©
Writing is Medicine
for the Soul
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With bestselling author, writing mentor and publisher
JOANNE FEDLER
and ANNA KWIECINSKA
16-23 June 2027
8 days / 7 nights
Your choice of Accommodation with own room is included
Day 1 - 16 June - arrival day - program starts 1 pm
Day 7 - 23 June - departure day - no program
AIRPORT : Denpasar Bali
A 5-Day Immersive Journey into Mindfulness, Memory, and Creative Expression
If you have ever felt the pull or call to put words on a page, this retreat is an invitation for you to open the door and expand your mindfulness practice into writing.
Join internationally bestselling author and writing mentor Joanne Fedler, alongside art curator Anna Kwiecinska, for a transformative five-day retreat designed to nourish, feed, and soothe your soul. Together, Joanne and Anna will offer a gentle spectrum of creative practices—from light-hearted and fun exercises to deeper, transformative work.
Through guided journaling, free writing, sensory mapping, micro-memoir, poetic inquiry, dream capture and observational prompts, this retreat is designed to nourish your spirit, awaken your senses, and access the deeper wisdom within you. Whether it’s creative expression, inner healing, or joyful reflection you need, this retreat is the medicine to retrieve the deeper life that speaks in silence to you, and longs for expression.
Designed around Joanne’s unique approach to writing as a reflection of consciousness and soul ‘vesseling’, this pilgrimage offers you the space and tools to:
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strengthen your conviction and confidence in your unique voice;
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awaken your senses to capture your reflections, memories, and insights hungering for expression;
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connect deeply to your heart and translate the quiet wisdom of your spirit onto the page.
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Our days will be built around ritual and reflection practices including:
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gratitude and appreciation rituals: grounding daily writing sessions in reflections on beauty, presence, and simple moments;
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intentional prompts and contemplative inquiry: responding to deep, open-ended questions designed to gently challenge beliefs and uncover hidden insights;
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prompt-based Nature writing: writing outdoors in response to Balinese landscapes—observing flora, fauna, water
The retreat hub is Villa Nilaya, and you choose your very own room in our lovely beachfront accommodations all a short walk from Niaya. We are all are tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by coconut palms, on the edge of sparkling sea.
Sometimes sea turtles swimming just at the front of the villa! We'd love to take you snorkeling to discover the beauty of the reefs at the bottom of our garden if you like ... 'getting weightless' can be a wonderful inspiration for your imagination to float and find what you thought you had forgotten.
All you need do is bring your intention - Anna and her team at Villa Nilaya do the rest so that you can give your full attention to your writing journey with Joanne, whose 16th book, Coming Home From Grief was published in 2025.
Our program includes daily meditation, some restorative yoga, plus other delicious surprises ...
See you there!
Joanne is an award-winning author who passionately encourages people to write and to live more fully.
She says "If you are 'waiting' to know where your story is taking you before you commit words to the page, please stop waiting.
Just Start Writing. The act of writing engenders the story. The more we write, the more we can write."
After a successful career as an internationally bestselling author, Joanne turned her attention to helping other writers.
In the past 14 years, she has facilitated 16 writing retreats all over the world, including 3 with Anna Kwiecinska - here in Bali (2025), Portugal (2026) and the Greek island of Hydra (2026).
"I’m passionate about helping women writers find their voice and succeed in reaching their goal to become a published author."
"I’ve developed my own creative process for mentoring writers and aspiring authors which I teach in my workshops, retreats and online writing courses. We can only ever take a reader as far as we have gone. So how we think matters. Who we are – our values and beliefs – informs the vision of life our writing is in service to. If we get clear on that, the craft gets easier. "
Joanne has mentored hundreds of writers (both face to face and in her online writing courses), set up her own publishing company Joanne Fedler Media and published many debut authors. whom you can see here ...
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WHO WILL THIS RETREAT SUIT?
Whether you are a beginner or a writing veteran, this retreat meets every writer no matter where you are on your journey.
