Holiday & New Year Planning Virtual Writing Retreat
Dec
14

Holiday & New Year Planning Virtual Writing Retreat

As the year winds down, take a moment to reflect, reset, and set yourself up for a successful writing year ahead! Join us for a Holiday & New Year Planning Virtual Writing Retreat, designed to help you map out your 2026 writing goals and master time management strategies to stay on track.

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Taboo Dark Romance Virtual Writing Retreat
Feb
14

Taboo Dark Romance Virtual Writing Retreat

Write in the Dark
A Taboo Dark Romance Retreat — Feb 14, 2026 (Virtual)

This Valentine’s Day, indulge in the stories that keep you up at night — the ones filled with forbidden desire, morally gray lovers, and tension sharp enough to cut. Write in the Dark is a full-day virtual retreat designed for romance writers who aren’t afraid to push boundaries and explore what love looks like when the rules are broken.

Join us for immersive workshops, guided sprints, a dark romance author panel, and conversations about crafting power dynamics with intention and heat. Together, we’ll build characters who haunt us, villains worth falling for, and happily-ever-afters no one sees coming.

Write the story you’re not supposed to write.
Your villain is waiting. 🖤

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A Spooky Virtual Writing Retreat
Oct
25

A Spooky Virtual Writing Retreat

Join us for a virtual writing retreat!

Unlock Your Writing Potential: Virtual Writing Retreat for Indie Authors on October 25, 2025.

Unleash your inner storyteller in this Spooky Virtual Writing Retreat, a hauntingly fun escape into the eerie, the mysterious, and the macabre! Whether crafting ghost stories, gothic romance, or spine-chilling horror, this retreat offers a supportive, creative space to ignite your imagination.

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Laptop screen displaying a Zoom video conference with eleven participants, some with colorful virtual backgrounds, and a chat sidebar on the right.

SCHOLARSHIPS

SCHOLARSHIPS

Need a Scholarship?

Dreaming of attending a writing retreat but facing financial barriers? Apply for a scholarship and join a supportive, mindful space where you can focus on your craft, connect with community, and share your story. Your voice matters—don’t let cost hold you back!

Meet the Sponsors

  • Close-up of smiling man in green sweater and white shirt against colorful background.

    M.A. Wardell, Author

    Writing as M.A. Wardell, LAMBDA Literary Award nominee Matt writes spicy queer rom-coms.​
    ​
    His goal is to tell adult gay love stories with a diverse representation of flawed and damaged characters who find healing through love.
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    Matt loves rom-coms and has always wished for better representation, so he's writing the stories he wishes existed. The queer men in his stories are flawed and messy. Helping them find their HEA is Matt's passion.

    Website: www.mawardell.com

  • Black conference badge with white text and graphic. The text reads "Smoke Lovers" at the top, "Sept 2025" on the left and right sides, and "The Conference" at the bottom. The graphic in the center features two mirrored anthropomorphic figures with cat-like tails, wings, and horns, with halos above their heads, kneeling with their backs to each other.

    SMUT LOVERS

    Smut Lovers~For Writers, Readers and Kinksters

    Smut Lovers is the largest educational event for romance authors and readers you have ever seen!

    Our goal is to bring together the lovers of all things smutty, in a safe and loving environment, to learn from each other and share what we know.

    https://smutlovers.org/

  • Close-up of a woman with short brown hair wearing green eyeliner and colorful patterned clothing, with text that reads "Marketing Strategies: For Us, By Us" and rainbow-colored hearts on a green background.

    LAVENDER CONSULTING

    Mo Massa is the founder of Lavender Consulting, a boutique marketing studio helping mission-driven organizations grow and connect through strategic branding, design, and storytelling. With a background in marketing, event management, and a passion for visual communication, Mo brings a values-driven, community-focused approach to every project. Lavender Consulting's mission is to uplift queer businesses and organizations for success through intentional, inclusive digital marketing.  

    Website: https://www.lavenderconsultingllc.com/

    Ongoing promotion: All queer owned & operated organizations and nonprofits receive 10% off services. 

  • Colorful, abstract swirl design with black text that reads "Left of Str8 Media & Consulting" and smaller text underneath that says "Building Community Together".

    LEFT OF STRE8 MEDIA & CONSULTING

    Scott Fullerton:  Youngstown, Ohio, "Left of Str8 Media and Consulting"

    As a passionate advocate for storytelling and community connection, Scott Fullerton founded Left of Str8 Media and Consulting as a creative hub dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and helping individuals and brands tell their stories authentically and positively. With a unique blend of media production and marketing expertise, He specializes in crafting compelling narratives and resonating strategies.

    At the intersection of creativity and strategy, I offer consulting services that guide authors, creatives, and small businesses in building their brands, expanding their reach, and navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape. Through podcasts, content strategy, and tailored marketing solutions, I empower clients to move their message “just left of straight”—unconventional, unapologetic, and unforgettable.


    You can find me at my website, Left of Str8 Media and Consulting | LGBTQ, or email me at scott@leftofstr8.com 

    You can also find me socially on LinkedIn as Scott Fullerton, Instagram, and X as @leftofstr8