Blurry Zoom screenshots aside, this Virtual Retreat group was\/is PERFECT. Words rarely escape me\u2014unless I\u2019m trying to capture the magic of a circle of writers who mean the world to me, and to each other. How does life-altering connection grow so strong in just one month? After all these years, it still feels like a mystery\u2014one I\u2019m endlessly grateful for.<\/p>\n
While I won\u2019t tag or name these five beauties here on this sleepy Tuesday morning from my bed-office (though they kindly gave me permission to post this graphic\u2014thank you, love bugs!), I\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0share some of their anonymous reflections from our closing \u201cbrunch\u201d last Friday. I\u2019m floored. And stupid-grateful for their faith, generosity, and talent\u2014and for the fact that this is the work of my life.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cMy life feels bigger.<\/strong> I didn\u2019t know what to expect, but it really feels so much bigger. Maybe you could call it the Bigger Writers Group?\u201d<\/p>\n One thing I know for certain: When writers gather in an intimate, safe space\u2014often reading their words aloud for the first time\u2014the results are breathtaking. We exhale deeply. We laugh from our guts. We cry (every damn time). And most importantly, we learn to trust ourselves: our voices, our visions, our knowing, our wants.<\/p>\n What a relief to discover that it\u2019s not only okay\u2014but imperative\u2014to want what you want. To write with the newfound confidence that blooms when brainstorming with other fully present writers. To be astonished by your own creative power. Was it here all along? (Yes. Totally.)<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cYou guys! This can\u2019t ever end<\/strong>. I know I said maybe not for the rest of my life, but\u00a0\u00a0YES, for the rest of my life!\u201d [Ha. And yes, they\u2019ve already scheduled their first Zoom call without me.]<\/p>\n Did you know that wanting to write is reason enough? The ache to write is reason enough. Then. Now. Tomorrow. All the days.<\/p>\n It\u2019s my greatest joy to hold this container\u2014to give storytellers permission to say what they long to say, to step into who they\u2019ve always dreamed of being. I marvel at who shows up (always the most glorious surprise), and somehow, it is indeed perfect.<\/p>\n Ladies, I love you. Thank you for your generous, soulful reflections of our time together. I\u2019m humbled, deeply moved, and forever in your corner.<\/p>\n Write on!<\/p>\n Lindagrateful xo<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cThis was life-altering for me<\/strong>. I\u2019ve been so mesmerized by your stories that I haven\u2019t needed anything else, not even munchies! LOL.\u201d [Chorus: \u201cYes, no munchies. No munchies!\u201d]<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cI\u2019m very glad that I did the virtual retreat versus going to Carmel<\/strong>. I love Carmel; I love the opportunity to be in person. But for some reason I\u2019ve been able to digest this information and make the changes I\u2019ve had to make both in myself and in my story. I needed that integration time. It worked for me. I loved the pacing of this. I loved the space between our sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cLinda, you\u2019re really, really special. The largesse in this room, the women in this room, your capacity to hear, see, and bear witness is extraordinary. I am 18,000 ways grateful.<\/strong> You truly are a book mama. But you\u2019re a little bit more than that. You\u2019re a whisper, but also a gatherer of the perfect group. Every time, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cI\u2019m so grateful to be here and with your good minds. Wow. How many different ways can I say grateful? Thank you so much for all this time, presence, and generosity. I feel heard and complete<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83e\udef6 \u201cI want to say that when I did one of my private sessions with Linda, I knew she was in the middle of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on a horse trip. Surprise isn\u2019t the right word, but I think I was surprised that she was so focused, bringing 110% of herself to our session. My point is that we get what we pay for here<\/strong>. I\u2019ve been to other retreats with Linda, and she takes our investment very seriously. You gals need to come to the BWG Write-Ins, where we tap into this kind of energy all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n PS<\/strong>. My 2026 Virtual Writers Group begins January 28th<\/a>. If you\u2019re feeling the pull, I\u2019d love to chat about you joining us.<\/p>\n PSS.<\/strong>\u00a0Want to become a member of the super-supportive, affordable #BeautifulWritersGroup<\/a>, where we connect in nine Zoom Write-In sessions each month?<\/p>\n PSSS.<\/strong>\u00a0My promised Carmel #2-of-2 blog on recent book deals is almost done. As usual, so many new wins keep flying in that I keep pausing to add just \u201cone more.\u201d A high-quality problem I\u2019ll take every time.<\/p>\n PSSSS<\/strong>. Thoughts on any of this? Mama LOVES hearing from you, especially if you\u2019re a prior retreater and want to share a comment with the peoples over on\u00a0Insta<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, or\u00a0X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lastly, to quote Sam Bennett, my partner in the Beautiful Writers Group Monthly Q & A calls, \u201cBy the Way, You Look Really Great Today.\u201d \u00a0<\/em>Fact.<\/p>\n![\"Beautiful](\"https:\/\/bookmama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tue-am-1024x1024.jpg\")
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Even if the people around you don\u2019t understand.
Even when life throws curveballs.
Even when you\u2019re scared out of your mind.<\/p>\n