Writing wildly
shared & private rooms available
Where your most important writing finally gets to breathe
Jan 25th - 30th 2026, COSTA RICA
For writers, artists and creative entrepreneurs ready to move beyond safe expression and the writing they've begun to expect. Five days in nature to access the voice that's been waiting for the right conditions to emerge.
kind words about writing wildly
Participating in Writing Wildly at the time that I did reconnected me to my business in a critical way, at a time that I felt lost, disconnected from my identity, and unsure of my path forward. It was a process of remembering, deepening, realizing that I am already enough AND that I have more to give. Since Writing Wildly I have created so much more prolifically, which has a direct impact on the success of my business, my launches have been MASSIVELY more easeful (because I know what to say) and successful (because people are connecting with my words) and I know that pattern will continue, and even magnify, as I get even more integrated with the tools I learned at the retreat.
The best ideas don’t usually come while staring at a screen.
They arrive in the quiet. On walks. In the shower. When your nervous system gets even a moment to breathe. Writing Wildly is a five-day writing retreat for creative entrepreneurs, artists and writers who want to get out of their heads, back into their bodies, and finally onto the page.
I believe your most important writing lives at the intersection of courage and space — the kind of space you can't create sitting at your desk, scrolling through notifications, waiting for inspiration to find you between meetings.
True creative breakthrough requires a different kind of environment. It needs mountain air and moving water, the rhythm of your feet on trails, the quiet that only comes when you step completely outside your normal world. It needs other writers and creators who understand that the work we're here to do matters, even when we can't yet see its full shape.
We'll use adventure as a doorway to accessing deeper layers of creativity. We'll learn to trust the ideas that feel too big, too honest, too much. We'll discover how to write from the place where your expertise meets your intuition, where your story becomes something that serves not just you, but everyone who needs to hear it.
Our days will be spent in the stunning wilderness of Turrialba, Costa Rica, a place where hummingbirds shower in the morning mist and toucans frequently flutter past.
Moving between focused writing sessions and outdoor adventures that activate different parts of your creative brain, we'll encourage parts of your creativity to re-aliven in ways you may not have experienced before.
We'll be immersed in the kind of deep work that only happens when you give yourself permission to step away from everything else and remember that your words matter. There will be breakthrough conversations around campfires and sudden insights on mountain trails.
a reckoning with your expression
Writing Wildly is not designed for productivity.
It’s not designed for perfecting a draft, hitting a word count, or churning out content for content’s sake.
It’s a creative rupture — a deliberate interruption of your regularly scheduled life — so you can write with truth, not perform for approval. So you can remember what it feels like to write for yourself first and then shape that voice into something that moves the world.
Whether you’re working on your next article, reimagining your brand, refining your message, or writing the book that’s been circling your brain for years this is time set aside only for you and your words.
Through immersive workshops, guided story excavation, creative circles, and wild, off-the-grid spaciousness, you’ll experiment, explore, and generate work that is real, resonant, and alive.
"So much has happened since Costa Rica"
01 / 06
I added the final draft of our writings to my website and the offer sold out. What you got me to do in the jungle, what you made me see in my story. I have no words for you about how you saw me, how you see me, so eloquently and unafraid. I am in a deep bow for meeting you and having you in my life now as a mentor, teacher, friend and sister. Thank you from all the light in the sky.
02 / 06
I’m still in awe of how our retreat has changed my life on so many levels.
The most magical week in the jungle that surpassed all of my wildest dreams. I feel like a different person in the most magical way. Thank you for being you and creating this extraordinary retreat. You have changed my life and deeply impacted all of us. You have an incredible gift of seeing people and that's what made this week magic.
03 / 06
"Your words overwhelm me and touch my heart on a very deep level"
Thank you for inviting me into the Writing Wildly first circle. I can't stop telling everyone about the experience. It was extraordinary beyond my expectations. I can't wait to return for the next one. 2025 SIGN ME UP!
04 / 06
"I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but the “shoulds” were keeping me small"
This retreat made me realise what I really needed to do was come home to myself. Stop giving away my power. Believe in my capacity to create. I don’t feel peace about most things. I worry over decisions. Overthink interactions. But even in the whitewater rush, my inhales were calm. My head clear. I'm prepared for wherever the river may take me next.
05 / 06
"One day, I promise, I will articulate what this weekend, you, have done for me"
I'm not thanking you for finding and bringing us to this place or pulling together the most incredible set of humans, or for taking us on our first rapids. My thank-you is for showing me that a girl from Lancashire can (and will) do great things. My ambition is what brought me to Costa Rica, I knew I was meant for more but couldn't figure out what that was. And I am leaving knowing my thread, FUCK! What a gift! Mate you are such a gift! What I wasn't expecting was the inner work, the healing, the truth-telling, the being seen, the bonding, the friendships that have formed for life. I will be forever grateful.
