We want you to be able to relax while registering, prepping for, and participating in our retreats. Read on to get all the details you need to feel confident about your decision to retreat with us.​


Cancellations

Our retreat cancellation policy is designed to let you change your mind about attending without requiring Michelle to lose the opportunity to work with another scholar. Specifically:

If InkWell cancels or postpones a retreat, you may either:
  • transfer your retreat payment to a future online or in-person retreat, or
  • receive a full refund to the original form of payment.

If you cancel your registration: 
  • 90 days or more prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 100% refund, minus credit card fees.
  • 89-45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: 100% credit of the cost of the retreat toward another writing retreat within 12 months.
  • Fewer than 45 days prior to the start of the writing retreat, you receive: no refunds or credits. This is the case even if your cancellation is the result of personal tragedy. We hate when this happens. So, while we don't require  travel insurance, we can't recommend it enough. Really. We're begging you. 

If you do not supply proof of COVID-19 vaccination by the due date, we regard that as a cancellation, which will be subject to the cancellation policy above. (Wait, what? COVID vaccinations? See why, below.)


​Healthy & Safety

While the U.S. federal government no longer considers the COVID-19 virus a public health emergency, there are several reasons we continue to require COVID-19 vaccinations for our retreaters
  1. Shared Beliefs. The science tells us vaccinations and mitigation strategies work. We believe the      science. 
  2. Shared Responsibility. Safety isn’t something we can create on our own. It’s something we must co-create together. Some of our retreaters have health vulnerabilities or live with those who do. Because traveling and gathering still contribute to the spread of COVID-19, we require everyone to prioritize protection through vaccination.  
  3. Shared Delight. Nothing takes the lightheartedness out of a retreat like someone catching COVID.    We come prepped with a tried-and-true process for swiftly and safely testing, quarantining, and  social distancing so the retreat can go on (And honestly, what we lose in lightheartedness is replaced by a stunning level of care for the the sick person). But connection and community are the bedrock of an InkWell retreat, so we'd rather err on the side of preserving it.

Because of the above, we adhere to the following health & safety policies:

  • ​Vaccination: All in-person retreat participants must provide proof of full vaccination (vaccination + booster) within one week of registration. No exceptions. 
 
  • Masking: If a participant tests positive for COVID-19 at any time during the retreat, all participants should be prepared to wear masks during writing workshops and coaching sessions.
 
  • Social Distancing: We have several measures in place in the event that social distancing is required:
    • No housekeeping service is supplied during your stay at the retreat center, so only those you invite in will visit your room.
    • Our retreat centers typically include indoor and outdoor seating for dining and writing, as well as desks in sleeping rooms. Please check your particular retreat location to confirm these details.
 
  • ​Community Care: While there is no way for us to require these activities, we ask participants to: 
    • take an antigen test prior to traveling to the retreat.
    • stay masked and avoid eating or drinking while traveling on public transportation to the retreat.