Memoir Intensive
With Allegra Huston in Nova Scotia
Next retreat: June 2027
“Allegra is my new favorite writing mentor! The Imaginative Storm philosophy and writing method is the most effective one that I have had the pleasure of experiencing in my last six years of writing circles. Our group bonded almost immediately through Allegra’s relaxed and authentic style and belief that we all have a story within us. Thank you, Allegra, for empowering each of us to fly in our spacious imaginations. I shall return for more!” — Doley Henderson, MFA
Blend deep craft with imaginative exploration
The hardest thing about writing a memoir is finding your story. You might think it’s obvious: it’s your life, right? But how do you know what to include and what to leave out? If it’s just a record of events, who will want to read it?
You’ll spend five days exploring what your memoir is about, and how to convey that with emotional power and deep craft. The pace is steady without being strict. The days have room in them. Time to write, time to wander, time to let an afternoon do nothing but feed the next morning's pages. You can remain excited and productive without burning out.
The retreat is built on the Imaginative Storm method: timed prompts, real craft instruction, and the kind of peer sharing that makes you braver. We wrote together as a group in the mornings, and in the afternoon I meet with everyone one-on-one so your project gets specific, personal attention.
You will go home with new pages, a clearer sense of what your project wants to be, and a writing practice that by the end of our time together will feel completely natural.
Why Will a Reader Care About Your Story?
The wonderful thing about memoir is that the author doesn’t need to be famous to draw in a reader. We just need to connect with your story. It’s not about what happened to you—but about what you made of what happened to you, and what those events made of you.
This memoir retreat will equip you with a powerful set of approaches to write about those events, in a way that brings them vividly to life, with authenticity and emotional power. We’ll figure out where your story might begin and end, and how you, as the main character, drive that story .
That’s where the Imaginative Storm method comes in.
What You Will Experience at the Nova Scotia Memoir Intensive
The Imaginative Storm method is centered on appreciation, not criticism. My workshops are always a safe space in which to explore and experiment. I don’t encourage competition, and I don’t offer negative criticism in the group setting.
Appreciating your strengths is, I believe, the most powerful way to guide you toward your best writing. So, as I read and listen to your writing, I’m looking for what’s original and intense and memorable.
We’ll write as a group in the mornings, using the Imaginative Storm method. I will set prompts that are specifically valuable for memoir writing, and we’ll all write together for 10 minutes and then read our work aloud. (You can pass if you want to.) In between prompts we’ll discuss the craft of memoir, and how to make your writing live on the page.
In the afternoons I’ll meet with everybody one-on-one for an hour, twice,in the course of our time together,. Here, in private, we can discuss your memoir project. I will give you my honest opinion—kindly, as I am an author too and I know how vulnerable you feel when you share your work. We will brainstorm the best way forward, and you will leave the workshop with momentum and a clear sense of where to take your writing.
If you’d like, you may send me 25 pages in advance.
Why It Works
You stop trying to “write well.” That frees your real voice to come through and retrains your inner critic.
You develop a consistent writing habit that boosts emotional wellness and mental clarity.
You train your brain to be curious, not critical. Which makes writing—and life—more interesting and more enjoyable.
You gain new insights, perspectives, and energy. They ripple into all your creative work.
You join a welcoming, supportive writing community, where you're encouraged, not judged.
Participants tell us they’re happier with what they write in these 10-minute sessions than what they manage in hours on their own. That’s because Imaginative Storm writing isn’t just about the prompt—it’s a practice.
You’re stretching and strengthening your imagination. You’re learning how to write what you don’t know—and that’s where the sparky, original writing comes from.
About the Imaginative Storm method
TThe Imaginative Storm method is centered on appreciation, not criticism. Our workshops and retreats are always a safe space in which to explore and experiment. We don’t encourage competition, and we don’t offer negative criticism in the group setting.
I will write along with the group to all the prompts. This fosters an atmosphere of equality and collaboration—and you’ll see that my raw material is on a par with your own.
How It Works
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Before you come to Nova Scotia, find a pen you enjoy writing with, and a notebook that doesn’t make you feel you’re supposed to write well in it. I prefer cheap spiral-bound notebooks, but you may prefer something that makes your writing feel special—as long as it doesn’t put pressure on you to write well!
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We offer you a prompt that invites you to approach a memory, a person, a place, or an idea, in a way you’ve never approached it before.
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A timer might seem like pressure, but actually it’s the opposite! The biggest pressure most people put on themselves is their desire to write well. Your rational mind probably doesn’t believe it’s possible to write well in just 10 minutes, so the timer makes it much easier to get the rational mind, with all its ambitions and anxieties, to step back and let your imagination take the lead.
