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The Story Sisters Writing Workshop and Retreat

From Aspiring Writer to Indie Author

Editor Jana Miller and Authors Annette K. Larsen and Kimberly Pearl are hosting their first Writers Workshop and Retreat. It will be held at a beautiful Airbnb in Garden City, Utah, close to Bear Lake on October 6-10, 2026.

Who is this for?

  • Aspiring writers needing help and guidance to get them from draft to published book
  • Writers craving community and accountability
  • Ladies only

Who is this NOT for?

  • Established authors looking for master-level craft intensives
  • Writers who prefer large conference-style events
  • Menfolk

What you get

  • Daily expert-led classes to strengthen your craft
  • Hands-on workshops where you apply what you learn
  • Dedicated writing time to make real progress
  • Direct access to instructors for feedback and questions
  • The chance to connect with other writers and build a community

How will our time be spent?

Though we have a schedule, we want all our participants to make this retreat their own. If you aren’t interested in a class, you can skip it! If you’d rather stay in the living room/kitchen area and have social time instead of being in our quiet work area during our writing time, that’s wonderful!

Sample Schedule

  • Breakfast
  • Morning Class
  • Writing time
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon class
  • Writing time
  • Dinner
  • Mini class
  • Socializing

Classes will be ~ 40 minute presentations with 20 minute Q&A
Mini classes will be 20 minutes

CLASS LIST

  • A Brush of the Hand: Turning Simple Gestures into Complex Tension
  • Characters We Care About: A 5-Point Checklist for Compelling Characters
  • The Power of Bookstagram: Using Social Media to Reach your Audience
  • Don’t Hit Publish Yet: The Essential Checklist for Every Author
  • Conflict, Tension, and Stakes: Keep Readers Hooked With Strong Plot Beats
  • Foils, Conflict and Secrets: Creating Dynamic Side Characters
  • Say It Like It Is: Why Great Dialogue is a Little Bit Messy
  • Do I really need an editor? And what do they actually do?
  • Topography, Economy and Culture: Using Inkarnate as a World Building Tool

First Chapter Critique

Participants who are interested are invited to submit their first chapter before the retreat. It will be read and critiqued by one of the hosts as well as one of the other participants. This is a good opportunity to practice giving and receiving critical feedback.

Meet the Sisters

Jana Miller, the elder

  • Developmental and line editor
  • Edited over 150 books
  • Worked with more than 50 authors

Website • Instagram

Annette K. Larsen, the middle

  • Indie author since 2013
  • 19 published books
  • Writes fantasy and contemporary clean romance

Website • Instagram • Facebook • Goodreads

Kimberly Pearl, the younger

  • Indie author since 2023
  • 3 published books
  • Audiobooks produced by Tantor

Website • Instagram • Goodreads

*It should be understood that the three of us do not represent the entirety of the sisterhood. We have three additional sisters whom we honor.

The Experience

This 5000 sq ft house has plenty of room to gather or spread out. We will have dedicated quiet spaces for when participants want to buckle down and write, as well as dedicated socializing spaces for when you want to chat about books or bounce ideas off of someone.

In addition to the three hosts, we are looking for only twelve participants, so this will be an intimate group setting where you can ask all your questions and get the feedback and guidance to kick your writing into high gear.

What does it cost?

  • $625 or $675 for a private room

What does the price include?

  • Four nights of lodging. Everyone will have their own bed, but not everyone will have their own room
  • Nine classes and workshops
  • Three dinners

What does it NOT include?

  • Breakfast and lunch food. Participants are encouraged to bring whatever food they like for breakfast, lunch and snacks.
  • The last dinner. We will be going out to eat at a local restaurant on our last night.

Lodging Details

  • 7 bedrooms (2 private. 5 shared.)
  • 17 beds
  • 4 bathrooms

*Filling out the form only indicates interest. The form will be open until June 1st, at which point we will reach out to those who have filled out the form and invite them to register and pay a deposit if they believe the retreat is right for them.

FAQs

Will you ever host another retreat?
If this one is a success, then yes! We would love to do this multiple times a year if the desire is there.

Can I come for only part of the time and pay only part of the price?
No, we are looking for full participants.

Can I bring my kids?
No. Unless you are a nursing mother and are willing to pay the upcharge for the private room.

What should I pack?

  • Laptop. Notebooks. Whatever you use for writing!
  • Clothes (pay attention to weather for Garden City)
  • Personal toiletries
  • Breakfast, lunch, and snack foods.