John Roedel
The Unafraid Storyteller
Five-Day Writing Retreat
Sunday, August 8th, 5:30 pm: Meet & Greet
August 9-13, 2027
$1,395
Have you ever had a deep emotion emerge, but struggled to express it in writing? The craving to write is the desire to know the humanity of oneself and the world.
This workshop will lead you away from the anxiety of “getting it right” and toward writing with genuine feeling. You’ll let go of rules and find a place where the complexity of your emotions—loss, amazement, elation, anger, and more — can coexist.
This is not a craft class focused on technique and revision. It is an excavation. This five-day retreat will help you uncover your hidden voice using writing exercises and contemplation in a small group environment. We will explore how to write honestly about loss and joy, how to let humor walk beside sorrow, and how to trust the first true thing instead of the polished one.
You will leave with new work, a renewed relationship with your authentic voice, and tools to keep writing long after the retreat ends. John Roedel teaches with curiosity, treating participants as fellow travelers. Come as you are. No experience required; no perfection expected.
Learning Objectives
The Unafraid Storyteller five-day retreat offers a comprehensive learning experience focused on writing. The key learning objectives for participants include:
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Write with genuine feeling.
Articulating a spectrum of emotions.
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Let go of external rules and excavate your hidden voice.
Trust your first true impulses.
Foster a renewed and honest relationship with your writing.
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Blend contrasting emotions and narrative styles within one’s writing.
Integrate humor alongside sorrow and honestly portray a wide range of feelings.
Skill Level
All levels: beginners and experienced writers equally welcome.
What's Included In The Retreat
Meet and greet with hors d'oeuvres on Sunday, September 12th at 5:30 pm
Five days of instruction--Monday through Friday
Five lunches
Retreat Schedule
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Sunday, August 8, 2027
5:30 pm
Join us for an informal gathering with the instructor and participants. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.
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Monday, August 9-13, 2027
The retreat will follow a daily format.
Morning Session: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Hands-on instruction and wild writing.
Lunch & Open Writing Time: 12:00–2:00 p.m.
Afternoon Session - 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Hands-on instruction and more wild writing.
Supply List for John Roedel Retreat
Participants should bring whatever they feel most comfortable writing with. Any format is welcome: a notebook and pen, a laptop, a tablet, or a favorite journal. There is no required tool and no single right way to work. Bring what helps you think and what makes you want to write.
The only other requirement needed to bring is an open heart and a willingness to be surprised by yourself.
Class Supply Fee or Other Requirements
No supply fee. There are no required materials to purchase and no prerequisites. Writers of every level and background are welcome.
About John Roedel
John Roedel is a poet, author, and writing retreat leader whose work threads humor through grief, doubt, and wonder. Best known for his Hey God. Hey John. dialogues and viral poems read by millions, he is the author of nine books and the facilitator of writing retreats around the world built around emotional honesty rather than craft instruction. A former improv comedian and journalist, he believes the most important question is not how we write, but why. He lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his family and his obsessive sheepdog, Ralph.
John’s Website: johnroedel.com
John’s Social Media
Instagram: @/john_roedel
Facebook: johnbigjohn
X: JohnnyRoedel
Substack: johnroedel
YouTube: johnbigjohnwyo
Books by John Roedel
Important Information Read Before Registering
Cancellation Policy
If the Estelle Center cancels a retreat, you will receive a full refund of all payments made.
The $500 deposit is non-refundable.
If you cancel your reservation and the Estelle Center is able to fill your space with another participant, your $500 deposit will be refunded minus a $100 cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 45 days of the retreat's Meet & Greet date, no refunds will be issued unless the Estelle Center is able to fill your spot. In that case, any refund will be subject to the $100 cancellation fee.
We have limited guest accommodations. If you cancel your room reservation at any time, you will be refunded your payment minus a $150 cancellation fee.
Payments
A deposit of $500 is required to register. The balance of $895 is due by June 9th 2027, 60 days before the start of the retreat.
After June 9, 2027, the full retreat cost of $1,395 is required to register.
Meals & Lodging
The Unafraid Storyteller Retreat includes meet and greet with appetizers, five lunches, and five days of instruction. Other meals and lodging are not included in the registration fee.
Guest rooms at Estelle's Upstairs are available for retreat participants. There are single, double, and triple occupancy rooms that share a large bathroom down the hall. To book a guest room, scroll down to the payment section below.
Click here to learn more about our guest rooms.
Click here to find other accommodations in La Veta.
What To Expect Next
Please add sunshine@estellecreativearts.com to your safe senders list to make sure you receive our emails.
Service Animal Policy
To preserve a calm and welcoming space for creativity and connection, we ask that guests do not bring pets or emotional support animals.
Service dogs, trained to assist and supported by law, are always welcome. Thank you for helping us hold this space with care. If you have questions or specific needs, we invite you to reach out ahead of your visit.
Click here to learn more about the The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Service Animal Policy.
