Writing Your Unexpected Life
A writing retreat for women who have lived something worth telling
May 16 - 21, 2026
Chateau de Borie, Agen, France
Limited to 5 participants
You already know which story it is. You've known for years. There's one moment — one season, one turning point — that changed everything. And somewhere inside you is the feeling that it deserves to be written down properly. Not for publication necessarily. Not for therapy. But to honour it. To find words equal to what you actually lived.
This retreat is for that story. And for you.
About the Retreat
What This Is
Five days in the French countryside. A small circle of women — no more than five. Morning writing sessions, one-on-one time with me, afternoon excursions into the landscape, and evenings to breathe, reflect, and let the work settle. By the time you leave, you will have a complete written draft of one defining life moment — 1,000 to 2,500 words — in your own voice, with a clear structure you can use again.
This is not a holiday with a notebook. It is a disciplined, warm, deeply personal creative experience. We work. And the work is worth it.
What You Will Leave With
A complete draft of one transformative life story
A clear narrative structure you can apply to any story you choose to tell
Confidence in your own voice — not someone else's idea of 'good writing'
A roadmap for what comes next: revise, share privately, submit, or expand
Who This Is For
Women who have lived something significant and feel the pull to honour it in writing. Women in their second act — or standing at the threshold of one. Women who have never called themselves writers but who know they have a story that matters.
You do not need experience. You need a story and the courage to show up for it.
This retreat is not for people seeking therapy or trauma processing, advanced literary technique, or a light creative holiday. It is for brave beginners — not polished professionals.
Local Market and Cooking Demo
Join us on an unforgettable culinary adventure with an esteemed chef, where we'll explore the vibrant Agen farmer’s market, handpicking fresh produce. Later, back at Chateau de Borie, we will be guided through an immersive cooking workshop, crafting our evening feast.
The Retreat Experience
The Shape of Five Days
Day 1 — Arrival & Orientation
Settle in. Meet the other women. An opening session to identify your story and begin to find its shape.
Days 2 & 3 — Writing
Morning writing sessions with guided prompts and structure. Afternoon excursions — a village, a vineyard, a walk — to let the subconscious do its quiet work. One-on-one feedback sessions with me. Evening reflection time.
Day 4 — Deepening
Return to the draft with fresh eyes. Group sharing circle — entirely optional, always safe. Refining your voice. Finding the emotional truth in the structure.
Day 5 — Completion & Departure
Final session. You leave with a complete draft, a clear structure, and a sense of what is possible next. A closing breakfast together before we say goodbye.
Your host:
Abigail Carter
Why Me?
I am not a writing teacher in the conventional sense. I am someone who wrote through one of the most documented moments of the last quarter century — September 11th — and published something deeply personal without turning it into spectacle. I have rebuilt my life more than once. I have lived my own unexpected life, in full, and I have learned to find the shape of it on the page.
I understand both the courage it takes to begin, and the craft required to do a story justice. That combination is what I bring to this room.
Pricing
Premium Room:
Cygne, Etoile, Gingko, Rossignol, Jasmin
Solo: €3,350
Shared: €3,000 per person
Standard Room:
Magnolia, Colibri, Chouette, Renard,
Lapin, Paon
Solo: €2,950
Shared: €2,650 per person
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All rooms have a private bathroom down the hall with the exception of:
Rossignol: Partial ensuite (shower down the hall)
Jasmin: Full ensuite
Twin/2-bed options are ideal for friends:
Lapin (two doubles),
Paon (double + single),
Cygne (double + single).
Rooms with one bed are perfect for solo guests or couples.
All prices include five nights’ accommodation at the château, all meals, excursions, writing materials, and one-on-one sessions. Travel to and from France is not included.
A non-refundable deposit of €1000 secures your place. Balance due March 31, 2026.
Premium Rooms
With the exception of Jasmin, which has a full ensuite and is on the third floor, all the premium rooms are on the second floor and have private bathrooms down the hall.
Standard Rooms
All Standard rooms are on the third floor with private bathrooms down the hall.
Chateau de Borie
Chateau de Borie is located in Pont-du-Casse, just a five minute drive from Agen, located between Toulouse and Bordeaux in an area renown for it’s fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly its dried prunes. The area is a little off the beaten path for many tourists, but boasts beautiful countryside, proximity to two splendid wine regions, historic “Bastide” villages and incredibly fresh local food.
Express Your Interest
Places are limited to five women. If this feels like yours, I would love to hear from you.
[ Application form link ]
I will respond personally to every enquiry. If you are unsure whether this retreat is right for you, simply reach out and we can talk it through.
The Details
The Chateau de Borie is multi-leveled, with no bedrooms on the ground floor. Good physical mobility is required for retreat, as the Chateau has one or two sets of stairwells depending on the room you choose, and we will be on foot on the cobbled streets around France. The physical ability to walk unassisted is necessary for this retreat.
Because of the proximity of the cliffs and the seven springs on the property, mosquitos are an issue between July and October. Bug spray is highly recommended.
Lulu, Abby’s Boston Terrier will be in attendance. She is very companionable, but if you have any issues with small dogs, you might want to consider this before booking.
Participants might want to consider arriving in France a day or two before the retreat to get acclimated. Toulouse is an enjoyable place to explore. Citiz Hotel in Toulouse is well situated a block from the train station and a block from the center of town and is reasonably priced.
Travel
Arrivals: Saturday, May 16th, before 4 pm
Retreat/workshops: Sunday, May 17th - Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
Departures: Thursday, May 21st, before 12 pm.
Class participants are responsible for their own flights and travel to Agen. The closest international airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux, France. It is an hour's train ride to Agen from both cities. You can also fly to Paris and take a 3-hour TGV train from Montparnasse station in Paris to Agen (via Bordeaux).
It is recommended that you purchase your train tickets ahead of time, as trains do fill up. We recommend using www.thetrainline.com or https://www.sncf-connect.com/ to book your connections.
You are welcome to rent a car at the airport, though we will be providing transportation for the various excursions, so unless you want to get out on your own, it is unnecessary.
We provide pick-ups and drop-offs between the Agen train station and Chateau de Borie.
NOTE: To arrive at the Chateau on Saturday, May 16th, requires a flight departure from North America on Friday, May 15th.
Refund Policy
1,000 euro deposit non-refundable after April 1, 2026
Cancellations between April 1 and May 1: 100% refund of balance if spot is filled, 50% refund of balance if not, or transfer credit within 12 months
No refunds after May 1, 2026
We strongly recommend trip/medical cancellation insurance