The relaxed environment, our caring staff at Nilaya, the sheer beauty of an endless horizon to greet you each day as you awaken - yes, all of your accommodations are by the sea - the soft winter warmth, and the wisdom of your retreat teacher is all here for you ..... with only 10 places available please reserve your place soon, and don't hesitate to contact Anna if you have any queries.
This retreat offers you the opportunity gift yourself gentle days by the sea to focus on you, your well-being, and your writing.
The retreat tales place at Villa Nilaya, a spacious, fully-staffed, private villa (designed by Anna) with a large swimming pool, located on a quiet beach.
Your accommodation is included and is a ten-minute stroll away through our peaceful village of Mendira near Candi Dasa
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Our first afternoon together - DAY 1 - starts at 2pm at the villa and we will pick you up in a taxi for the brief ride from your chosen hotel to the retreat hub.
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DAYS 2- 6 inclusive, offer 5 sessions of writing tutoring and mentoring with Joanne Fedler
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plus sharing sessions for readers and writers on a couple of evenings towards the end of the week
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plus make your own hand-bound journal with Anna and discover ways to illustrate it with a wide collection of art materials available at the villa
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A 60-minute deliciously restorative Balinese massage or reflexology treat with our expert masseuses using Sensatia's pure sweet almond oil infused with restorative essential oils where you choose your favourite scent - Meditation or Relaxation
For anyone with a desire to write ... to be on retreat wth Joanne is to be in the presence of a true master of her craft. I feel excited, inspired and confident to pursue my own writing
Michele H., Sydney, Australia
on Writing By the Sea in Bali Retreat
with Joanne and Anna in 2025
With a background as an art historian and art gallery owner, my collaboration with artists continues to be a fascinating career which evolved into specialist art retreats designed to combine seriously good art tuition with authentic cultural experiences.
The practice of meditation has under-pinned Creative Living Retreats, as a source of focus for creative inspiration.
In 202o Anna was part of a pilot study group led by two reseachers in the bay Area of San Francisco, into the practice of 'microdosing mindfulness' .Dr David Amster a pain management specialist and Jake Eagle, life coach and counsellor, - both meditators - have since published their findings as "The Power of A.W.E', and it is this wisdom that we've drawn on in recent retreats.
Since their beginning in 2011 and active every year other than during the pandemic, many retreatants have returned for our thoughtfully curated weeks of supported creativity, and I genuinely look forward to welcoming you to experience the depth of wellbeing that Creative Living Retreats have become known for, More info
What does your Retreat include? Practically everything except your airfare !
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A/C Airport Taxi collection with name board on arrival at the International Airport
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Accommodation with Breakfast for 6 nights in your choice of beachside hotels and bungalows
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20 hours of Writing Tuition with Joanne Fedler over 7 days, plus 2 extra sessions for sharing reading and writing on evenings at the villa followed by dinner (included), and a taxi ride for the brief drive back to your hotel.
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All printed writing materials
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Tuition and materials to make your own hand-bound Journal with Anna
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Art materials and 'know how' from Anna to embellish or illustrate your journal throughout the week
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A daily meditation and some restorative yoga for those that wish.
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Breakfasts 7 at your hotel/bungalow
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Lunches - 4 provided at Villa Nilaya during the retreat. We serve really fresh food, with an emphasis on vegetarian, tofu and seafood protein, and not too starchy (quinoa and red rice often replaces white rice).
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A day trip to East Bali, for a special lunch, sightessing, writing and sketching
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Freshky baked morning teas each day
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Bottled Water available throughout the retreat
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Dinners 4 including:
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‘Welcome Dinner BBQ' at Villa Nilaya (dietary restrictions catered for - please advise)
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Writers' Dinner at the Villa
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A fine dining experience in Candi Dasa
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Farewell Night Dinner and concert performance at Villa Nilaya
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Balinese Massage or reflexology treatment in-house at Villa Nilaya
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A Retreat Bag full of lovely surprises, and others along the way,,,,,
What's not included?
