The Art of Memoir:
Crafting Compelling,
Vivid, True Life Stories
Baja, Mexico
Friday, May 14 - Sunday, May 22, 2027
Transform personal experience into memoir with master teacher Laura Davis and a vibrant, supportive writing community on the beach overlooking the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico.
Many of us hold a deep dream of wanting to write. We want to tell our stories so we can understand ourselves more fully. We want to pass on our family stories. By giving our life experiences shape, texture, and beauty, we hope to create a lasting legacy that will inspire and inform.
The Art of Memoir offers a rare blend of generative writing, craft instruction, and community — designed to meet you exactly where you are. Whether you’re deeply engaged in writing your memoir or are still discovering your story, our writing classes will help you surface your richest material, deepen your understanding of the form, and find words for what you most need to say.
In our morning sessions, you’ll learn to find the story beneath the story, discover why writers need to "slow down where it hurts," and uncover the secret of telling true stories rooted in the immediacy and physicality of the moment.
After a leisurely free afternoon, we’ll come back together for dedicated feedback sessions where you’ll have the opportunity to share new work-in-progress and receive thoughtful, structured feedback from Laura and your fellow writers.
You’ll leave with a substantial body of new writing, essential skills, and the motivation to keep you focused and directed in your writing for months to come.
Among the topics we will explore:
- What makes a memoir a memoir — and how it differs fundamentally from autobiography
- The three essential building blocks of compelling memoir: scene, summary, and musing — and how to weave them together
- The art of writing practice: how to use timed, generative writing to surface memories, break through blocks, and discover the story beneath the story
- How to use layering to transform raw first-draft material into vivid, crafted prose
- How to identify the critical moments in your story — the turning points after which nothing was the same — and use them as the spine of your memoir
- Techniques for entering the moment fully: how to use sensory details to recreate the physicality and immediacy of the past
- How to move from the personal to the universal — writing your story in a way that resonates with readers who don’t know you
- The role of the retrospective voice: how to integrate the narrator you are now with the person you were then
- What to include and what to leave out — and how to find the throughline that holds your memoir together
Is This Retreat For Me?
To benefit from this retreat, you can be already deeply engaged in writing a memoir, interested in exploring the possibility, or simply looking for a concentrated period of time to explore new entry points for writing about your life experience.
Open to anyone willing to write about their lives in a safe, confidential community. Both emerging and seasoned writers are welcome to attend.
A Note on Physical Activity
Since this is primarily a memoir retreat, much of your time will be spent writing and sharing with your fellow participants. All of our additional activities are optional. Morning yoga is gentle, with no prior experience required. The boat trip with snorkeling and the hike to Punta Gorda are also optional; upon arrival at Casa Verde, we'll walk you through exactly what each outing involves so you can decide whether they're appropriate for you.
This retreat is suitable for anyone who is generally healthy and active and has no significant mobility limitations. You should be able to board transportation, walk over uneven terrain, and climb stairs, occasionally without handrails — Casa Verde's casitas and common spaces are spread across the property with stairs throughout, and there is no elevator.
If you have concerns about your ability to handle the physical environment at Casa Verde, reach out to us directly before registering so we can figure out together whether this retreat is a good fit for you.
Testimonials from Past Participants
Excursions and Special Offerings
“Seafari” Boat Trip: One morning, we'll head out onto the sparkling waters of the Sea of Cortez for a half-day boat excursion. Dubbed "the world's aquarium" by Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, and this excursion offers the opportunity to experience it up close.
Our adventure will include a visit to nearby Isla Cerralvo, where we'll have the chance to snorkel, swim in crystal-clear waters, and explore secluded beaches. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, sea lions, rays, and other incredible wildlife that call these waters home. It's a memorable opportunity to experience the natural beauty and magic of Baja from the sea.
Punta Gorda Hike: We’ll set out on a guided hike to Punta Gorda, a beautiful coastal trail just outside La Ventana. The route follows a scenic dirt path through the desert landscape, gradually opening up to expansive views of the Sea of Cortez and the surrounding mountains.
The hike is at a relaxed pace with time to pause, take in the views, and enjoy the quiet beauty of the Baja coastline. The trail is relatively flat with very little elevation change. Suitable for most fitness levels.
Sound Bath: You'll be treated to a guided sound bath experience led by a local practitioner. Using a blend of soothing instruments and therapeutic sound, this deeply relaxing session is designed to calm the nervous system and invite full-body rest.
Held in a peaceful setting, the sound bath offers a beautiful opportunity to unwind at the end of the day—making it the perfect way to transition into a restful night’s sleep. Gentle, immersive, and restorative, it’s a memorable highlight of the retreat designed to support deep relaxation and ease.
