5.0
Verified
Lovely retreat center
I was delighted with my experience at Ratna Ling and will most definitely return again and again.
What Happens Next? - Sonoma County Writers Camp
4 Spaces Remaining
Top Rated
What Happens Next? - Sonoma County Writers Camp
4.94125 reviews
July 16 - 20, 2025
About this Retreat
Elizabeth Stark, a novelist (Shy Girl: FSG, Seal Press, finalist for the Ferro-Grumely and Lambda Literary Awards) and award-winning filmmaker (producer of Lost in the Middle: Best Feature at Broad Humor 2019 and a Festival Favorite at Cinema Diverse; co-director and co-writer of FtF: Female to Femme and Little Mutinies, distributed by Frameline), co-hosts the podcast Story Makers Show, and co-directs and teaches at Sonoma County Writers Camp and Book Writing World. She earned her MFA from Columbia University, and her work has appeared in The New York Times and The Rumpus.
Ellen Sussman is the New York Times bestselling author of four novels, A Wedding in Provence, The Paradise Guest House, French Lessons, and On a Night Like This. She is the editor of two critically acclaimed anthologies, Bad Girls: 26 Writers Misbehave and Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex. She teaches through Stanford Continuing Studies and in private classes and she is the co-founder and co-director of Sonoma County Writers Camp. www.ellensussman.com
Details of this retreat
We welcome back renowned authors Elizabeth Stark and Ellen Sussman for another Sonoma County Writers Camp!
As teachers and authors, Ellen Sussman and Elizabeth Stark have very different approaches to story structure. But we both agree that the simple question, "What happens next?" can, beat by beat, create a gripping plot and fuel a propulsive story.
Story and meditation both require a radical practice of staying in the present, moment by moment, writing or living into now. Staying curious and engaged about this moment, this breath, this step forward, the meditation tools we practice in the optional meditation sessions during camp, lend themselves to writing story: staying curious and engaged about this scene, this story moment. In this session of camp, we will tackle plot, exploring approaches to discovering and shaping your story, staying awake to the unfolding moment.
Find your way to organic character-rooted action with a cause-and-effect build. Make your story—whether short fiction, novel, memoir, or narrative nonfiction—a page turner without sacrificing depth, detail, and the pleasure of surprise for writer and reader. Let your moments unfold in these gorgeous surroundings, with delicious food, optional meditation, hikes, silent early morning writing, afternoon cafe writing, as well as workshops, an author master class, our thrilling student readings, and more.
Bonus Add-On
July 20-23
$1350, open ONLY to Camp Participants
Follow up your camp immersion with three days of writing retreat with Ellen, Elizabeth, seven other writers and YOU. Build on the inspiration you've gained, maintain the focus, and keep writing. Ellen and Elizabeth will be writing, too, with early morning meditative "writing from where you dream," ongoing cafe writing sessions in the later mornings and afternoons, shared meals and walks, and low-key, high positivity evenings of sharing work, chatting about books.
COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination AND negative test result from all visitors to Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.
SCHEDULE (Subject to Change):
Wednesday:
3pm Check-in
5pm Welcome Party
6pm Dinner
Thursday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Kum Nye with Andi
6pm Dinner + Ratna Ling Introduction
7:30pm Student Readings
Friday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Hike with Ellen
4pm Master Class with Visiting Author
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Student Readings
Saturday:
630am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Meditation with George
4:30pm Industry Panel
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Student Readings
Sunday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch + Closing
1:30pm Checkout
For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace,
spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. Towels and hand soap are provided.
vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.
What people are saying about our retreats:
"Ratna Ling is beautiful, the accommodations are wonderful, very comfortable. I love the land and the animals and the trees - and the quiet."
"I am grateful that I got to lead a retreat at a place that is so special to me. We had such an amazing group of people. Thank you for all your support."
"I love it here and hope to continue coming for many years. The setting and sacredness of this space are the perfect place to retreat."
"A very beautiful and relaxing place. The cottage was really cozy. The food was wonderful. The staff was so nice."
“I loved having time to myself to reflect on my life and where I am going. Thank you Ratna Ling."
“Being able to move at my own pace is a luxury. And of course the food was delicious."
As teachers and authors, Ellen Sussman and Elizabeth Stark have very different approaches to story structure. But we both agree that the simple question, "What happens next?" can, beat by beat, create a gripping plot and fuel a propulsive story.
Story and meditation both require a radical practice of staying in the present, moment by moment, writing or living into now. Staying curious and engaged about this moment, this breath, this step forward, the meditation tools we practice in the optional meditation sessions during camp, lend themselves to writing story: staying curious and engaged about this scene, this story moment. In this session of camp, we will tackle plot, exploring approaches to discovering and shaping your story, staying awake to the unfolding moment.
