The Writers Retreat Novels & Stories

"You don’t know? Didn’t your team mention it?" I shake my head, straw still between my teeth, when suddenly my brain finally clicks. My head jerks up. "Oh my God—the retreat." I sit forward on the swing, heart giving a little leap. Of course. The annual three–day retreat. It’s always been one of those shiny bullet points in Apex’s internship brochure. One of the things I’d circled and daydreamed about even before applying. "It’s the yearly thing," I explain quickly, excitement warming my voice. "All the departments, all the employees…we all come together, like, out of the city. Seminars, workshops, team games, dinners—it’s basically Apex’s way of making everyone bond."

The sea breeze came long before the ocean did salty, alive, like memory wearing perfume. When she arrived at the coastal retreat, the first thing she noticed was the sound waves hitting shore, relentless yet rhythmic. A reminder that endings and continuations were sometimes the same motion, seen differently. Writers sat under palm shades, notebooks open, laughter blending with seagulls. She was greeted warmly, her name spoken with admiration she still wasn’t used to. “Amara Clottey! We’re honored you came,” one of the coordinators said, handing her a program. “You’ll be speaking tomorrow topic’s The Art of Returning to Yourself.”

She looked relieved to be with someone ‘safe. Back at the office, Cole received the itinerary for the Moonware Games retreat. “They’ve booked the entire Rainforest Resort,” I told him, keeping my voice neutral. “Tropical simulations, elevated hunting lodges, the works.” I paused, testing the waters. “Maybe Ryder Global should look into a similar benefit for our high-rankers. Everyone is feeling the burnout.” I was basically begging for a vacation. Cole’s ears twitched. He’d caught the scent he wanted.

Hart stared back at me, hair wild, eyes thoughtful, mouth slightly parted like she was still getting used to the shape of her own life. “Hi,” I whispered to her. She didn’t answer. The bathroom mirror offered no new revelations, just the same woman with the same unanswered questions. I brushed my teeth, tied my hair into a messy knot, and leaned against the sink, gripping the edge as the reality of the day ahead pressed in. We weren’t leaving yet. The retreat allowed couples to stay a few days after the official end if cabins were available. Lake had insisted. “One last pause before real life,” he’d said.

Just space. It felt like fate as I'd been longing for a time away from everything. This was the perfect time. The retreat center sat a short walk from the road, tucked between tall trees and a stretch of water that shimmered faintly in the distance. It wasn’t luxurious or dramatic. Just neutral. Wooden cabins, wide windows. A schedule pinned to a board near the entrance that listed workshops and free hours in equal measure. A short out of town assignment had been fixed by the company. I hadn't been aware of it, not until my name somehow popped out in the list.

I'll be posting prompts for story openings based on our ongoing contests, successful outlines and designs, and if you are up for it, take it and write it out~ Come back to me with your own story and I have contracts to offer~ (well, if you already have a senior editor with GN, go to them :P -------

POV: Lena Moretti The retreat was at a lake house an hour outside the city. One of Ezra's business partners hosted it every year, a weekend of meetings and dinners and golf that nobody actually cared about. What they cared about was access. Two days in close quarters with the people who moved money in this city. Ezra needed to be there. I needed to be next to him.

Her gaze softened, but she didn’t waste time sugarcoating, “Alright. You’ll have one shot at this, you understand?” The words lodged in my chest. She straightened, moved to her desk, “My brother Daniel is waiting,” she said, “He works at a retreat in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, off-grid, no cell towers, no cameras, no credit card machines. It’s basically a commune tucked into the bluffs. People go there to ‘disconnect,’ but for you it’ll mean safety. You’ll work with the animals, tend the gardens, stay invisible. No one will ask questions.”

They reflected on the wisdom they had gained, the lessons that had shaped their perspectives, and the dreams that now burned brighter within their hearts. As the retreat neared its end, they stood on a mountaintop, gazing at the vast expanse before them. The horizon stretched endlessly, mirroring the infinite possibilities that awaited them. They made a pact to carry the transformative power of their conversations into the world, to be beacons of authenticity and agents of change. Chapter 107 was a chapter of profound self-discovery, of letting go and embracing the unknown. Inspired by their time at the retreat, Andrea, Alex, and Matthew embarked on a new phase of their journey—one that woul

I answered, tapping the table. "We just closed the year at 300 million in revenue. This is a team payout. You've all earned it. And there's more. We'll have a ten-day premium trip to Graceland, where you can bring your family. It's fully expensed. "At the same time, equity grants will be issued. Even the entry tier is structured to deliver stable returns over the next three years." The room erupted. It felt like the ceiling might come down. "A company-paid trip to Graceland? And we get to bring our families?"