You don’t need more inspiration. You need momentum, clarity, and the courage to make decisions. Fairytale is a working retreat for writers and creatives who are tired of circling the same chapters, doubting their structure, or polishing sentences while avoiding the real work. With #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, you’ll gain practical tools for finishing, revising, and reimagining your novel while strengthening the one thing that matters most: your durability as an artist. Expect sharper prose, stronger structure, and a clearer sense of what your project actually is — and what you want it to become.
Note This retreat ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Consider staying Sunday night to relax and integrate the experience.
Starting at $325 (Tuition) + $616 (Lodging + Meals) plus tax
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Note This retreat ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Consider staying Sunday night to relax and integrate the experience.
Creative Momentum
Structural Mastery
Understand story architecture so your plot supports your characters instead of fighting them.
Project Clarity
See your novel as a complete organism and identify what it truly needs next.
Creative Durability
Reshape your relationship with failure so you can keep making bold work.
Professional Fluency
Learn how to discuss your book with editors, agents, and critique partners with authority.
Strong Community
Connect with serious writers who challenge you, support you, and endure beyond the retreat.
Claim Your Creative Authority
This experience is not about polishing sentences until they behave. It’s about standing in a clearer relationship with your work. Through candid lectures, focused group exchange, and rigorous creative exploration, you’ll begin to see your project as a living structure rather than a tangle of scenes. You’ll understand not only what to revise, but why. You’ll learn how to speak about your book with confidence, how to evaluate feedback without losing your center, and how to make decisions rooted in vision rather than fear. The result is not just a stronger manuscript, but a steadier, more self-trusting writer who can build, dismantle, and rebuild with purpose.
Focused, no-nonsense teaching on structure, prose, revision, and creative resilience.
Dive into project-specific concerns with guided feedback and targeted discussion.
Identify structural gaps and reshape your story with clear, actionable strategy.
Examine beliefs about failure, success, and identity that influence your writing life.
Clarify what your book is actually about and how to articulate it with precision.
Leave with a committed reader and a clear next step for accountability.
Note This retreat ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Consider staying Sunday night to relax and integrate the experience.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
This experiential retreat offers a well-balanced schedule that combines structured educational sessions with flexible time blocks – ensuring you have ample opportunity to engage in learning while also allowing personal time to explore the retreat center and enjoy moments of reflection and relaxation.
(Program schedule subject to change.)
4:00 pm Check-in Begins
6:00–7:30 pm Light Dinner
7:00–7:20 pm Guest Orientation
7:30–10:00 pm Session 1
7:30–9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm Session 2
12:00–1:30 pm Lunch
1:30–4:00 pm Session 3
4:00–6:00 pm Free Time
6:00–7:30 pm Dinner
7:30–9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm Session 4
Room Checkout 11:00 am Luggage may be held at Reception.
12:00–1:30 pm Lunch
1:30–4:00 pm Session 5
Optional Activities
Yoga • Meditation • Kirtan • Bonfire • Labyrinth • Nature Trails
Schedule subject to change.
Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Raven Cycle, The Shiver Series, The Listeners, and many more. Her novels have sold more than five million copies worldwide. Also a musician and a visual artist, she lives in Virginia with her husband, a good number of…
Prices include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking simple surroundings for peace and clarity.
Note Room may contain extra single beds.
Fully furnished 665 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 2 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
Fully furnished 995 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 4 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
Step into a world where mindfulness meets beauty. Our gallery captures the essence of the Art of Living—from serene moments of reflection to vibrant celebrations of life, wellness, and connection.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Note This retreat ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Consider staying Sunday night to relax and integrate the experience.
Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops
Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments
Take your rejuvenation to another level. Our spa offers treatments and therapies that integrate ancient Ayurveda with contemporary wellness.
Call to check availability during Shankara Ayurveda Spa business hours; seven days a week, 9:00 am–6:00 pm.
For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:
AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.
Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.
To encourage a healthy environment, we ask that guests not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces. However, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.
Our property is always smoke-free.
Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts. You may email us at info@artoflivingretreatcenter.org.
Thanks to the cool climate of the Blue Ridge Mountains, air conditioning is rarely needed. For the occasional warm day, there is a fan in each room to help keep you comfortable.
We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.
We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.
You can help!
Transportation Options Between Charlotte and the Center
Hickory Hop Shuttle Service Book online hickoryhop.com The Hickory Hop shuttle goes from Charlotte airport to Boone five times daily. Reservations are required, so book ahead online and be sure to confirm shuttle times coordinate with your travel plans.
High Country Limo 828.898.9595 highcountrylimo.com
Oscar’s Car Service 704.965.5800
Edwardo’s Car Service 704.949.6775
Blue Bird Transportation 828.989.7286 Blue Bird of Boone
Abby Cab 828.475.2988 abbycab.com
Uber or Lyft Book in app on arrival.
Other airports within driving distance from the Art of Living Retreat Center include
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) in Johnson City, TN (80 miles)
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, NC (110 miles)
Visit our directions page for more information.
Note This retreat ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Consider staying Sunday night to relax and integrate the experience.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