Find your way to organic character-rooted action with a cause-and-effect build. Make your story—whether short fiction, novel, memoir, or narrative nonfiction—a page turner without sacrificing depth, detail, and the pleasure of surprise for writer and reader. Let your moments unfold in these gorgeous surroundings, with delicious food, optional meditation, hikes, silent early morning writing, afternoon cafe writing, as well as workshops, an author master class, our thrilling student readings, and more.
Bonus Add-On
July 20-23
$1350, open ONLY to Camp Participants
Follow up your camp immersion with three days of writing retreat with Ellen, Elizabeth, seven other writers and YOU. Build on the inspiration you've gained, maintain the focus, and keep writing. Ellen and Elizabeth will be writing, too, with early morning meditative "writing from where you dream," ongoing cafe writing sessions in the later mornings and afternoons, shared meals and walks, and low-key, high positivity evenings of sharing work, chatting about books.
COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination AND negative test result from all visitors to Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.
SCHEDULE (Subject to Change):
Wednesday:
3pm Check-in
5pm Welcome Party
6pm Dinner
Thursday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Kum Nye with Andi
6pm Dinner + Ratna Ling Introduction
7:30pm Student Readings
Friday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Hike with Ellen
4pm Master Class with Visiting Author
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Student Readings
Saturday:
630am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch
1:15pm Cafe Writing
2pm Meditation with George
4:30pm Industry Panel
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Student Readings
Sunday:
6:30am Meditative Dream Writing
8am Breakfast
9am Writing Workshop
12:15pm Lunch + Closing
1:30pm Checkout
For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace,
spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. Towels and hand soap are provided.
vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.
What people are saying about our retreats:
"Ratna Ling is beautiful, the accommodations are wonderful, very comfortable. I love the land and the animals and the trees - and the quiet."
"I am grateful that I got to lead a retreat at a place that is so special to me. We had such an amazing group of people. Thank you for all your support."
"I love it here and hope to continue coming for many years. The setting and sacredness of this space are the perfect place to retreat."
"A very beautiful and relaxing place. The cottage was really cozy. The food was wonderful. The staff was so nice."
“I loved having time to myself to reflect on my life and where I am going. Thank you Ratna Ling."
“Being able to move at my own pace is a luxury. And of course the food was delicious."
Getting Here
Directions
San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.
Accommodation
14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.
For 1 guest in Private Room, Shared Cottage, including meals and classes
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care.
We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.
Customer Reviews
Verified
4.0
Verified
Center
Beautiful location. Lovely people. Housing accommodations are exquisite.
Some helpful suggestions - more accurate directions from Meyers Grade Road to center, my food limitation included eggplant and it was served as the main meal one day so I ate salad for dinner so I wondered why you asked about my food allergies. There was no cleaner to wipe down the yoga mats after using.
Overall a great experience and I plan on returning
Some helpful suggestions - more accurate directions from Meyers Grade Road to center, my food limitation included eggplant and it was served as the main meal one day so I ate salad for dinner so I wondered why you asked about my food allergies. There was no cleaner to wipe down the yoga mats after using.
Overall a great experience and I plan on returning
5.0
Verified
Beautiful rejuvenation
Such a calm and delightful context for a beautifully designed retreat. So nice to see how Olivia’s work and the center drew a lovely community into being. Well prepared vegetarian food at all three meals.
5.0
Verified
Lovely weekend yoga retreat with the amazing Olivia Barry at RatnaLing
Inspiring weekend at RatnaLing Retreat Center in the trees.
Olivia's program was well rounded and accessible for most yoga practitioners. Her heart & soul goes into to her work to share movement, fundamentals of philosophy for a gentle and happy life, and how to nurture a healthy body. If you ever get to practice with her at any one of her classes do not miss it!
The Center itself is lovely set in a large site with basic but very large comfortable cabins for overnight guests. The only thing I missed was my hair dryer so bring if you require. The food was simply incredible vegetarian fare (with gluten free & vegan options) served buffet style in the dining room.
Olivia's program was well rounded and accessible for most yoga practitioners. Her heart & soul goes into to her work to share movement, fundamentals of philosophy for a gentle and happy life, and how to nurture a healthy body. If you ever get to practice with her at any one of her classes do not miss it!
The Center itself is lovely set in a large site with basic but very large comfortable cabins for overnight guests. The only thing I missed was my hair dryer so bring if you require. The food was simply incredible vegetarian fare (with gluten free & vegan options) served buffet style in the dining room.
5.0
Verified
timely
Nature respite and retreat grounds well managed.
Last Chance
