September 12-14, 2025 ONLINE Retreat
Art of Short Storytelling: Build Your Author Platform
Join us for a writing event like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
You struggle to find the time to write, away from distraction, to find the inspiration to get the writing done and get it done well.
Wait no more.
If you want to be a writer, this where you need to be.
How to publish,
where to publish, and
who is looking for what….
We’ve got your back
and we’ll pull back the curtain at this amazing online event.
Spots limited to 20.
What is it like to write with Annalisa?
PLUS
- curated publication opportunities
- writing feedback
- meet literary agents, publishers, and other publishing professionals to hear more about what the publishing industry looks for in a quality manuscript
The Online Writing Retreat Experience
What will the group writing time look like?
“I haven’t written this much in 21 years. The prompt, the feedback. It tapped into something new for me.” Rick, recent salon participant
We will meet through Zoom. We will be able to see and hear each other, share documents, write on a white board together: this is the closest approximation we can have to being in the same physical room.
You will break out into smaller groups for discussion, sharing, feedback, and more–then come together for large groups sessions.
Sample Schedule
Highlights
- Craft and Writing Sessions, with feedback based on neuroscience
- curated publication opportunities
- KEYNOTE:
- meet literary agents, publishers, and other publishing professionals to hear more about what the publishing industry looks for in a quality manuscript
Enjoy the camaraderie of positive writers, doing what you’re doing, with the same goals.
Come away refreshed, revived–and with the pages DONE.
Friday
Highlights: WRITING COMMUNITY
Meet your fellow participants.
Laugh in fun icebreaker activities
GET WRITING FEEDBACK BASED ON NEUROSCIENCE
Saturday Morning
Ease into creativity by creating flow in your brain with our morning WRITING EXERCISE
Writing Salon. Unleash your full creative potential in a guided writing session.
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Building Credibility
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Audience Engagement
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Increasing Visibility
Saturday Afternoon
TIME TO WRITE Work on pages, with the accountability of a group writing session.
Heads down, fingers on keyboard, chapters written 
Join Annalisa for a 1-1 session to discuss pages, your publishing career–anything you’ve wanted to talk to your writing coach about.
Professional Roundtable: Every year we invite a publishing professional to join us and talk about what’s happening in the publishing industry NOW, and how that impacts your author career. Past guests include Editor at large of Writers Digest; literary agents, and New York Times bestselling authors.
This is a golden opportunity to get top-notch writing advice and personalized feedback from publishing professionals, published authors, and expert writing coaches, all from the comfort of your home.
Pitch Fest: Past pitches to LMPBN, Sibylline Press, Talcott Notch Literary Agency, Writer’s Digest, and more.
Saturday Evening
Fireside Chat with prolific & successful authors who will share their journey to publication. This will be a laid-back discussion where you can chat and ask questions. Writers may struggle with developing a content calendar or ideas for regular posts, blogs, or articles. We will explore important questions on how to build an author platform such as:
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What is an author platform, and why is it important?
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How do I determine my target audience?
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What social media platforms should I use?
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How do I create consistent content for my platform?
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What are the best ways to build an email list?
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How can I promote my books without feeling pushy?
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What type of content should I share on my platform?
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How do I measure the success of my author platform?
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How can I network with other authors and industry professionals?
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What mistakes should I avoid when building my author platform?
Sunday
Salon and Neuroscience-based feedback.
How to Build an Author Platform: Part 2
Writers may find self-promotion uncomfortable or even awkward, as it requires them to engage in activities that feel contrary to their nature of crafting stories.We will dig deep into the skills needed to overcome some of these fears.
Sharing and Celebrations