The genesis retreat is for creatives looking for deep inspiration. It was developed in order to introduce writers to the principles and tools of Creative Problem Solving with an experienced Creativity facilitator, while engaging in a creative practice amidst the culture and beauty of Oxford and the Oxfordshire countryside.

You will discover how to deepen your narrative skills using a variety of divergent and convergent thinking tools, reclaim your sense of wonder, and ignite your creative practice in a workshop setting. You will also have the opportunity to engage in deep thinking, immerse yourself in sensory stimulation, and participate in a seminar with creative writing faculty.

Some of our time will be spent in a number of excursions to natural, artistic, and historic destinations. There will also be substantial time for you to process what you’ve learned, work on your writing, and explore Oxford on your own.

At the end of the week, you will have a new arsenal of tools at your disposal for creative endeavors. We’re asking you to dive in, to submerge yourself with an open mind and an open heart. Your writing - and your creative process - will be all the better for it.

Ann Dávila Cardinal is the 2026 Visiting Writer at the Genesis Retreat