Name: Writing Masterclass with Jonas Saul
Start: 2025-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-05-18T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Amorgos, Greece

Imagine Greece Retreats

19 reviews

May 12 - 18, 2025

Group size: 4 - 15

Writing Masterclass with Jonas Saul

Amorgos, Greece

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Imagine Greece Retreats

19 reviews

May 12 - 18, 2025

Group size: 4 - 15

Transport to/from hotel
A bus or hotel van will be waiting to transport you to and from the hotel upon arrival and departure.
Accommodations
All six nights at Lakki Village Hotel are covered in the Writing Retreat fee.
Access to all Sessions
The retreat fee gives you unfettered access to all the sessions with Jonas Saul, plus one-on-ones, and more!
Greek Buffet Breakfast
Buffet breakfast is served every day from 8:00 - 10:30 with a wide variety of dishes and beverages: Coffee, tea, juices, jam, cheeses, olives, eggs, warm dishes, seasonal fruits, and more ...
Dinner
Greek and American dishes.
Village Tour: Chora
The ancient village of Chora is a magnificent sight to see, with its historic windmills still adorning the hillside.
Visit the Monastery
The 11th-century monastery Hozoviotissa is a wonder that must be seen.
Village Hike
We take you from the village of Tholaria across a mountain path to the neighboring village called Lagada for a picturesque walk.
Retreat Materials
Attendees will be given a gift bag of fun and exciting things related to the retreat.

Flights to/from Greece
Attendees must find their own way to and from Greece.
Ferry Tickets
Blue Star Ferries offers tickets online. Please plan ahead and get your tickets to Amorgos before the retreat begins, and for when the retreat is over.
Refreshments/Beverages
The one thing your fee does not cover are beverages. All beverages can be charged to your room and settled up upon check-out.
Alcoholic Beverages
As noted above, all alcoholic beverages can be charged to your room and settled up later.
Lunches
The hotel supplies us with buffet breakfast and dinner. Lunch can be ordered at the restaurant, or in town.
Travel Insurance
Please investigate what travel insurance works best for you, if needed.
Hotel Tax Fee
There may be a small fee of a few euros when checking out to cover the hotel tax fee the Greek government imposes upon hotels.

Traveling with spouse or friend

€699

Pre-Retreat Tours
Pre-Retreat Tours
Exploring Athens Greece!
These are optional tours. Fly in early enough to join us!

Pre-Retreat Athens Adventure
May 10th

Morning

Start the day with a group breakfast in Monastiraki, savoring traditional Greek dishes while taking in the lively atmosphere of this historic neighborhood.

Stroll along Ermou Street, Athens' vibrant shopping hub, and enjoy some leisurely browsing before making our way to the iconic Parliament Building.

Mid-Morning

Witness the Changing of the Guard at the Parliament Building—an unforgettable display of precision and tradition.

Take a relaxing walk through the lush National Gardens, where you can enjoy a refreshing beverage, admire the greenery, and spend a peaceful moment in nature.

Afternoon

Visit the Kallimarmaro Stadium, the world’s only stadium made entirely of white marble, and feel the history of the first modern Olympic Games.

Explore the grandeur of the Temple of Zeus, one of the most significant monuments of ancient Athens.

Stroll through the picturesque Zappeion Gardens and admire the elegant architecture of the Zappeion Hall.

We will end our tour in front of the Parliament Building, completing our circular route. From here, you can walk back along Ermou Street for more shopping or simply relax.

Evening

Wrap up the day with a group dinner at a fantastic Monastiraki restaurant, where we’ll indulge in delicious Greek cuisine and share stories from the day.

The duration is approximately 4–5 hours, perfect for immersing yourself in the heart of Athens before our retreat begins.

Athens Adventure: The Day Before We Sail
May 11th

Morning

Begin with a group breakfast in Monastiraki, soaking in the morning charm of the city.

10:00 a.m.

Embark on a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum, where history comes alive with its incredible artifacts and stories from ancient Athens.

Afternoon

Noon: Experience the grandeur of the Acropolis and Parthenon on a guided tour. Dive deep into the rich history and architecture of this iconic site.

3:00 p.m.: Enjoy free time to relax, explore, or shop in nearby Plaka or Monastiraki at your own pace.

