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Writing Retreats 

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of living most of my writerly life over Zoom.

That's why I'm thrilled to add in-person retreats to my offerings. And I'm even more excited to have the Batman to my Robin, the Jayna to my Zan, my partner in story geekery, Emily Colin, as a co-teacher for these events.

Our first Revise & Rise retreat, held in June 2025 at The Highlights Foundation, was a huge success. Here's what folks have to say about the retreat and about working with Emily and me as a dynamic duo:

Image of Suzette Mullen's testimonial

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of living most of my writerly life over Zoom.

That's why I'm thrilled to add in-person retreats to my offerings. And I'm even more excited to have the Batman to my Robin, the Jayna to my Zan, my partner in story geekery, Emily Colin, as a co-teacher for these events.

Our first Revise & Rise retreat, held in June 2025 at The Highlights Foundation, was a huge success. Here's what folks have to say about the retreat and about working with Emily and me as a dynamic duo:

I came to Julie and Emily’s Revise & Rise retreat with a partial draft of a memoir manuscript and very little momentum. I was stuck and not convinced that I could find my way to wrapping my arms around my story. Between their illuminating craft talks, one-on-one coaching sessions, and supportive community building, I left feeling focused, motivated, and confident, with a clear plan to restructure my draft and to write forward. Julie and Emily are a dynamic duo, and their passion and energy are infectious! I can’t wait to work with them again!

Suzette Mullen
Author of "The Only Way Through is Out"

The Revise & Rise Retreat with Julie Artz and Emily Colin gave me exactly what I needed to move forward with my novel. Before the retreat I was stuck in the revision trenches, frustrated and floundering. That completely changed when I had my one-on-one with Emily on the first day of the retreat. After talking with her I knew exactly what I needed to do to successfully revise my novel. And that was just the beginning of a phenomenal retreat. Julie and Emily are the perfect retreat teachers, guides and mentors. They have the best, most welcoming, encouraging and contagious energy, and complement each other beautifully. It truly feels as if they were meant to teach together! The other women in the retreat quickly felt like sisters and kindred spirits, and the energy, thanks in large part to Julie and Emily, was incredibly welcoming and supportive. If you're thinking about joining Julie and Emily for one of their life changing retreats, I urge you to do it!. It's one of the best decisions I ever made as a writer.

Dani Dunckley, MA in English and Creative Writing

The Revise and Rise retreat was fabulous! It was a luxury to be in the company of writers who are serious about their craft in a beautiful environment without day-to-day distractions. Julie and Emily seemed to really understand the goals and needs of each participant and were able to provide the guidance and resources to support each of us. It was an all-around fantastic experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to roll their sleeves up and get to the heart of their book in the company of others who want to do the same! I left the retreat feeling sad that it was over, but energized and excited to revise. Thank you Julie and Emily for putting this together!

J. Goodwin

2026 Offerings:  

Revise & Rise Retreat

with Julie Artz and Emily Colin

May 27 - 31, 2026

Join two seasoned authors and book coaches for an immersive retreat designed specifically for writers seeking to refine their craft and elevate their storytelling. 

The Highlights Foundation (Milanville, PA)

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Foreword Writing Retreat

with Julie Artz and Emily Colin

October 4 - 10, 2026

Imagine curling up in a cozy alpine nook by a crackling fire, coffee or tea in hand, as you slip into your story. Whether you’re planning, drafting, or revising, this retreat is both an escape and a dedicated space to create.

Chamonix, France

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đź’¬ What authors are saying...

 

 

 "Julie helped me take the first draft of my manuscript to a polished, well executed novel that got me an agent and my first book deal.”

Author María José Fitzgerald (Turtles of the Midnight Moon, Knopf, 2023)

 

 

“Julie has an unusual ability to see story from a big-picture perspective that connects the external aspects of setting and plot with the internal ones of character and emotional arc.  That connection strengthens authenticity and helps to make the work more compelling. Her guidance on the intricacies of building a world (and the characters and emotions inhabiting it) is sure to be useful for writers of all genres.”

Author Joni Sensel (A Curse on the Wind and Feeling Fate)

 

 

“I found both teachers [Emily Colin & Julie Artz] so generous with their time, information and feedback. Having carefully completed the assignments, I feel much more grounded in the plot and the characters of this novel I have my heart set on writing. Thank you for making this class available to us. Rated 5 out of 5”

Student Gail S, AuthorsPublish

”Emily’s editorial guidance is remarkable and any writer's work is sure to benefit from her insights.”

Author Margarita Montimore (Oona Out of Order, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, Flatiron Books, 2023) 

 

 

"Emily picked me out of the slush pile of an author mentorship program that she was a mentor in, and immediately had incredible enthusiasm and vision for my book. Not only could she see the changes that would make my characters shine, but she pitched the idea of altering the setting of my story from post-apocalyptic to a fantasy dystopian world.

Ultimately, this insight was the change I needed to get noticed in traditional publishing, and now The Enemy’s Daughter is being published by multiple imprints of Harper Collins (Quill Tree and Harper Fire).”

 

Author Melissa Poett (The Enemy’s Daughter, Harper Collins, summer 2025

 

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