Immersive creative environments.
Distinguished faculty • Process-oriented approach • Vibrant community
Every spring and summer, Sage Hill Writing welcomes cohorts of talented writers from across genres and writing backgrounds. Whether you are an established or emerging writer, we have a program to support you in your creative process.
Our writing retreats offer challenging but supportive environments where you can take your literary projects to the next level, mentored by distinguished faculty and as part of a welcoming community of writers. Our alumni form life-long community bonds, and often return to Sage Hill when working on new projects.
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Applications are open to writers in Canada and abroad.
Have a question about our writing retreats? Contact us.
I worked on my first novel, The Bone Cage, [at Sage Hill]. It went on to be a Canada Reads finalist and has taken me on so many adventures.
Angie Abdou, Alumna
Spring Colloquium
Focusing on your writing doesn’t have to be a solitary action. In the Spring Colloquium, you can delve into your manuscript in a small-group retreat environment that facilitates deep-immersion into the writing process. With individual manuscript consultations and stimulating seminar discussions, you will have the tools you need to bring new energy to your project.
A Poetry Colloquium is offered on rotation with a Fiction Colloquium.
The 2023 Poetry Colloquium was offered in person. The next Fiction Colloquium is planned for 2024.
Application guidelines: The Spring Colloquium is a facilitated retreat designed for writers who have a publication record of at least one book, or the equivalent in periodicals, and are working towards manuscript completion.
Spring Colloquium Application Deadline: Applications Now Closed
Learn More and Apply:
Sage Hill’s pastoral setting and overall calmness (few, if any locked doors) provided a lovely environment to produce poetry. As much as anything, I found the absence of distraction very conducive to writing and to limiting procrastination.
Anonymous, 2023 Poetry Colloquium
During the summer months, the Poetry Course is excellent alternative to the colloquium.
Spring Fiction Course
Sage Hill’s 2023 Fiction Course was offered in person in May 2023. This change kept gathering sizes small in both the spring and summer months.
The Fiction Course is a forum for fiction writers to focus on developing their skills, exchanging ideas, and learning from both mentors and peers. Bring your new or ongoing writing project to this small-group, facilitated retreat, where you will take the next step in your process supported by a vibrant community of writers.
Spring Fiction Application Deadline: Applications Now Closed
Learn More and Apply:
My time at the Sage Hill Fiction Summer Course was life-changing… Our fearless instructor, Yasuko, changed my relationship with writing for the better. She created a simultaneously generative, open, and kind environment, and I have implemented her tools into my daily writing practice.
Kristina Stocks, 2022 Fiction Course
Summer Courses
The craft of writing is a lifelong exercise in learning. That’s why Sage Hill’s Summer Courses (Nonfiction, Poetry, Playwriting and Emerging Writers’) are designed as a forum for writers at all stages of their careers to focus on developing their skills, exchanging ideas and learning from both mentors and peers. Bring your new or ongoing writing project to these small-group facilitated retreats, where you will take the next step in your process supported by a vibrant community of writers.
The 2023 Summer Emerging and Playwriting Courses will be offered in person. The Nonfiction and Poetry Courses will be offered online.
Application guidelines: You do not need to be published to apply to the Emerging Writers’ Course. The Summer Courses each have their own guidelines. Visit the page you are interested in for further details.
Summer Courses Application Deadline: Applications Now Closed
Learn More and Apply:
It was very well organized, and 100% worth the time and financial expenditure. I would heartily recommend the Sage Hill experience to anyone interested in writing. It is a 10-day gift to our writing self to get away from the daily grind, reflect on the art of writing in a supportive environment, be inspired by peers and the workshop leader, develop confidence as a writer and be encouraged to keep on writing.
2023 Emerging Course Participant
If you have any questions about these programs, you can always contact us!
Many thanks to our partners & sponsors for the writing retreats:
