Falling Forward
A WRITING RETREAT WITH LYZ LENZ
JUNE 17-21, 2026 · CAMDEN, MAINE
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SUMMER SESSION
~ SUMMER SESSION
A writing retreat with bestselling author Lyz Lenz
June 17–21, 2026
Camden, Maine
12–15 Writers
Workshops, quiet writing time, yoga overlooking Camden Harbor, and shared meals at some of Camden’s best restaurants.
Falling Forward
Where do you go when the old story no longer fits?
What do you write from the in-between?
For writers navigating change—or standing at the edge of a new chapter—this weekend offers space to pause, write, and begin again.
Join bestselling writer Lyz Lenz for Falling Forward—an immersive weekend of writing, gentle yoga, harbor breezes, and radical self-trust. Designed for those navigating any kind of transition, be it parenthood, job shifts, divorce, or creative upheaval, this retreat is a space for letting go and beginning again.
You’ll gather for daily writing sessions at the Villager Cafe, part of a historic mill complex in downtown Camden, where the river meets the harbor and the path forward begins to unfold.
Whether you’re stepping out of one story or shaping the next, we’ll explore the fertile, uncertain space between what was and what’s ahead.
Retreat Flow
What’s Included
Dinners at top
spots in Camden
Catered meals from
the Villager Cafe
Morning yoga with a view
A private sail through Camden Harbor
A final-night reading among your fellow writers — a small circle of new friends
Think of the weekend as an invitation to let go—of relationships, roles, identities, homes, and old stories that no longer serve. Lessons with Lyz will feature craft talks and writing prompts. Each day, we’ll gather to trade hard-won tools and unexpected tricks to hone your writing and cultivate your voice. We’ll pull back the curtain on creative routines: wins, flops, and the messy middle. You’ll connect with fellow writers in intimate breakout groups and also have quiet, protected time to dive into your project—or summon that idea that’s been waiting in the wings.
Mornings begin with a breakfast spread at the inn and a walk by the water, or gentle yoga at a studio just down the street overlooking the harbor. We’ll follow with a writing session that blends craft, community, and raw generative work. Lunch is on your own, with charming spots to explore just steps away. One afternoon we’ll sail Camden Harbor on a chartered sailboat; another we’ll linger over wine and dive deep into storytelling, structure, and technique. Evenings feature dinner—both catered and at beloved local spots around town—along with an intimate evening of readings in a converted artist’s studio.
Think of it not just as a break from your life, but as a reset for your creative soul.
Private Harbor
Sail
The Cafe
Writing classes will be held around the long table at the Villager Cafe, recently featured in The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning, and The Christian Science Monitor for its innovative use of space. Each day a wing of tables will be reserved just for this retreat—complete with locally roasted coffee and cozy, creative energy. Just a block away sits the Camden Public Library, a beloved local gem whose gardens and harbor amphitheater are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Breakfasts and some dinners are catered lovingly by the café, and you’ll also dine out at some of Camden’s treasured local spots.
We’ll toast with wine or mocktails and share stories over supper. We’re happy to work with you on meals that accommodate your needs—just let us know when you register.
The
Villager
Cafe
The Rooms
Guests will stay at The Inn at Camden Place, a boutique hotel set along the Megunticook River.
Quiet, comfortable, and walkable to everything Camden has to offer, the inn sits just off the main street and offers a peaceful retreat with the sound of the river just outside your window.
You’ll be steps from bookstores, bakeries, and the harbor, with cozy rooms to return to after a full day of writing, walking, and connecting.
Inn at Camden Place
Community Connection
We’re keeping spots limited to ensure the weekend feels intimate—think deep conversations over dinner, spontaneous walks with fellow writers to take in the summer breeze, and meaningful feedback from your instructor.
Have a writing friend you want to work closely with? Bring them. Or make a new one here.
We’re being intentional about fostering spaces for connection and collaboration through small-group sessions, quiet creative rituals, and unstructured time that invites creative thinking.
Whether you're an extrovert, an introvert, or somewhere in between, you'll find room to be yourself and build something new.
Your Guide to Falling Forward
Your guide through it all is Lyz Lenz—quick-witted, acid-tongued, and brilliantly vulnerable. Her most recent book, This American Ex-Wife, is part memoir, part social and political analysis, and wholly unforgettable.
Raised in a conservative Christian family and homeschooled in Texas, Lyz stepped into one story early—love, marriage, motherhood—only to discover she was meant for another.
Now, from her home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she writes with fire and clarity about the mess and meaning of modern life. Her Substack, Men Yell at Me, has become a refuge for readers seeking truth with a side of humor—and a little righteous rage.
Over the weekend, you’ll write with her, laugh with her, and maybe even cry over a few mini lobster rolls. One thing’s for sure: you’ll leave with a sharper voice and a deeper sense of what matters.
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Her first two books—God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America and Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women—explore identity, power, and place through a singular blend of memoir, cultural critique, and unflinching reported honesty.Whether she’s probing the American dream, challenging patriarchal expectations, or making you laugh through your tears, Lyz turns the personal into the political—and the political into something electric, urgent, and true.
Raised in a conservative Christian family, homeschooled in Texas, and now based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lyz writes from the heart of the country with a voice that’s emotionally fearless and surprisingly expansive in its reach.
Her popular Patreon, Men Yell at Me, has become a refuge for readers across the country who see themselves in her work and wish they could sit across the table from her.
Now, a lucky few finally can.
Falling Forward is hosted by the Midcoast Villager and the Villager Cafe, a community gathering space located in the heart of Camden’s historic riverfront district.
The Villager Cafe was created as a place where journalism, conversation, and community life intersect—a cafe by day, and a gathering space for ideas, storytelling, and cultural events by night. The cafe is part of the broader work of the Midcoast Villager, an independent newsroom dedicated to covering the people, ideas, and communities that make Maine’s midcoast unique.
Programs like this retreat help support that mission. By participating in Falling Forward, guests are not only investing in their own creative work but also helping sustain thoughtful, independent local journalism at a time when it is increasingly rare. It’s one more way storytelling continues—on the page, around the table, and within the community that makes it possible.
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Guests are encouraged to fly into Portland (PWM) or Boston (BOS), or drive—free parking is available onsite.
We can help coordinate rides and carpools for anyone wishing to participate in advance. Further details will be available upon request.
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Travel Details & FAQ
To be the first to hear about upcoming retreats, please contact retreat curator Lucia Graves lgraves@midcoastvillager.com