06 / 06
"I have a newfound clarity about what I want to say, where I want to say it, who I'm saying it for, and WHY"
I am much more confident in sharing my voice. I was stalling on making certain decisions before this retreat. I was unsure of what I wanted to do next, or why. All my attempts felt so forced. I now feel ready to move forward with an aligned vision. And I've already started! It finally feels so clear and so natural.
Writing Wildly is the place you come to dig it out. To get quiet enough to hear what you actually think. To write in a way that reminds you who you are — and who you’re becoming.
You’re not blocked. You’re just crowded. By content you didn’t mean to consume. By opinions you didn’t ask for. By the daily demands of running a business, being a creator, an artist, making money, being visible, staying relevant.
Writing Wildly isn’t a break from your business or your creativity — it’s a return to what makes it yours.
Spend time with your words, your writing, your ideas, your voice with tools, workshops and guidance to uncover what you really want to say
Push past your comfort zone (both physically and in your writing) and experiment with new writing techniques, styles, and mediums
Produce writing that you feel excited about, that feels true and real and alive for you and build a practice that is both healing and expansive
Explore the stories, experiences, and insights that have shaped you, in a safe space to practice feeling seen and heard
You will be encouraged to:
Create a body of work that accesses a deeper level of thinking that is just not available to you while you're in the daily grind
01
5 days of soul-expanding, greatest-work inducing workshops... and the space to process, INTEGRATE & CREATE
True creativity thrives in a balance of structure and freedom. That's why we've designed a program that combines daily workshops with ample time and space for personal reflection, exploration, and creation. The specific sessions will ultimately be curated for the group, but expect topics centred around expression, creative writing, storytelling, visibility, voice, social media with Xanthe and a session on expressing your creativity visually with our photographer, Charlie.
Here's how it works:
02
pushing yourself out of your comfort zone physically
When you fully engage your body, you give your mind the freedom to roam. You will navigate the physical challenges of the wilderness & release the mental blocks that have been keeping your creativity in a choke hold. By stepping out of your head and into your body, you create space for your subconscious to deliver the ideas and insights that have been waiting to surface. And there is nothing like connecting with people as you navigate class 3 & 4 rapids together.
03
thought partnership & support to refine your personal writing style
As a creative, pushing boundaries is something your curious, rebellious heart is drawn to naturally. But that can be a lonely place. It's rare to find thought partners who understand your passion, and who fully grasp that you want to create something extraordinary through your life, people who are exactly where you are, who can challenge your assumptions, help you see things from a new angle and help you get comfy with the uncomfortable. Everyone at the retreat gets 1:1 time with both Xanthe and I.
04
5 days in the mountainS of costa rica
Everyone talks about the beaches of Costa Rica. But the mountains and rivers are where the real magic is. To simply be in this environment is to step into another world entirely – a world that gets into your bones. This experience is as authentic Costa Rica as it could possibly be. This is my home, my friends and family. You will be taken care of by locals, support the most beautiful local businesses and experience a side of Costa Rica that very few people are lucky enough to experience.
05
time with a world-class, in-demand content photographer
Being seen is an essential part of the creative process. It's a way of anchoring your transformation, of making it real and tangible and undeniable. And, it can be the most vulnerable part of any artist's journey. Most of us want to just create and hide. That's why we've partnered with one of the most sought-after content photographers in the country – a visual storyteller who understands the power of the lens, who can help you translate your vision into outer expression. Every retreat guest gets 1:1 time with our photographer to bring everything you discover about your work to literal life.
06
the magic of community with creative women
Imagine sitting in a circle, surrounded by a group of creatives who truly get it. People who understand the exhilaration of a creative breakthrough and the vulnerability it takes to share your words, your story, your truth. These are the kind of people you’ll find at Writing Wildly — impressive, kind, wildly creative souls who are ready to see you, hold space for you, and celebrate you. We'll laugh. Really, belly laugh. We'll build connections that last long after you leave Costa Rica and a network of creative collaborators and friends for life.
I NEED TO BE THERE ▸
kind words about writing wildly
I used to think of writing in two clear categories: the writing that is for the world (creative) or the writing that is for me (reflective), but the retreat made me realize that there is a third option: creative writing that is for me, that allows me to process my memories and experiences and thoughts. Now I understand writing as a tool I can use to tell my own stories back to myself and, in doing so, release the narratives that dance around in my head incessantly, causing shame and blame and anxiety.
this is Where breakthrough thinking meets breakthrough expression in the kind of environment that makes both possible.
who for
this is
seasoned writers
You’ve written for years and want to take your craft to the next level. Perhaps you’re looking to deepen your connection to your work, find clarity for new ideas, or just carve out sacred time to write without distraction.
copywriters
You want to refine your personal writing style, build a body of work, and uncover creative approaches that elevate your OWN messaging, because you spend most of your time doing this for other people.
creative entrepreneurs
Those of you who already KNOW the power your words have and are craving the space to explore what your work could look like without the constant pull of deadlines and deliverables. This retreat is a chance to reconnect with your creativity, not as a means to an end, but as an act of discovery and expression.