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flights
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taxi transfer from retreat
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all personal expenses incurred at hotel (laundry etc)
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3 lunches and 3 dinners
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any trips, tours or transports not included in the description of 'inclusions'
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tips / gratuities
The retreat tales place at Villa Nilaya, a spacious, fully-staffed, private villa (designed by Anna) with a large swimming pool, located on a practically private beach.
YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN INCLUDED and is a ten-minute stroll (or short taxi ride, which we organise), away through our peaceful village of Mendira near Candi Dasa
Choose your preferred accommodation from these two seaside options, both include Breakfast
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the 3-star seaside AMARTA BEACH BUNGALOWS (with breakfast) OR
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The 4.5-star CANDI BEACH RESORT HOTEL (with buffet breakfast)
click on the images below to go to the hotel website
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… Over the course of several days together, we learnt the ribs, bones and joints of writing. Joanne spilled forth her legions of learnings our way … she is a seasoned and compassionate writing mentor who ceremoniously gathered a small cluster of mature women, for the most part unknown to each other, to express soulful stories through their foray into writing.
I’m thrilled to have received the exquisitely distilled gifts of her in-person tutelage. I spent a week alongside extraordinary women with whom deep communion was achieved and friendships born. We leave … nourished, supported, and invigorated.
I hold dear these precious gentle, and joy filled days writing by the warm and salty sea.
Nathalie R. Canada
Writing by the Sea in Bali Retreat with Joanne Fedler, 2025
I’ve been writing stories since I was six years old ...
As a child, silkworms and books were my first friends.
Language helped me build a bridge for my hard-of-hearing sister to my parents since I was the only one who could understand what she was trying to say until speech and hearing therapy gave her a voice. Each of us has privileges that can ease the path of others. It is not hard to be useful.
I wrote and illustrated my first story when I was six. It was thin on plot – Emily plans a picnic with Rufus, her neighbour – that’s it – but with coconut-lime lollipops.When I was 14, my dad gave me Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, a play for voices. It centred me like clay on a wheel. I knew all I wanted was to do that with words.
During my ‘going-to-save-the-world’ years, I got a Master’s degree in law from Yale, set up and ran a not-for-profit advocacy centre to end violence against women and sat on the South African Law Commission to help draft new domestic violence legislation. In 1994, Hustler magazine made me ‘Asshole of the Month,’ for my advocacy against violent pornography – it’s still my most prized award.
My 15th book, The Whale’s Last Song came from the grief of losing my mother in 2021, like a cry from somewhere deep inside me. Each year, I run writing retreats and mentor a handful of writers. In 2017, I created Joanne Fedler Media, my own publishing company to publish books by the authors I mentor.
I am a devoted ocean swimmer and support many organisations working to protect marine life and ecosystems.
I have lived on the unceded Gadigal land of the indigenous Eora nation in Australia since 2001, as an immigrant from South Africa. Leaving the place you come from is not something you get over. You are always spliced, always torn. But it offers new horizons.
Reviews of The Whale's Last Song
Written with the timelessness and universality of a folk tale, imbued with heartfeltness and wit, warmth, deep knowing, it is both stern and playful, sweet and true, light and profound. It is truly, truly special.
Catherine Milne
Publisher of the Year, 2024, HarperCollins
Fresh, exquisite ... a creative tour de force, weaving a sense of belonging, and the fallibility of being human and the mysteries of being alive.
Suzie Miller
Prima Facie
Investment
We offer you two sea side options for 7 nights in our village of Mendira, a 10-minute walk from Villa Nilaya, and each with its own restaurant - restaurants in the case of the resort - and easy access to a variety of good eating spots in our village. these an ATM, gift shops, ice cream and coffee spots ..a dress shop .. and the Candi Dasa is a 10-minute taxt ride away (costs about $5 AU). We'll organise some other fine dining options too, but the real draw is the relaxed atmosphere of our village - a world away from what you probably know, or think of, when 'Bali' comes to mind ... East Bali s authentic, slower, friendlier ... simpler ...
Please click the hotel mages below to go to have a look at their websites.
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