“While the wilderness of Montana holds the space for inspiration…I hold the space for my retreaters to step into the wilderness of their writing– in the nurturing, safe setting of the gorgeous Dancing Spirit Ranch. No matter where you are in your writing journey, I want you to return home feeling inspired, with clearer intention, deeper commitment, a renewed permission to play on the page, and create what you want to create.”– Laura Munson
Find your voice.
In journals, letters, essays, novels, memoirs...I have examined this beautiful and heartbreaking thing called life, always with the intention of shining a light on an otherwise dim corner to provide relief for myself and others. Writing is my practice, my prayer, my meditation, my way of life and sometimes…my way to life. I want to help you find your unique voice that no one else on the planet has except for you!
Find your stories.
You know what they are. You lead with them when you meet people, when you’re talking on a plane, when you gather with old friends. These are the white hot topics that you are hungry for. At Haven, we free-fall into them bravely and come out the other side with new perspective, new understanding, and even new stories.
Find where you are stuck.
People tell me all the time: “I’m just not creative. I don’t have the time. I’m afraid to be that vulnerable. I’m not good enough, anyway,” which means that their inner critic holds court in their minds and they have learned to bow to it, supplicant. It doesn’t have to be like this. Everybody is creative. Every second we live is a moment of creation. What we say, what clothes we wear, how we think—all creative acts. At Haven, you allow yourself to fully engage in the creative journey you are already on, whether or not you are aware of it. You will walk away with a new commitment to using writing in your life whether it’s in a book project, short form writing, or a more fulfilling journal writing practice.
Whether or not you are a writer, Haven meets you where you need to be met.
I designed the retreat that I would want to attend. That means that everybody at Haven values the written word. Some are working on a project, some haven’t written since school days. It doesn’t matter. Haven is meant to meet you where you need to be met. The one thing we all have in common at Haven is that we are seekers on some level. That’s what makes it so powerful. We step outside of good/bad/right/wrong and into the world of possibility and the world of Yes! I fiercely believe that creative self-expression on the page should be up there with diet and exercise as a transformational tool in the realm of preventative wellness…whether or not it adds up to a published work.
Take a powerful stand for yourself.
When we give ourselves permission, we can find profound freedom in our creativity. That’s why I lead Haven Writing Retreats. I want to help people in their creative expression no matter where they are in their writing. I believe it heals. I believe it can change lives and even change the world. While the wilderness of Montana holds the space for our inspiration, I hold the space for my retreaters to step into the wilderness of their writing-- in a nurturing, safe, inspiring setting…and explore. Each time, I see people leave re-fueled, with clearer intention, and an empowered passion to create what they want to create whether it’s a love-letter to future generations, a novel, a memoir, or a way to simply heal their lives.
If you don’t do it for yourself, who will?
It is such an honor to help people bloom, get unstuck, move through blocks, have breakthroughs, and mostly to see what happens when a group of people take a stand for their self-expression in the woods of Montana. The experience is profound. Our creativity can be our greatest free zone. And I want to help make this possible for you.
Laura Munson
is the author of the New York Times and international bestselling memoir "This Is Not The Story You Think It Is." Her work has been published in the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, O. Magazine, The Week, Huffington Post, Redbook, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, More Magazine, The Sun, and others. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, NPR, Hay House radio, and many other media venues.
"Laura Munson was a master at bringing out my voice, and the voices of all my fellow writers. Her retreat was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. I learned about writing, but I also learned about myself in ways that were unexpected. In addition, we all formed an amazing bond with each other! The totality of the place, the people, the work and the food was priceless."
–Wendy Hill Vero Beach, FL
"Laura Munson transformed my attitude toward writing – from thinking that no one would be interested in my story to feeling rejuvenated with confidence and desire to complete it. The peaceful setting and five days of sharing with the other incredibly different yet like-minded and funny women filled me with inspiration and motivation, and gifted me with 9 new friends of the heart and written word."
— Christie Schmitt Coombs Abington, MA