PEOPLE who want to write
You can feel it — a quiet nudge to pick up the pen, to explore what’s been waiting to come through. Whether it’s a book, a blog, or a message, this is your chance to tune out the noise, step into stillness and bring your words to life.
send your application ▸
When I think about my love for words, it always takes me back to my mum. Our house was a maze of books — stacked on tables, spilling off shelves, perched precariously on top of long-forgotten cups of tea. There was never a day when she wasn’t lost in a story, and it’s from her that I inherited this all-consuming belief in the magic of words.
Writing has shaped my very bones, it's how I understand myself, my business and how I’ve navigated both. Writing is a way of life. It’s how I’ve built my career, it's how I've connected with people all over the world, it's how I've helped clients make millions.
In this retreat, we’re exploring writing as a practice of transformation:
→ A process of unraveling the myths you’ve been taught about creativity and originality, and stepping into a more expansive, authentic relationship with your ideas.
→ A way to question, challenge, and rewrite the stories that have shaped you.
→ An invitation to cultivate creative courage — not uniquely for the sake of visibility, but for the truth that emerges when you allow your writing to be messy, personal, and free. And how that alone can change your life.
All positive change in the world starts with a well-told story
Hi, I'm LOIS & I'll be your host
We will be joined by THE Queen of Content herself, Xanthe Appleyard of Oh Sierra Creative. Xanthe will host a workshop to round up our time in the jungle, focussed on visibility and the practical side of taking what you uncover at the retreat to the outside world. Xanthe is gifted at turning the mystical into the practical and has a strategic mind unlike anyone I've ever met. She coached me through one of the biggest uplevels and transitions in my business and entire career to date. I owe so much of my current success to her gentle wisdom and I am so excited to share her with you in Costa Rica. She's here to coach, teach & write with you.
Xanthe is a marketing educator, strategist and passionate community builder. As the co-founder of Oh Sierra, alongside her husband Frank, Xanthe helps creative leaders grow invested communities and become the leaders they know they're meant to be.
meet the crew...
Daniela is my glue, my right hand woman and the person who keeps this *waves arms up and down* whole operation running smoothly. She ALWAYS has a smile on her face and brings the most beautiful energy to any space. She's local to the area and is around for anything and everything. A kind word, a quick question, emotional support, mindset coaching, logistics and so much more.
With Danita, you know you're in the best possible hands. If you have a question, need support or just forgot your toothbrush, she'll always be there, you'll never need to look too far. Nothing is too much for her. Everything she does, she does with love. I feel so much peace running retreats knowing she's there with us through it all.
Plus, you will:
By the end of this experience you will...
Leave the jungle with a newfound clarity of purpose, a deep connection to your voice & personal writing style & a transformed sense of yourself as a writer and a creative force.
kind words about writing wildly
This experience was INCREDIBLE. There's nothing like the view of the jungle to awaken your creativity. I cherished those early morning writing sessions, putting pen to paper while watching the sun rise over the mountains and the hummingbirds dance in the flowers. I feel so much more inspired to share my creative expression. As a professional copywriter, I kept my personal writing practice completely private to myself for many years. This retreat helped me realize that I don't just love doing this kind of writing for myself. I actually do have things I want to share!
"Writing is a process of self-liberation, self-revelation & self-discovery"
Writing is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal for understanding yourself, your work and what you're here to do. Your words are what make your ideas spread. And when you know how to use them well, when you know what stories to tell, honestly it really does feel like magic.
- Ray bradbury
““I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés,
Women Who Run With the Wolves
Anna found her message, purpose & launched her dream business
“It was lois who first really saw what i now know is my purpose”
She quickly identified the parts of me that I want to be known for. It was her that truly understood and saw what I now know is my purpose. She gave me the confidence to be bold with my messaging.
Kelley found her voice & hit 90,000 followers
“it was so helpful distinguishing my voice, my message and who i want to be.”
Lois really sought to understand me so we could bring that into my copy. She is such a warm, loving person to be around and I deeply appreciate that about her. While working together I defined my voice, my impact, my message, grew over 60,000 followers to hit above 90k and had my biggest program launch to date.
jules 3x HER following, BOOKED DREAM SPEAKING GIGS
“with Lois' support i was able to step into the leader i'm meant to be”
Having her in my corner has felt like a 'secret hack' (even though there aren't any). I love her straight-talking, honest business advice & approach. Her copy is genius. Working with her I've tripled my following, launched my first (dream) group program, and booked speaking gigs that were literally on my vision board.
claire added multi 6 figures in revenue
"the copy, messaging and strategy she created generated over 6 figures in profit"
Working with Lois, I launched two new signature offers that she wrote the copy for and was also behind the messaging and strategy, they have been integral to my business' forward motion and generated over 6 figures in profit just in the first launch, they are signature offers still to this day. I'm not sure where I'd be without her.
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Let's be mates
on Threads, I'm the most chaotic
on IG I try to be valuable (sometimes)
on Pinterest I'm just tryna be cute
on LinkedIn, I'm anything but professional
@weareupclub