Welcome! I'm Laura Davis.
I write books that change people’s lives and help people tell stories that matter.
For more than 25 years, I've helped people find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft. I love creating supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and internationally.
Subscribe to my mailing list to hear my instructions on how to mine the deepest material in your writing.
Featured
The Art of Memoir:
Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories
La Ventana, Baja, Mexico
Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 22, 2027
On the beautiful shores of the Sea of Cortez, in the small coastal town of La Ventana, you'll learn to find the story beneath the story, discover why memoir writers need to slow down where it hurts, and uncover the secret of telling true stories rooted in the immediacy of the moment. Once a sleepy fishing village, La Ventana has kept its laid-back pace even as travelers have discovered its turquoise water, dramatic desert mountains, and forests of towering cardón cacti. Daily yoga, a snorkeling excursion to Isla Cerralvo, and a guided hike to Punta Gorda will round out your days in this magical place made for reflection, rest, and creativity.
Classes and Retreats
Experience the incredible power of finding your voice and honing your craft in a supportive circle of your peers. My fall classes are registering now. Click the "classes" button below for more information.
I also run writing retreats online, around the US, and internationally, from daylong and weekend workshops to weeklong retreats on writing through grief and uncertainty, to international travel adventures that combine writing with ecotourism in beautiful places around the world. To learn more, click on the link below.
"Writing is a way of saying
that you and the world have a chance."
—Richard Hugo
LET'S WRITE THROUGH THE CHAOS TOGETHER.
Join Me on Substack
LAURA'S AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR:
The Burning Light of Two Stars
A Mother-Daughter Story
This riveting memoir by The Courage to Heal author Laura Davis examines the endurance of mother-daughter love, how memory protects and betrays us, and the determination it takes to fulfill a promise when ghosts from the past come knocking.
Writer's Journey Roadmap - Writing Prompts
The Writer's Journey Roadmap: Receive the gift of weekly inspiration. Powerful, provocative, motivating writing prompts in your inbox every Tuesday.
Upcoming Events with Laura Davis
Writing the Deeper Story
A FREE Online Salon for Memoir Writers
Online
Tuesday, July 7 - Friday, July 10, 2026
There’s no formula for writing a compelling story, but there is a way to meet your story differently. Writing the Deeper Story offers practical guidance from acclaimed memoirists and literary professionals to help you turn lived experience into a resonant narrative. You’ll learn to use narrative tools to shape your material with greater intention, and to work more skillfully with the challenges that arise along the way.
Attend presentations from the lineup of 24 bestselling authors and literary professionals offering tools, techniques, and fresh ways of thinking to guide writers in harnessing their stories more deeply and intentionally. Your free ticket includes 48-hour access to each presentation during the week of the salon.
Write, Travel, Transform: A Creative Pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago, Spain
Sunday, September 6 - Tuesday, September 22, 2026
This famous pilgrimage trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has attracted people from all over the world for more than 1,000 years. Our 17-day trip will combine eight days hiking the last 100 km of the French Camino de Santiago with six days focused on creative expression. At the beginning, middle, and end of our trip, non-hiking days will be set aside for Laura to teach writing and our lead hiking guide, Brenda, to teach quick sketching and watercolor techniques, helping you experience and reflect on your journey. Beginners in both disciplines are welcome. After 17 days in Spain, immersed in beauty and an intimate traveling community, you'll return home with a personal journal documenting your journey.
The Art of Memoir:
Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories
La Ventana, Baja, Mexico
Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 22, 2027
On the beautiful shores of the Sea of Cortez, in the small coastal town of La Ventana, you'll learn to find the story beneath the story, discover why memoir writers need to slow down where it hurts, and uncover the secret of telling true stories rooted in the immediacy of the moment. Once a sleepy fishing village, La Ventana has kept its laid-back pace even as travelers have discovered its turquoise water, dramatic desert mountains, and forests of towering cardón cacti. Daily yoga, a snorkeling excursion to Isla Cerralvo, and a guided hike to Punta Gorda will round out your days in this magical place made for reflection, rest, and creativity.