Taos Writing Retreat
Turbocharge your writing
With Imaginative Storm co-creators Allegra Huston and James Navé
April 27 – May 1, 2026
Transform your inner critic into a trusted creative partner
Banish writer’s block and generate rich, original work on command
Stretch and strengthen your imagination — so that your writing will consistently surprise you
“After Imaginative Storm, writer’s block is a myth.”
— Abdullah Erakat, screenwriter
Blend deep craft with imaginative exploration
Whether you’re working on a memoir, creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry—or still finding your voice—you’ll discover the freedom, power, and originality waiting inside your writing.
Morning group writing sessions: unlock creative flow
Afternoon salon conversations led by James Navé: explore your imaginative intelligence
One-on-one coaching sessions with Allegra: discuss your current project with a world-class editor
Personalized editorial feedback from Allegra on up to 25 pages (submitted in advance)
New insights, new energy, and a supportive writing community: stay connected long after the week ends
Plus: a powerful set of tools to take into the rest of your writing life
$1895 • Limit 12 participants
Praise for Past Retreats
Your Guides into the Imaginative Storm
Award-winning authors. Renowned teachers. Creative collaborators.
Allegra Huston
Acclaimed author, world-class editor, and co-creator of the Imaginative Storm method
Allegra brings a rare blend of literary rigor and creative liberation to her teaching. She’s helped writers from all backgrounds break free from perfectionism and reconnect with the joy of writing.
“Allegra Huston is incapable of writing a dull sentence.”
James Navé
Poet, spoken-word performer, and co-creator of the Imaginative Storm method
Navé holds an MFA in poetry from Vermont College, and brings a lifetime of creative exploration to the page. With roots in performance poetry and a deep belief in the power of imagination, his work helps writers of all backgrounds tap into their wild, true voice.
“James Navé and I worked together for over 20 years. His work as a poet, teacher, and facilitator is an important force for change.”
Our Daily Schedule
Day 1
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.
Day 2
8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Hacienda del Sol
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
2:30 – 4 pm: optional salon conversation with Navé
6:30 pm: presentation by acclaimed novelist TBC
Day 3
8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Hacienda del Sol
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
2:30 – 4 pm: optional salon conversation with Navé
4:30 – 5:30 pm: artist studio visit
Day 4
8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Hacienda del Sol
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 6 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
2:30 – 4 pm: optional salon conversation with Navé
6:30 pm: storytelling with official New Mexico Living Legend Cisco Guevara
Day 5
8 – 9:30 am: breakfast at Hacienda del Sol
9:30 am - 1 pm: group writing session
2 – 4 pm: individual sessions with Allegra
2:30 – 4 pm: optional salon conversation with Navé
4.:30 – 6:30 pm: artist studio visit
6:30 pm: dinner at Allegra’s house with its 100-mile view of the New Mexico sunset
This retreat sells out. Book a call, join the wait list, or register now to guarantee your spot.
$1895 • Limited to 12 participants
About Taos
A landscape of light, legacy, and creative awakening
Taos is more than a destination — it’s a turning point.
It’s where imagination expands. It’s where the line between the internal and the eternal disappears.
For over a thousand years, Taos has been a crossroads of cultures, ideas, and artistic visions. From the living tradition of Taos Pueblo — the oldest continuously inhabited building in North America and UN World Heritage Site — to the free-spirited bohemians of the early 20th century, this high desert town has always drawn those seeking something more.
D. H. Lawrence came here in 1924 and never looked back. He traded the manuscript of Sons and Lovers to cultural patron Mabel Dodge Luhan for a 160-acre ranch just outside town. That ranch became a creative sanctuary where Lawrence wrote, painted, and hosted visitors like fellow novelist Aldous Huxley. He died here just two years later—his ashes buried beneath a small chapel overlooking the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Georgia O’Keeffe came to Taos and discovered the light that would define her art.
Carl Jung and Igor Stravinsky stayed in a house you’ll visit during the retreat.
Ansel Adams photographed the land that surrounds our workshop.
Our base: Historic Hacienda del Sol
Where literary legends once conversed late into the night
Hacienda del Sol — Manor of the Sun — is a serene adobe inn on the edge of Taos Pueblo. This was the first Taos home of Mabel Dodge Luhan, the cultural spark behind Taos’s artistic legacy. Here, she welcomed writers, painters, philosophers, and visionaries inspired by the light and vast spaces of the American Southwest.
You’ll write in Mabel’s original sitting room, cocooned by thick adobe walls that once echoed with the voices of D. H. Lawrence, Alfred Stieglitz, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Workshop participants receive a discount at Hacienda del Sol.
All participants are welcome to enjoy their lavish, freshly cooked breakfast!
FAQs
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ot at all.
The only requirement is a desire to write. If you write, you’re a writer—no MFA required.
Some of our participants have never taken a writing class before; others are published authors. What unites them is a deep curiosity—and the joy of discovering that they can write better than they thought possible. Our method helps beginners build confidence and gives experienced writers new depth, direction, and energy.
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No. This is much more than free writing.
The Imaginative Storm method is not a technique—it’s a full creative system.
In four days, you’ll move from pure imaginative exploration to structured creative form. You’ll learn how to:
Access surprising emotional depth and authentic voice
Use vivid imagery and original language
Develop compelling characters, narrative arcs, and emotional structure
Find the energetic core that drives every great story
We help you write what you didn’t know you knew—and shape it into something real.
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No required reading. No homework. Just your imagination.
We won’t assign books or offer models of “how to write well.” Our goal is not to mold you but to free you. Every writing prompt is designed to help you discover what you want to say — and how only you can say it.
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Absolutely not.
The Imaginative Storm method is rooted in appreciation, not critique.
We believe in creating a safe, generative space where your imagination can flourish—where you’re encouraged to take creative risks, not fear them.Traditional writing workshops often rely on early-stage criticism, which can shut down the very spark you're trying to fan. We don’t believe in public takedowns or pointing out what’s “wrong.” Instead, we build your strengths—because that’s what creates confidence, clarity, and forward momentum.
We don’t agree with the usual creative writing class model, or the masterclass model in which someone’s work is criticized by or in front of the group. Development of your writing is not a spectator sport! Many writers suffer needlessly because they receive negative feedback too early in the writing process.
However, if you want critical feedback on your work, that is available in your one-on-one sessions with Allegra.
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Yes—if and when you’re ready.
Every participant receives two one-on-one sessions with Allegra. You may submit up to 25 pages of writing (12 pt., double-spaced) one week prior to the workshop.
These sessions are tailored to you—they’re optional, private, and focused on helping your work grow.
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Not the way we do it.
Praise is the foundation of great editing and great teaching. Without it, how do you know what to build on? How do you know what’s working?
Allegra’s two rules of editing are:
Praise
Ask questions
This isn’t false flattery. It’s a strategy. Praise shows you your strengths. Questions guide you to go deeper. Together, they give you the insight and motivation to carry your writing forward—with confidence.