A writer’s world can be a lonely one. Spending hours at a computer or with a notebook, imagining conversations and events taking place, is not the same as interacting with friends face-to-face. As a writer, I miss the camaraderie of working with fellow teachers, or other colleagues, despite belonging to various online writing groups. To resolve this issue, I treated myself to a week-long writing retreat in Provence. Discussions about point of view, character arc, format, query letters, humor, characterization, and various other topics were lengthy, beneficial, and interesting. Being with other writers who are going through similar struggles, and who can offer advice and encouragement specific to my story, was invaluable. Of course, the success of the retreat depended on the quality of instruction. Our leader was a multi-published author in my own genre (lucky for me) and prior to writing full time, he was a teacher. He created engaging lessons that appealed to all present, no matter their genre, experience, or progress. Bonding with fellow writers while also enjoying the South of France was a great gift to myself, and will pay dividends in my writing.