UNY-PRC
WRITING RETREATS

Winter and Summer Writing Retreats

Looking for a focused, supportive space to deepen your writing on policing, the carceral state, liberation, or related topics? Our writing retreats in beautiful Upstate New York offers the perfect environment to reflect, write, and connect with others doing critical work in these fields.

Each day includes semi-structured morning and afternoon writing sessions, giving you time to make real progress on your goals. Evenings are reserved for relaxation and informal connection—whether that’s walking the scenic grounds, sharing a meal, soaking in a hot tub, or gathering around a fire. All meals and coffee are provided, so you can focus entirely on your work and your well-being.

Whether you’re drafting an article, revising a book, or exploring new ideas, this writing retreat is designed to help you get there—with support, structure, and a little serenity along the way.

Accepting applications for
January 3-9, 2026
Central NY

Reserve your spot

Two Rooms Left January 3-9, 2026 in Central NY

  • Queen room, shared bathroom $1580 single; $1730 double occupancy
  • Bunk room with 1 queen and 1 twin, shared bathroom 1580 single; 1730 double occupancy – a great space for sharing

Your Writing Retreat Includes:

  • access to shared writing spaces in cozy home near Cooperstown, NY with fireplace and hot tub
  • fast WiFi
  • semi-structured itinerary for flexibility and accountability
  • six-night stay and meals (excluding one dinner)

We keep it cozy in the winter inside. January in the Finger Lakes can be cold and snowy, a perfect backdrop for getting serious amounts of work done. Simply put, there’s nowhere else to go!
Writing about policing is challenging. The hot tub helps. A lot.

November 17-21, 2025
San Juan, Puerto Rico
All spots are filled.

Let us cook for you



About Your Hosts

We’re Laura Warren Hill, Andy Pragacz, and Mallory Szymanski—system-affected people, organizers, scholars, and friends. Our goal is simple: to create a welcoming writing retreat space where we can relax, write, and connect with others.

We’ve found incredible value in the UNY-PRC writing retreat model, and we’re excited to expand that experience to include new people—like you. During past retreats, we’ve built collaborations, launched conference panels, made serious progress on writing and teaching projects, and held space for one another in meaningful ways. Some of our best ideas have emerged while chatting over dinner after a hard day’s work.

This is not a luxury spa or a commercial retreat center. We’re not professional event planners—we’re people who care deeply about creating spaces for thought, community, and rest. We cook together, laugh a lot, share what we have, and build a nourishing environment where writers can thrive.

Past Writing Retreats

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