repeat, follow it wherever it leads, and share their reflections or an excerpt of their writing in the comments on Substack. Connect with Laura Davis Subscribe to The Writer's Journey on Substack: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's classes, books, workshops, and international retreats: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/] The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Pause for Peace: Pray for Peace

Episode Title: Pause for Peace: Pray for Peace — featuring a poem by Ellen Bass Episode Description: In this Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares a poem by her longtime friend and co-author Ellen Bass — a poet whose work, Laura says simply, sings. "Pray for Peace" is a poem that refuses to keep the sacred confined to temples and kneeling benches. Paired with peaceful imagery, this episode offers a midweek reminder that prayer, in its broadest and most human sense, is hiding in plain sight — in every ordinary act of an ordinary day. What Laura Covers in This Episode: Why Laura chose this particular poem by her longtime collaborator and friend Ellen Bass, and what makes Bass's voice so distinctive How "Pray for Peace" expands the very definition of prayer — and why that expansion matters right now The way Bass weaves the mundane and the sacred together until the line between them disappears An introduction to Ellen Bass — Guggenheim Fellow, Chancellor Emerita of the Academy of American Poets, and one of the most celebrated poets writing today About Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal." Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation. Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world. Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content. About Ellen Bass: Ellen Bass is a poet and teacher who earned her MA in creative writing from Boston University, where she studied with Anne Sexton. Her poetry collections include Mules of Love, The Human Line, Like a Beggar, and Indigo (2020), and her poems appear regularly in The New Yorker, American Poetry Review, and many other journals. She co-edited the first major anthology of women's poetry, No More Masks!, and her nonfiction books include the groundbreaking The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse and Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth. A Chancellor Emerita of the Academy of American Poets, Bass founded poetry workshops at Salinas Valley State Prison and the Santa Cruz, California jails, and teaches in the MFA writing program at Pacific University. Her honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lambda Literary Award, the Pablo Neruda Prize, and four Pushcart Prizes. Visit her at: https://www.ellenbass.com/ [https://www.ellenbass.com/] CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVIS Join Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm. The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more. Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/ [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/] Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ [https://lauradavis.net/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe [https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]