Evening

7:00 p.m.: Optional pre-dinner drinks at a chic location (details provided closer to the day).

8:00 p.m.: Gather for a delightful dinner at Hermion, a beloved restaurant known for its authentic Greek cuisine and warm atmosphere.

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May 12
May 12
Arrival Day: relax and settle in and get ready for an amazing week!
Upon your arrival to Amorgos, a hotel van (or bus) will be waiting to transfer you to the Lakki Village Hotel, where you can check in, rest, swim, or read.
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May 13
May 13
Introductions and Discussions on Writing in General
Day One: Setting the Foundation

Morning Session: Kick off with introductions! Share your current writing projects, goals, and what you’re looking to achieve during the retreat. Jonas Saul will deliver an insightful talk about the writing industry, providing clarity and direction.

Workshop: Explore how to develop your novel idea. Discuss outlining versus daily word counts and dive into the art of "show, don't tell" with practical examples to elevate your storytelling.

Lunch Break: A relaxing midday pause with local cuisine to fuel creativity.

Afternoon One-on-One: Personalized hour-long sessions with Jonas to discuss your career aspirations and writing goals.

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May 14
May 14
Building The Novel and Finishing It!
Day Two: Mastering Style and Pace

Morning Session: Learn how to harness the active voice, refine your writing style, and identify words to cut or include for maximum impact. Explore cadence and flow to make your prose more engaging.

Workshop: Deep dive into pacing techniques—learn how to write with momentum and purpose while dissecting character motivation and scene objectives.

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May 15
May 15
Revealing the Emotional Quotient and Tension
Day Three: Enhancing Emotion and Tension

Morning Session: Unlock the secrets of writing to reader psychology. Discover self-editing techniques to tighten your work and keep readers captivated.

Workshop: Practical tools for adding tension to your pages and techniques to evoke deep emotion in your readers.

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May 16
May 16
Final Novel Details
Day Four: Industry Know-How

Morning Session: Industry standards for preparing your novel, from setup to cover art and design.

Workshop: Explore the publishing world—self-publishing versus traditional routes. Learn about querying agents and key self-publishing platforms, with tips on where and why to sell your books.

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May 17
May 17
Promote without yelling, "Buy my book!"
Day Five: Promotion and Visibility

Morning Session: Discover cost-free ways to connect with readers and budget-friendly promotional strategies.

Workshop: Author Rania Stone will lead a session on Promotion 101, covering social media essentials, funnel marketing, landing pages, and website must-haves for building an author brand.

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After Retreat - May 18
After Retreat - May 18
Heading Home - Checking Out
Once the retreat ends, we offer video calls to discuss your writing career. We provide social media plugs to advertise your books as they're released for the following year to over 50,000 followers on our combined social media.

The hotel will provide transportation to the port to get you on the ferry, which will take everyone back to Athens (or to other islands if you want to keep touring Greece!). Once on the boat, you can continue to other European cities, keep touring, or stay in Athens longer.

If you’re leaving for home immediately, please consider that the boat ride back to Athens is approximately eight hours. Be sure to give yourself an extra day before flying out to ensure you arrive on time for your flight.
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Pre-Retreat Tours

Exploring Athens Greece!

Imagine Greece Retreats

19 reviews

🌟 Unforgettable Memories Await with Our Canadian-Greek Team! Our dedicated team is committed to creating unique memories that will forever hold a special place in your heart. We want to see people smiling, having fun, and enjoying life. That's why we do our best to offer you the best. Join us for a fun-filled week of beach, sea, sunshine, and retreat time! 👥 Don't miss out on exclusive member benefits! Join our Facebook group, "Travel to Greece - Read, Write, and Retreat," to stay updated on special perks.

The retreat was a joy from start to finish. Booking was effortless, and communication with the organizers was smooth and responsive. We stayed in cozy accommodations, enjoyed delicious meals, and had a blast sightseeing. Best of all, I got to meet amazing new people and explore an unfamiliar place—all while indulging in my favorite pastime: reading. Thank you for making this a memorable trip.

