New Year Renewal Creative Retreat
December 30, 2026-January 2, 2027
~ open to writers of all genres ~
Calling all writers: poets, novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists,
biographers, memoirists, lyricists, librettists, and translators!
Ring in the New Year with intention, space, and deep creative focus. Co-sponsored by The Green Mountain Playwright Retreat and The Presence Point, this all-inclusive retreat offers a supportive environment to ground your mind and ignite your writing across ALL genres.
Nestled on the historic Creative Campus at Goddard, this three-night immersion blends structured writing time, guided meditation, sharing, constructive feedback, and quiet contemplation. Whether you are drafting a play, polishing poetry, working on novel chapters, or exploring personal essays, all writing genres and experience levels are welcome.
What to Expect
Supported Creative Time: Dedicated writing blocks designed to help you get into a state of flow without everyday distractions.
Grounding Mindfulness: Guided meditation and creative contemplation sessions led by The Foundations of Presence to center your focus and sustain creative stamina.
Community & Feedback: Warm, collaborative opportunities to share work and receive constructive feedback in a safe space tailored to your goals.
All-Inclusive Rest: Nourishing meals and peaceful accommodations on campus, giving you total freedom to write, relax, and reflect.
Generative Writing Workshops: jumpstart your writing and find fresh ideas.
Registration & Options
All-Inclusive Experience (meals & lodging included)
Includes: Lodging on the Creative Campus at Goddard, all wholesome meals, and full access to all meditation, workshop, and sharing sessions.
Single Room Price: $950.00
Shared Room Price: $830.00 (bring your own roommate - we will never pair you with a stranger!)
Day Pass Experience (meals included, no lodging)
Prefer to commute to and from campus? Day passes give you complete access to all daily writing blocks, meditation workshops, group sharing, and all meals and then you can retire to your own home at night.
Day Pass Rate: $710.00
Reserve Your Spot
Space is kept intimate to foster a meaningful, close-knit community. We will run the retreat if 10 participants register by December 21. Limited to 25 participants total. If the retreat is cancelled by the organization for any reason, all payments are refundable.
Registration deadline: December 21. Cancellations made by participants after December 21 are non-refundable.
Have questions about lodging, schedule, or diet restrictions? Reach out to us at greenmountainplaywrightretreat@gmail.com
Write ~ Share ~ Be Supported
Meet Your Hosts:
Erin Galligan Baldwin (she/her), the founding artistic director of the Green Mountain Playwright Retreat is a Vermont-based playwright, director, performer, educator, and proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Her work explores family, identity, social justice, history, and the ways theater can build empathy and connection. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Erin attended Interlochen Arts Academy as an acting major, earned a degree in English and Creative Writing from the Honors College at the University of Michigan, and received an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Performance Creation from Goddard College. After teaching, acting, and working in New York City, Erin moved north—way north—to work with Bread and Puppet Theater and has called Vermont home for the past 23 years. A veteran teacher and director of 28 years, Erin is passionate about creating spaces where artists of all ages and all walks of life can take creative risks, find inspiration, and support one another's work.
Sarah Lipton (she/they), the founder of The Presence Point, is a contemplative teacher, author, and strategic advisor with over 30 years of formal practice in Buddhist contemplative traditions. Rooted in two decades of original curriculum development and direct experience navigating high-stakes organizational systems, Sarah’s work centers on helping artists, visionaries, and leaders step out of conceptual noise and ground directly into the present moment. As a lifelong writer, podcast host (GENUINE), and creator of the Genuine Presence Protocol, Sarah’s passion lies in supporting creatives to drop beneath the frantic pressure of production and touch the raw, fertile ground of authentic experience. She teaches that true creation does not spring from force, anxiety, or intellectual straining, but midwifes naturally when we take our seat in genuine presence—allowing the work to arise from an unshakeable, embodied core.
New Year Renewal Retreat Schedule
Wednesday
2:00 pm: Check in
4:30 pm: Opening reception
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:30 – 9:00 pm: Opening Creative Ceremony / Setting Intentions
Thursday + Friday
7:00 am: Early Bird Yoga + Meditation
8:00 am: Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 am: Morning Meeting
9:30 – 12:30 pm: Individual Writing Time
12:30 – 1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 pm: Individual Writing Time
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Generative Writing Workshop
4:00 – 6:00 pm: Community Sharing Circle - bring work to share and workshop
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Dinner
Evening time: Drinks at The Haybarn Pub (just steps away from the dorms) & Bonfire under the stars
~ on Thursday evening we will bring in the new year with a champagne toast ~
Saturday
7:00 am: Meditation
8:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Check out of dorm rooms (you can leave luggage in the Kilpatrick Lounge)
10:30 am –12:00 pm: Closing Reception & Final Reading – sign up to share work
12:00 pm: Goodbye and safe travels. See you next time!
Accommodations & Winter Retreat Experience
The Creative Campus at Goddard rests on the historic Greatwood campus in Plainfield, Vermont. In winter, the snow-draped grounds offer a peaceful setting to welcome the New Year with a balanced mix of intention, solitude, and community.
Staying On Campus
Guests will be hosted in our classic dorm-style residence halls, with your choice of a private single or shared room based on your reservation. Designed around community, hallways feature easily accessible, shared all-gender restrooms on each floor.
Outside your door, crisp mountain air, snow-covered trees, and historic buildings create an inspiring backdrop for quiet winter walks or cozy time writing.
The Martin Manor
Our workshops, meditation sessions, morning meetings, and writing circles will take place in historic Martin Manor. Writing and meditation rooms are available on the second floor for individual writing, meditation, and yoga, as well as small group gatherings. Use of the Martin Manor kitchen allows us to provide a steady supply of tea, coffee, and snacks. We’ll take care of all your needs—you just concentrate on your creative process.
Dining & Connection
Meals are shared in the Greatwood Dining Hall, just steps from the residence halls. Featuring large, bright windows and a warm atmosphere, it serves as the natural heart of campus life to gather, relax, and connect throughout the day. Chef Viviana will prepare delicious, community-focused meals tailored to your dietary needs. We will also have healthy snacks, tea, and coffee available throughout the day. Share food with new friends or retreat to your room or writing space to eat – it is up to you!
In the evenings, the on-campus Haybarn Restaurant and Pub opens for late-night drinks, snacks, and occasional live music.
Location & Logistics
Reliable Wi-Fi is available across campus, and GPS navigation works smoothly throughout the area.