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Home Is Where Your Story Begins

Writing retreats that focus on writing + community

Join Your City's List

Get 2027 dates and early-bird pricing first
Los Angeles - January & FebruaryMadison - April & AugustMilwaukee - May & SeptemberChicago - June & October

From the 2026 Retreat

Six minutes with the writers who spent a week at the Story Farm last fall: what they worked on, who they met, and what they took home.

Find Your Retreat

Day Retreat Weekends

The Lake Geneva Weekend

The Lake Geneva Weekend

Spring through fall in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and Los Angeles. A free Friday-night writers’ social, then a full Saturday writing on your own project within a supportive group. $325

The Lake Geneva Weekend

The Lake Geneva Weekend

The Lake Geneva Weekend

Planned for July. Two nights of writing, workshopping, lectures, and long dinners in Lake Geneva. Stay at the house for $1,150, or drive in each day for $650. Meals, drinks, and ongoing monthly Zoom writing group included.

The Flagship Retreat

The Lake Geneva Weekend

The Flagship Retreat

Our 8th annual 5-day retreat at the Story Farm, September 2027. Private room, every meal, airport pickup, and the most writing time you’ll get all year. Monthly Zoom writing group included. Pro Lab writers save 25%. $2250 (payments plans available)

The Flagship Retreat · 8th Annual

September 2027

Four nights in Lake Geneva with your own private room, every meal and drink, and pickup at the Milwaukee or O’Hare airport. Extras like Story Farm merchandise, adventures in downtown Lake Geneva and the lake, and more.

A Long-Term Community

Pre-retreat assignments and monthly writing-group sessions help you develop your project and get to know your fellow retreaters before you ever arrive.

Save Your Room

$2250 or 6 monthly payments of $395

Pro Lab writers save 25%.

Alumni pricing available, just ask - max@thestoryfarm.org

The 8th Annual Flagship Retreat -Ready?

Limited Rooms Available. Payment plans at request.
Reserve my roomPay in 6 installmentsAsk Max a Question

The Lake Geneva Weekend

Two nights of summer writing in July. We open Friday with dinner and quick pitches, write and workshop all day Saturday, and wrap up after breakfast on Sunday. Stay at the house, or sleep at home and drive in. Meals are included either way.

Get First Access

New For 2027

Our first summer weekend retreat in lake Geneva. Final dates go to city list members first.

Stay with us · $1,150

Limited space - you receive one private room at the house, plus every meal and drink all weekend.

Drive in · $650

Every session and every meal. Sleep at home, or book your own place nearby.

Day Retreats - $399

A retreat built around your project

A retreat built around your project

A retreat built around your project

Not a lecture with a topic. Every Day Retreat starts and ends with the story you're writing, and it doesn't stop when Saturday does. See each individual city below for tentative dates. Click the buttons below to join the wait list.

1 · Before - Your Consultation

A retreat built around your project

A retreat built around your project

Send a one-page summary and logline. On a 30-minute Zoom, we find the core problem and set your goal for the retreat.

2 · Friday Night - Writer's Social

A retreat built around your project

2 · Friday Night - Writer's Social

Free and open to every local writer. Swap project cards, meet people through their stories, not just small talk.

3 · Saturday - The Day Retreat

4 · Three Weeks Later - Zoom Follow-Up

2 · Friday Night - Writer's Social

Six hours: a short lecture, writing sprints on your pages, small pods of 3–4 writers, and a mini table read. Lunch and drinks available.

4 · Three Weeks Later - Zoom Follow-Up

4 · Three Weeks Later - Zoom Follow-Up

4 · Three Weeks Later - Zoom Follow-Up

1-on-1 with Max, I review your revised pages, and you leave with a next step. Ongoing Zoom writing group involvement is available.

Stay Up To Date on Your City

Subscribe to our 2027 plan. By clicking the buttons below, you will subscribe to the city relative to you and your needs and location. Each list receives updates on confirmed dates, venues and early-bird pricing before anyone else, plus invites to free local meetups. Happy to travel? Join more than one city's list.

We are hoping to expand beyond these cities in the future.

Join Your City's List

Get 2027 dates and early-bird pricing first
Los Angeles - January & FebruaryMadison - April & AugustMilwaukee - May & SeptemberChicago - June & October

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You probably have questions...

Every retreat is a personal experience, so I'd rather talk with you. Ask about schedules, airport pickup, payment plans, or which retreat fits where you are with your script. Past writers are happy to share their experience too.

The Story Farm

650 South Main Street, Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI, USA

max@thestoryfarm.org

Copyright © 2026 The Story Farm - All Rights Reserved.

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