Writing Retreats for Moms

Scribente Maternum was formed out of a desire to find balance between our children as writing inspiration and their presence as a writing distraction. Our retreats give all writers who identify as mothers the experiences they so rarely make time for otherwise: mindfulness, community, and simply sitting in stillness. There is power in rest!

Our annual Write Like a Mother retreat is going back to the city where it all began: Baltimore!

Join us October 15-18, 2026 to write together in community at Village Learning Place in the heart of Baltimore's Charles Village neighborhood.

We are eager to find inspiration with you, to explore and be in nature with you, and--of course--to write with you!

What's included?

A fully immersive writing retreat experience
Time and space to write
The unique and beautiful Scribente Maternum writer-mom community
Craft and writing-focused sessions with local writers and teachers
Mindfulness practices and intentional movement
All meals and snacks

Registration Open

Tentative Retreat Schedule

All activities and lodging are in the charming Charles Village neighborhood in Baltimore; schedule subject to change.

Thursday, October 15

After 2:00pm: Shuttles from BWI airport to The Study hotel

5:00-7:00pm: Welcome reception (included) at The Clifton House

Friday, October 16

8:30-9:00am: Breakfast (included)

9:00-9:30am: Welcome and introductions from Scribente Maternum

9:30-10:00am: Opening movement and centering

10:00-11:00: Large group introductions and time to meet small groups

11:00am-12:30pm: Generative writing workshop with Glory Edim

12:30-1:30pm: Lunch (included)

1:30-2:30pm: Small groups

2:30-3:30pm: Therapeutic writing workshop with Emily Souder

3:30-5:30pm: Optional reiki with Emily, plus time to write, explore the city, grab a nap, or just be still

5:30pm: Group photo and close of day

7:00: Group dinner (included)

Saturday, October 17

8:30-9:00am: Breakfast (included)

9:00-10:00am: Morning movement and mindfulness

10:00-11:30am: Writing workshop with Christine Platt

12:00-1:00pm: Off-site Lunch (included)

1:00-2:00pm: Time off-site with small groups

2:00-4:30pm: Experiential writing journey through the Baltimore Museum of Art

5:00-5:30pm: Large group closing in museum courtyard

7:00pm: Celebratory group dinner (included) & readings

Sunday, October 18

10:00am: Shuttle departs for BWI airport

The Venue

Part library, part community hub, the Village Learning Place is a dynamic community, dedicated to lifelong learning and meaningful connections.
Our city-based writing retreats are a great opportunity to explore a new literary landscape. While most of our retreat will be held at the Village Learning Place, we will also visit nearby restaurants, spend time marrying our writing with the works at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and will even go back to our very first retreat location, The Clifton House.
We are thrilled to offer a special rate for overnight accommodations through The Study hotel, just a 15-minute walk from the main retreat site. Single-, double- and multiple-occupancy rooms are available. Follow the link below for a special rate, but know that rooms are based on availability. Book early to make sure you get a room! Keep scrolling for all the details.

Accommodations

A limited number of rooms are available at a discount at The Study, a boutique hotel located not far from Johns Hopkins University and about a 15-minute walk to the Village Learning Space. A booking link will be sent automatically upon registration. You must follow that link to receive these reduced rates:

Shared Double (1-2+ people/room): $249/night (total $877/room)
Single King (1-2 people/room): $229/night (total $807/room)
Suites, Views, and Studies (with books!) are also available at reduced rates. Follow the same link to book.

Note that while retreat attendees are not required to stay at The Study, transportation will only be provided to/from the hotel.

Investment Options

Deposit + two installments: Pay only your nonrefundable $97 deposit today to hold your spot. We will send you a followup invoice on August 1 and will automatically withdraw your final payment on October 1. Bonus: all pricing tier discounts below still apply!
Deposit + four installments: Pay only your nonrefundable $97 deposit today to hold your spot. We will send you a follow-up invoice on July 1 and will automatically withdraw three more payments on August 1, September 1 and October 1. Bonus: all pricing tier discounts below still apply
One payment + discount: Register in full at a discounted rate.

Transportation

Transportation will be provided to and from Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Transportation will also be provided throughout the weekend, as needed, from The Study to retreat event locations.

Investment Details

Super early-bird rate: $897 (until June 1, 2026, or while supplies last) if paid in full, or $97 plus two installments of $425 or four installments of $225.

Early-bird rate: $997 (until August 1, 2026, or while supplies last) if paid in full, or $97 plus two installments of $475 or four installments of $250.

Standard rate: $1097 (until October 1, 2026, or while supplies last) if paid in full, or $97 plus two installments of $525 or four installments of $275.

All BIPOC writers are invited to save $100 off a payment in full or a first installment. Just check the appropriate box at checkout.

Meet Our Facilitators

Christine Platt's expansive body of work centers an empowering throughline: understanding and achieving liberation as a lifestyle. From her bestselling book,The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less to her latest title, Less Is Liberation: Finding Freedom From a Life of Overwhelm, with each book Christine affirms what she knows to be true: liberation is not a destination—it’s a way of being that is accessible to all.

From award-winning literature to wellness workshops designed to reduce overwhelm and overconsumption, Christine is a well-established motivational speaker and personal transformation trailblazer. Her lifestyle and cultural commentary have been featured in ESSENCE, Real Simple, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar UK, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and other prominent periodicals. She also has shared her words of wisdom on numerous radio shows and podcasts.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies, Master of Arts in African and African-American Studies, and a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law. She is actively involved in several professional organizations including the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Association of Black Women Historians, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; she also serves as an Ambassador for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a podcast and digital literacy platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. She edited the Well-Read Black Girl anthology, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and named a best book of the year by Library Journal. Her latest book On Girlhood is a collection of groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. The winner of the Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Edim worked as a cultural practitioner for over ten years and serves on the board of Baldwin for the Arts. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.

Emily Souder is a therapist who believes in purposeful transformative change, I see how becoming a parent can open us to some of the biggest changes we’ve ever experienced. Within those changes, there is room for a ton of growth. Here, you’ll find warmth, non-judgment, and a place to develop trust that the universe has your back.

Emily is a licensed clinical social worker, holding an from University of Maryland School of Social Work and a Masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is certified in perinatal mental health and is the author of the successful Birth Story Brave book series. She is also an intuitive Reiki master practitioner, bringing energy healing into the therapy space.