CLEARWATER WRITERS 2026 SPRING RETREAT

March 4-8, 2026

(Used with permission)

Clearwater Writers is a series of writing retreat programs facilitated by poet and author Paula Coomer. Previously hosted by now-retired innkeepers Jim and Ruth May at Reflections Inn on the Clearwater River in North Central Idaho, our program has found a new home at the magnificent Monastery of St. Gertrude outside Cottonwood, Idaho, on the rolling hills of the Camas Prairie.

2026 will be the 13th year for our programs, and we are anticipating a time of change as we move to a single program per year and leave behind our yoga offerings. This is simply a matter of finances as we hope to make our retreat affordable for more people. At the same time, we are moving back to our original format as a facilitated program, meaning Ms. Coomer will no longer be offering instruction. Instead, this shorter four-night stay will be entirely devoted to writing time, with Ms. Coomer available for consultation.

Regardless of your writing goals, the peace and stillness we encounter on the Monastery grounds and in our interactions with the monastic community is just the right atmosphere for contemplating the deeper and most essential parts of our understanding–in our lives and in our writing.

While not affiliated with any religion, Clearwater Writers has chosen the monastery location because of its beauty, the kind, gentle, and hospitable spirit of its community, the terrific facilities, and because we admire the Benedictine philosophies of peace, justice, personal solitude, hospitality, the dignity of work, stewardship, and the commitment to art and literature.

With this in mind, we encourage you to leave behind your daily life, other commitments, and even family obligations in favor of time to focus on yourself for yourself as well as your writing life and physical being–think of this as a gift to the you of the future, to a self renewed. Not everyone is suited to spending time apart from routines to focus on themselves, but if you are, we can promise you the magic and transformation that comes when you allow time for contemplation, for listening to your deepest truths, and for writing.

ABOUT CLEARWATER WRITERS: Our host facility sits on the traditional lands of the Nimiipuu. We honor that history by fostering a sense of peace and serenity in our community of writers and by carrying the message of peace home with us. Our program was established to provide time and space away from the usual concerns to focus on furthering projects in an inspiring setting. We are dedicated to the notion that we as humans are creative beings and, as such, need significant breaks from technology and from our fast-paced lives in order to be our best selves, to do our best work, and to better serve our communities. St. Gertrude’s Spirit Center offers us all these things, in addition to nutritious meals and trails for strolling the beautiful grounds. If you can stand to do it, it is heartily recommended that you leave computers and cell phones at home in favor of writing by hand in notebooks. Not a requirement, but a something to consider.

Facilitator and organizer, Paula Coomer, is a poet and literary writer and is the author of eight books of poetry and prose including Somebody Should Have Scolded the Girl, Jagged Edge of the Sky, Dove Creek, Nurses Who Love English, and Blue Moon Vegetarian, among others. Ms. Coomer’s writing has been nominated for the Pulitzer, the Pushcart, and she has been a finalist or semi-finalist for various awards. Her work has been recommended by Buzzfeed. With nearly 30 years of experience as a teacher of writing at the university and community levels, Ms. Coomer is also a writing coach, an editor, and a speaker at conferences, offering creative inspiration and support for all writers, regardless of achievement, genre of focus, or ability.

Features of the 2026 SPRING RETREAT:

  • 4 nights in a scenic, historical, rural setting, nestled on the Camas Prairie in Idaho’s Rocky Mountain foothills
  • Beautiful, serene, private accommodations
  • Freshly prepared meals from quality ingredients
  • Open mic/salon night 4
  • Individual consults with Ms. Coomer
  • Wifi/cell signal available but spotty, depending on your carrier
  • Check-in is at 3 p.m. on the day of your arrival.
  • Checkout is at 11 a.m. on the day of departure.
  • Please be conscious of the continuing presence of COVID and other viral infections in our communties. Let us know if you’ve had recent exposure and kindly wear a mask if you begin to experience illness while at the retreat.

Meals and Transportation

  • Attendees are welcome to bring their own meal preparations–especially those with food allergies or special meal requirements–as refrigerator and freezer space are readily available. A full-sized, well-equipped kitchen and a small apartment-sized kitchen are also available. Delicious meals are provided in the monastery dining hall, however, and we are invited to dine with members of the monastic community. If you choose to eat in the dining hall, please be aware that mealtimes are specific and the monastic community observes silence at breakfast.
  • Eating/shopping establishments are available in the tiny town of Cottonwood, which is 3 miles from the monastery campus, but choices are somewhat limited.
  • Alcohol only in moderation, please.
  • Rooms do not include refrigerators, microwaves, or coffee makers.
  • Fresh coffee, tea, and water are available every day in the Spirit Center lobby.
  • For air transportation and car rental, contact the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport

Application for Clearwater Writers 2026 Spring Retreat and Further Details

  • Application deadline is January 15.
  • To inquire about the 2026 Spring Retreat, write to Ms. Coomer at paula.coomer@icloud.com. If you prefer, you may leave a message at 509-635-0444, and Ms. Coomer will get back to you.
  • Otherwise, please indicate your interest by sending a short writing sample (no more than 500 words), bio, and contact information for 2 personal references to paula.coomer@icloud.com.
  • A phone/Zoom interview will also be required of first-time applicants.
  • If you have been with us for a previous retreat, a writing sample and personal references are not required, but please submit an updated bio.
  • Cost for the Fall Residency is as follows
    • A $100 nonrefundable deposit is due at the time of registration.
      • Mail a check to P.O. Box 205, Garfield, WA, 99130. Checks should be addressed to Paula Coomer with “Writing Retreat” in the info line.
      • If you would like to use PayPal or Venmo, please contact Ms. Coomer at paula.coomer@icloud.com.
    • Balance due by February 13 is $750. A late fee of $50 is added after that date.
    • Amounts not received by February 13 will be presumed to indicate a cancellation and the deposit forfeited.
    • Final payment is to be made by check to Ms. Coomer (P.O. Box 205, Garfield, WA 99130). (Contact Ms. Coomer if you prefer PayPal or Venmo.)
    • We are sorry we cannot accept cards at this time.
    • Cancellations after balance is paid are refunded at 50%.
    • This rate includes a private suite, meals, access to spacious communal areas and an amply-stocked arts and crafts room, consults with Ms. Coomer, and feedback on up to 20 pages of double-spaced writing.
    • Our programs fill up extremely quickly as we only take 7 writers, so please contact us as early as possible.
  • Also, Ms. Coomer is offering a one-time manuscript read-through to retreat attendees (no editing) with a followup discussion over Zoom for those with book-length manuscripts. The fee for this is $400 for up to 70,000 words, which is nearly 50% off the normal rate. Manuscripts must be submitted within 3 months of attending a retreat. If you are interested in this option, please contact Ms. Coomer at paula.coomer@icloud.com.
  • For maps and more about the Monastery of St. Gertrude, go to https://stgertrudes.org/.
  • To more information or to express interest in the 2026 Spring Retreat, contact Ms. Coomer directly at paula.coomer@icloud.com.
(Used with permission)