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Item descriptionWhen the 10 minutes is up, we’ll each read what we wrote aloud. There’s huge benefit in reading your writing aloud, and you’ll quickly get over any nerves. Reading aloud is the secret to finding your voice and moving your writing into a place of intense originality and authenticity.
Memoir Retreat Daily Schedule
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Meet at 4 pm for a welcome reception. You'll enjoy drinks and generous hors d’oeuvres while we introduce you to the Imaginative Storm method. You’ll get acquainted with your fellow retreat participants, and sign up for your one-on-one session with Allegra. We’ll ask you to share what brought you to our retreat, so that we can tailor the retreat to the desires and needs of the group.
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8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Blue Nose Lodge (if you are a guest)
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
Afternoon at leisure for those who do not have one-on-one sessions. Walk, shop, relax, go sea kayaking, enjoy a spa treatment . . . Or write.
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8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Blue Nose Lodge (if you are a guest)
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
Afternoon at leisure for those who do not have one-on-one sessions. Walk, shop, relax, go sea kayaking, enjoy a spa treatment . . . Or write.
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8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Blue Nose Lodge (if you are a guest)
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
Afternoon at leisure for those who do not have one-on-one sessions. Walk, shop, relax, go sea kayaking, enjoy a spa treatment . . . Or write.
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8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Blue Nose Lodge (if you are a guest)
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
Afternoon at leisure for those who do not have one-on-one sessions. Walk, shop, relax, go sea kayaking, enjoy a spa treatment . . . Or write.
7 pm: Farewell dinner at Blue Nose Lodge.
Who This Memoir Retreat Is For
This retreat fits writers at every stage, who want to give themselves the gift of uninterrupted time with their memoir project.
If you are finishing a long-form memoir, the uninterrupted hours are exactly what you have been missing. If you are just beginning, the small group and steady method give you a place to start that does not feel like a leap into nothing. And if you simply need time with your own work in a place that treats creativity as serious business, Nova Scotia delivers.
There is no minimum experience and no single right reason to come. Some writers arrive with a finished draft to revise. Others arrive with nothing but the wish to begin. Both belong here.
What Past Retreat Participants Say
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![Amy Gray]()
“Allegra's workshop was divine. Personal, inviting, transformative, confidence-building, and more. The added benefit of meeting other like-minded writers from other parts of the US and Canada was the icing on the cake. Allegra is a word shaman—and she makes you feel like you are, too. Don't miss out.”
— Amy Gray, writer and speakers’ agent
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![Scenic landscape with a large body of water, rolling green hills, and mountain range under cloudy sky]()
“I am without adequate words to express how perfect these last five days have been. You created magic.”
— Lyn Rothman, writer and fundraiser
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![Karen Anderson]()
“What a wonderful workshop. The Imaginative Storm process is phenomenally successful. It’s had an enormous impact on the way I think and the way I write. I’m really looking forward to next year.”
— Karen Anderson, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, York University, Toronto
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“A fantastic, life-affirming experience. The writing prompts bring forth a style of writing that is surprising in its intensity and invigorating in its ability to communicate deep memories and emotions. This is a gift any writer should give to themselves. It will change your life!”
— Allison Kleinsteuber, art teacher
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“A unique, magical journey into your inner world. Allegra puts her heart and soul into coaching us and creates a freeing atmosphere where no judgment or embarrassment creeps through. Truly a growth experience, no matter what your background or time of life.”
— Patience Whitten, writer
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“Pure sustenance for my soul. I felt immediately engaged in the process of cultivating one's intuition to create writing that's powerful, interesting and real, with a sparkle of discovery and surprise. Loved every moment!”
— Jack Gewalter, wild animal veterinarian
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“Allegra was a great mentor—creating a safe environment for all of us to expose our vulnerabilities through listening carefully, focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, and participating actively in the writing exercises. It was a pleasure and a privilege to participate.
— Marilyn M., scientist
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I left feeling motivated to write more deeply and more regularly, and to let go of the perfectionism that has been holding me back from the writing practice I dream of. Allegra's methodology, and the supportive culture she created amongst participants, helped me tell truthful, vivid stories I can be proud of.”
— Hannah C., writer
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“Allegra has the rare ability to help your writing at two different levels: rational analysis of the elements and structure of your memoir, and the emotional capacity to read between the lines, to recognize and empathize with the yelling or whispering of your heart."
— Jamil Mahuad, former president of Ecuador
How to Book Your Nova Scotia Memoir Retreat
Small groups are at the heart of how the Imaginative Storm method works. This is an intimate writing workshop, not a crowded event, so every writer gets real time and focused attention. Spots go fast.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Blue Nose Lodge is its premier boutique hotel. You can choose to stay elsewhere, but we recommend the Blue Nose for its gorgeous decor, delicious food, and warm welcome.
To reach Lunenburg, fly to Halifax. From there you may rent your own car or we can arrange transportation..