By Namita Z for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Aug 06, 2025

Overall, I had a blast and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I loved the sense of community and camaraderie. I think Tanya did a wonderful job leading us and her workshop on deep work was well-planned and executed. The sheet was especially useful. I also enjoyed the location country. I would prefer to go outside of Europe, but of all the European countries, I would say Greece is a top choice for me. There's a little bit of everything for everyone, and it's just such a beautiful country. Moving forward, I think an underlying theme that could be better smoothed out is consistent messaging. For example, I understood that food would be buffet style for all meals, but that wasn't the case for lunch. I wasn't as big of a fan of the limited options for lunch, including the hotel closing off the caffeine options. I would also say that I noticed some concerning patterns in communication when it came to Jonas. One on one, I had nothing but positive experiences with him. He was quick and responsive with me. However, the room snafu with 2 of the participants left me feeling concerned about how else he could drop the ball. Another instance that gave me pause was his underselling the difficulty of the hike. I did not attend, and honestly, I was so thankful I didn't because several of the participants did not seem amused since it sounded like the hike was much more difficult than how it was originally explained. Lastly, this is small but I would've really appreciated more snacking options from the beginning. I love cake, but my goodness, by day 3 I was caked out. Thankfully, after a request from a participant, they changed the offerings (for the better in my opinion).

By Emilce S for Creative Connections: Writing and Meditation Retreat on Jul 09, 2025

Imagine Greece Retreats has the unique ability to take a group of people with a common interest, place them in a picturesque location, and have them leave a week later feeling like an extended family. Add their warm, welcoming nature and delicious food and it’s a trip that you’ll be thinking about long after you return home. Greece has a way of making its way into your heart so that you can’t wait to start planning your return!

By Liane C for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 09, 2025

This was an amazing week on the beautiful island of Amorgos, full of Greek hospitality. Very well organised with two days exploring Athens followed by a wonderful week at Lakki Village, beautiful accomodation, friendly staff and delicious food. It was such an experience to meet these fun, talented authors and many other people from acros the world with a love of reading. New friendships were formed. Brilliantly organised by Jonas Saul and Rania Stone. Definitely a week to remember for ever!

By Sue M for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 09, 2025

I had an amazing experience! Accomodation, food, authors and attendees were awesome! The hosts were incredibly helpful and responsive.

By Laura M for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 08, 2025

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I attended the Retreat, hosted by Jonas and Rania in October 2024 as part of my solo holiday and as a way to kickstart my aspirational writing career. After a lot of various last minute changes, not least the ferries going on strike, everything worked out for the better in the end. Overall it was a wonderful experience in the magical island of Amorgos. The scenery was spectacular, the Greek hospitality was exemplary and the food was delicious at Lakki Village. It was like being part of an extended Greek family (even the cats and dogs were welcoming). The course participants were also friendly and i made long lasting friendships there. Most importantly, I was inspired by the classes and wish I could have stayed longer in Amorgos (had to leave on the 26th itself). With encouragement from both, I came out equipped and confident to start writing more and losing the fear in the process. I am hoping to be able to attend more of these retreats next year in Greece :)

By MING G on 03 Nov, 2024

What an amazing trip to Amorgos, Greece for the Psychological Thriller Readers Retreat. Hosted by the legendary Authors Jonas Saula and Rania Stone, I was delighted by this little corner of paradise. The hotel resort was lovely in its complete and modern rooms, ground amenities, dining options, the pool area and bar. Lena the bartender was superb. Rania's family owns and runs the resort. So friendly and inviting this family was, I could not ask for more. The resort is located right on the beach. I started my mornings with tea and breakfast and a glorious beach view. It does not get better than that. The retreat schedule of events was just right. Something fascinating to experience each day with plenty of time to explore or chill as you like. Jonas is the perfect host with knowledge, humor, energy enough for everyone. The author guests were accessible and engaging, even those we met via Zoom. It was thrilling to learn about their beginnings, writing styles, publishing and all. AND, oh the giveaways! The retreat swag is top notch. I truly enjoyed this experience and am looking forward to a return trip. I highly recommend this retreat experience.

By TINA K on 29 Sep, 2024

We did the Reading Retreat in Amorgos June 2024, and it was fabulous!! The island, the venue, the food, the events—everything was perfect! It was so helpful to have Imagine Greece Retreats coordinate all arrangements, and they were readily available to answer questions. If you love reading and want to experience Greece, this is the way to do it!!

By Tracy Y on 25 Sep, 2024

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