Morning Yoga
Optional morning yoga, offered daily before breakfast, will provide a gentle, nourishing way to begin your day. Held in Casa Verde's beautiful open-air yoga palapa, with sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez, these daily practices invite you to settle into your body and the natural rhythms of Baja.
Designed specifically with writers in mind, our yoga classes will incorporate mindful movement, stretching, and breath to release tension, awaken creativity, and support overall well-being. Particular attention will be given to easing tightness in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips—areas that often become fatigued during long hours sitting and writing.
Whether you're brand new to yoga or have years of experience, you'll find a welcoming, judgment-free practice that meets you exactly where you are. No flexibility, special skills, or previous experience required.
Massage
Optional: If you’d like massage to be part of your retreat experience, for an extra fee, we have several skilled massage therapists who will make house calls at our hotel. Before the retreat, we’ll send out a sign-up sheet so you can indicate your interest and we’ll make the arrangements.
Location
La Ventana, Baja, Mexico
Nestled along the eastern edge of Baja, on the Sea of Cortez, sits the small coastal town of La Ventana. Once a sleepy fishing village known only to locals and adventurous travelers, La Ventana was discovered by windsport enthusiasts in the 90s, and quickly became an internationally renowned destination, drawing visitors from around the world while retaining its laid-back pace of life.
La Ventana is famous for many things, but of all its qualities, its natural beauty is perhaps the most remarkable. Framed by turquoise waters, dramatic desert mountains, and forests of towering cardón cacti, it is a place that invites reflection and creativity. In spring, as the winter winds subside, La Ventana reveals a quieter side—warm days, calm seas, spectacular sunsets, and star-filled skies. Whether you're walking the beach at sunrise, exploring desert trails, or simply lingering under a palapa with a journal and a cup of coffee, the landscape never fails to inspire.
Arrival and Departure: We will convene at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, May 14 for dinner. We will end after breakfast on Sunday, May 22.
You will need to arrange your travel so you can be at the retreat for the entire time. Group shuttles to and from San José del Cabo (Los Cabos) International Airport will be arranged for those who arrive within our specified times. More details will be provided after registration.
Size of the Group: There will be a maximum of 14 writers at the retreat.
Our Hotel: Our retreat takes place at Casa Verde, an intimate beachfront boutique hotel in the heart of La Ventana. Surrounded by swaying palms, native desert gardens, and sweeping views of turquoise water, Casa Verde offers a peaceful sanctuary where guests can fully unwind and settle into the rhythms of Baja life.
Family-owned and thoughtfully designed, Casa Verde blends traditional Baja style with modern comfort. Colorful casitas and open-air gathering spaces are tucked among lush tropical landscaping, creating a setting that feels both tranquil and connected to the natural beauty of the surrounding desert and sea.
Accommodations: Each casita at Casa Verde is tastefully decorated with classic Mexican charm. Participants will enjoy exclusive access to the hotel property including beautiful gardens, sundeck lounge chairs, hammocks, firepit, rooftop yoga palapa, paddle boards, snorkel equipment, and a traditional temazcal sweat lodge.
Food: We’re thrilled to have Chef Cody Buchholz creating the meals for our retreat. A professionally trained chef, Cody’s foundation in fine dining was shaped by his time in Michelin-starred kitchens and formal education at one of the world’s top culinary schools. His work is deeply influenced by global travels, where he has explored regional traditions and techniques. With nearly a decade as a private chef, Cody is known for his refined service, artful presentation, and commitment to sourcing exceptional, seasonal ingredients.
Drawing on culinary influences from Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, and Baja California, Cody creates a vibrant, seasonal menu that celebrates fresh, locally sourced ingredients, balanced flavors and beautiful presentation. Every meal is thoughtfully prepared to nourish, delight, and bring everyone together around the table.
Cody is happy to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs and preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and most other food allergies or sensitivities. Every guest can look forward to delicious meals tailored to their individual needs without compromising on flavor, quality, or presentation.
FAQs
Teachers
Laura Davis
Laura Davis is the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. Laura's groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker.
She is a two-time cancer survivor, the mother of three, the grandmother of four, and has buried both her parents. In other words, she is a well-seasoned human being.
Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.
Laura has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 30 years. It is truly the work of her heart:
"I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known."
Laura leads weekly online writing groups and in-person retreats in California, as well as retreats internationally. She has taken writers to Bali and Scotland, Tuscany, Greece, Vietnam, hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and to Laos and Cambodia. She documents these trips to the delight of many readers in her intermittent travel blog, The Virtual Vacation.
