Each retreat we have run have their own things that make them special. This one has been built with intentional community in mind. That’s why we are partnering with Maurice Broaddus, who is actively engaging and building an amazing writing community in Indianapolis and the Ray Bradbury Center who beyond being a repository for Ray Bradbury’s works does community engagement work for writers.

This retreat is an opportunity to connect with one another and then write out of that sense of belonging. There are a lot of outside forces that want us to stop writing in certain ways or about certain things. We want to create a space where all is accepted, embraced, and then out of that we can support one another.

In order to give as much flexibility as possible for attendees (especially to have local options) we have a room block with Bottleworks. Upon booking you’ll be sent a link you can book your room for either single or double (or more depending on room type). The price for a standard room is 219 a night for single or double, and there are suite options available if you had a group coming and wanted to share a larger room.

There is also a ticket available for a single occupancy hotel room built into the ticket so if you wanted to just register once and not worry about booking your own room, that is an option for you.

No, we will not be assigning roommates but yes, we can help you find one by opening up a discord in October of 2026 that will have a space you can talk to other retreat goers to find a roommate.

Absolutely not. In the world of writing, we’re all on the same path; some of us are just further along. Whether you’re getting started as a novice writer or an experienced professional who has scaled their fair share of writing mountains, this retreat has something for you.

The exact topics for the classes are being finalized. However, you can head over to the Writing Excuses YouTube page to see some class snippets and a couple of classes that Mary Robinette Kowal has taught on previous retreats. We do know they will be centered around the theme of learning to write out of joy for your work.

For the meals served as part of registration they will be catered by the hotel. Most dietary accommodations can be managed but please make sure to note them when you register or reach out to info@writingexcuses.com with any questions.

For the meals not served at the hotel there is a food hall (like a food court but all local restaurants/food trucks) right across the street from the hotel. We will have meet up times for anyone who wants to go as a group for dinners or you can go and adventure on your own.

We do have some requirements, although none have to do with your writing experience.

• Attendees must be 18 years of age or older or, if 12-17, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (who is also attending).
• All attendees must be willing to take a COVID test within 48 hours of departure.

Note: The booking fee is non-refundable. This fee goes straight to the credit card company and the hosting company for this event page, we do not receive it back if you cancel.

• Full refund until April 1st
• 50% Refund from April 1st – 15th
• 25% Refund from April 16th – 30th
• No Refund from May 1st onward

Writing Excuses will require vaccination for all attendees and staff*. In addition, we will require all attendees and staff to take a Covid antigen test with a negative result within 24 hours of the start of the retreat; we do not need to see your test result, but you will be required to confirm that you have taken the antigen test, that it was not expired, and that your result was negative.

Writing Excuses acknowledges that we cannot negate all risks associated with in-person group events. However, these are the steps we will take to mitigate that risk

• We will require full vaccination status for all attendees and staff. We are aligning our definition of “fully vaccinated” with the CDC’s definition at [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html] or the definition of your country of residence.
• We will require all attendees and staff to take a Covid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival in Indianapolis or before the start of the event.
• At the registration table we will have a brief affidavit for you to sign declaring you are vaccinated and took a COVID-19 test within the last 24 hours and received a negative result (we do not need to see the test or your vaccination card).
• At this time, we are not requiring masking while at the event. However, we will be monitoring the CDC guidelines/recommendations as well as the current conditions and may change to require masking if we deem it to be necessary for safety reasons.
  • We will, however, maintain a mask positive language in our communication and provide a positive environment if you choose to mask at the event.
  • The lecture spaces will have space for attendees to spread out a little and there are outdoor dining options available.
• We will provide KN95 masks to all attendees at no charge.
• We will make hand sanitizer and antimicrobial wipes available to attendees.
• We will provide a clear plan of action for anyone who begins showing symptoms, or who tests positive.
• All classes will be recorded and will be made available to those who fall ill, as well as to those who are healthy. Accessibility practices like these are good for everyone!
• We will continue to develop our plans based on current conditions and CDC guidelines.

*We are willing to discuss granting exceptions to the vaccination policy on a case-by-case basis if there is a medical reason why you are unable to be vaccinated. Please reach out to us at info@writingexcuses.com with any questions.

Writing Excuses is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Instructors, staff, volunteers, and family members are also subject to the anti-harassment policy.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact any member of conference staff immediately.

We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference venues and conference-related social events.

The access policy of Writing Excuses follows the Social Model of Disability. This regards barriers to the full participation of disabled people as the fault of society (and more immediately we as the organizers), not the ‘fault’ of the person with a disability. We further reject any negative value placed on a person because of their disability, or indeed on their disability. Disability isn’t good or bad, it just is. Please respect our disabled members by engaging in neither negative stereotyping (eg ‘If I was you I’d kill myself’ or ‘I’d rather be dead than in a wheelchair) nor pity (“I’ll pray for you to be cured’) – many disabled people do not want to be cured and regard their disability as a fundamental part of their identity.

Additionally, please note that person-first language (“person with disability”) is not the universally preferred form of address for disabled people. Many prefer the Social Model and ‘disabled person’. Please treat the appropriate form of address for disabled people as you would treat preferred pronoun usage, by asking for their preferred form of address and using it.

Bottleworks has elevators to each floor and has accessible rooms available for each room type. If you have any questions about the accessible options please reach out to info@writingexcuses.com.

Have more questions? You can also message us at info@writingexcuses.com.