Laura's book, The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, winner of the BookLife Prize for best memoir/autobiography of 2021, tells the story of her dramatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother from the time of Laura's birth until her mother's death. You will receive a copy of The Burning Light of Two Stars as a bonus gift as part of your registration.
Praise for Laura
Brinn Rawles
Brinn Rawles is a longtime yoga teacher, retreat leader, and Baja local who splits her time between Santa Cruz, California and La Ventana, Baja Sur. After years of living in and falling in love with La Ventana, she is passionate about sharing its beauty, warmth, and unique sense of community with others.
Brinn's approach to yoga is warm, accessible, and grounded in the belief that yoga is for everybody. She delights in helping students feel more at home in their bodies, release tension and stress, and cultivate greater ease, resilience, and well-being—both on and off the mat.
As co-host of the retreat, Brinn will lead daily yoga classes and serve as your guide to all things Baja. From coordinating logistics and curating local experiences to leading hikes, teaching yoga, and introducing guests to some of her favorite places, she helps create a retreat experience that is nourishing, restorative and authentic.
Brinn believes that meaningful experiences happen when people slow down, step outside their routines, and immerse themselves in a beautiful new environment where life moves at a different pace. She looks forward to welcoming you to La Ventana and sharing the magic of Baja with you.
Praise for Brinn
Endorsements for Laura's Workshops
Inclusions
What's included:
- Eight nights of accommodation at Casa Verde, an intimate boutique hotel set directly on the shores of the Sea of Cortez
- Exclusive use of the entire property, including indoor and outdoor workshop spaces, lush gardens, shaded palapas, oceanfront lounging areas, a private beach deck, fire pit, and traditional Mexican temazcal
- All meals prepared by a Michelin-star chef
- Morning smoothies, complimentary coffee, tea, filtered water, and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the retreat
- A rich curriculum of writing workshops, craft lessons in a thoughtfully curated program led by 7-time author and award-winning memoir writer, Laura Davis
- Morning yoga classes
- A half-day boat and snorkeling excursion to the spectacular island of Isla Cerralvo
- A guided hike through the majestic Cardón cactus forest and along the dramatic ocean bluffs of Punta Gorda
- A deeply restorative sound bath with a local practitioner
- Private transportation for all scheduled group excursions and activities
- English-speaking guide or host for all planned outings
- Tips for shuttle drivers and boat crew
- Round-trip airport transfers between Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Casa Verde at designated arrival and departure times
- Extensive pre-trip information
- A copy of Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars
- A wonderful community of creative, adventurous fellow travelers, with multiple opportunities for deep relaxation, personal insight, intimacy, learning, adventure, and joy
- Inspiring opportunities to write in beautiful natural settings throughout the retreat
What's not included:
- Airfare to and from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- Transfers to and from the airport if you arrive or depart outside of our designated window
- Alcoholic beverages (no alcohol will be served on site, though several excellent restaurants and bars are within walking distance)
- Additional snacks and private taxi transportation
- Gratuities for hotel and support staff (tipping is customary in Mexico)
- Cost of massages should you decide to indulge
- Personal expenses, including souvenirs, phone calls, laundry service, any additional purchases, and additional gratuities made during your stay
- Optional activities not included above
Registration
The Art of Memoir: Crafting Compelling, Vivid, True Life Stories
Casa Verde, La Ventana, Baja Sur, Mexico
May 14 - 22, 2027
Your Investment
Cost: $3,500 per person in a double-occupancy room; $4,000 for a single occupancy room with shared bathroom; $4,500 for a single occupancy room with a private bath; $5,500 for a premium single with a sitting area, kitchenette, and the best views.
Payment Schedule: $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due for a double; $1,500 non-refundable deposit is due for a single.
Retreat Tuition Cancellations and Refunds Policy: The initial deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited in all cases. Additional payments beyond your deposit and made up until December 15, 2026 will be refunded in case of a cancellation. After December 15, 2026, there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. Travel protection insurance will provide your only option for recouping your full tuition investment.
The Rooms
1. DOUBLE ROOM - USD $3,500 per bed
Shared Double-Occupancy Room
Room contains two twin beds. Pricing per person.
NOTE: If you sign up for a double occupancy room without having a roommate in mind, we will do our best to pair you with an appropriate roommate. If a roommate cannot be found for you, you will be upgraded to a single and need to pay the difference.
2. SINGLE ROOM W/SHARED BATHROOM - USD $4,000
Private room with a shared bathroom across the hall. Pricing per person.
3. STANDARD SINGLE ROOM - USD $4,500
Private room and bathroom. Pricing per person.
4. PREMIUM SINGLE ROOM - USD $5,500
Private room and bathroom, sitting area, and kitchenette. These rooms have the best views. Pricing per person.