The mission of Ego Break Writers Retreats is to facilitate unique, all inclusive, destination retreats that show rather than tell writers how to thrive. It is our vision to creatively expand consciousness through experiential retreats for writers.
Everything Is OK on an Ego Break!
This retreat is no longer available. Please see the retreat listing page for more Ego Break Retreat options. Thank you!
October 15-20, 2023: Oceanfront Retreat Home in Rodanthe, NC Check in between 5pm and 9pm on October 15. Check out by 11am on October 20. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for room options.
While the location of each Ego Break Retreat changes, the essence and promise remain the same. Ego Break is an experiential, all inclusive, writers retreat for journal writers, novice writers, professional writers, and everyone in-between, including those who don’t write yet but want to write. Rather than offering workshops that lecture on the mechanics of craft, Ego Break Retreats focus on creativity and character development. No matter your genre or where you are in your writing journey, the expanded and unique perspectives you’ll gain on this retreat will rejuvenate your writing and your life. Ego Break promises to be an experience you’ll write about! –Please scroll to the bottom of this page for room options.–
10/23 Ego Break writers retreat will be at Hatteras Island’s most famous vacation home: the iconic Inn at Rodanthe. The home’s name comes from the famous movie, Nights in Rodanthe, based on Nicholas Sparks’s novel, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. The film focuses on the serenity of Hatteras Island from a cozy, oceanfront Inn situated on the Outer Banks in the village of Rodanthe. Arriving at the Inn, you’ll immediately notice the famed blue shutters. Small details inside the Inn including antiques, floral wallpaper from New York, custom doors in the kitchen, fabrics, furniture, and more almost perfectly match scenes from the movie. Your Hatteras Island getaway here will be nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime experience in this cozy traditional Inn.
days
hours minutes seconds
until
Ego Break Writers’ Retreat
What guests say: “I arrived 5 days ago with the hope of finding motivation to write, but after these simple yet so powerfully impactful days, I have been gifted the motivation to LIVE. TO LEAP. To TRUST IN MY INSPIRATION. I came here with a writing PROJECT but after these serene yet personally challenging days, I am leaving here with a writing PASSION. A PURPOSE. A DEEP KNOWING for my writing path to come. I began here with 7 strangers, but after these self-reflective yet intimately bonding days, I am ending with FRIENDS, FELLOWS, a writing TRIBE who I will feel beside me when those whispers of self-doubt interrupt me. I started the week as some girl writing a memoir, but after these information-packed yet deeply inspiring days, I am finishing as the HERO of my own story! Thank you Karrie & Jake (and guests).” –Molly N
Ego Break Experiences
Ego Break
In this two part writing workshop, we’ll explore the ego, ego constructs, ego programing and break down the Hero’s Journey story pattern on a personal level. Once you experience an ego break, your understanding of character development and the Hero’s Journey will deepen. This informational and experiential workshop includes a guided, group meditation.
Creative Channel
In this two part writing workshop, you’ll learn more about where creativity comes from and how to access that space. We will explore how to use transpersonal methods, such as meditation, dream work, and Tarot cards to enhance our creativity. This informational and experiential workshop also includes a group Reiki Session.
Murder Mystery Dinner Party
What better way to experience characterization than stepping into character? If you would like to participate in Ego Break’s Murder Mystery Dinner activity, you’ll receive your character’s information in advance of the retreat. On the night of the mystery dinner, each participating guest will play out their character’s role until the mystery has been solved. Prizes will be awarded for: best costume, best detective, and best acting.
Beach Horse Riding
We will practice being present while enjoying a horse ride through the woods and along the shore.
Beach Bonfire
Bring your beach blankets or beach chairs, and fill your glass of wine. We’ll sit around the beach bonfire and share wonderfully, unique conversations–you know, the kind of conversations only a group of writers have–as we gaze at the fire and stars.
Scrabble Tournament
If weather cancels one of our events, we’ll play a couple rounds of Scrabble, and we won’t stop until we have an Ego Break Scrabble Wizard!
Critique Sessions
Read up to 2000 words of a project you would like to receive on the spot critiques from the whole group. Be prepared to humbly receive and give constructive criticism. The critiques will be spread out over a few days to give everyone an hour for feedback.
1 Hour Private Reiki & BioMat Session
Reiki works to clear disturbances in the body’s energy fields. The disturbances are experienced as different symptoms, such as conscious and unconscious beliefs that do not serve us. Your optional private Reiki session could help with imposter syndrome, fear of success, creativity, procrastination, or your session could be used to help with completing a goal. More about Reiki here. More about the BioMat here.
My Intent Craft
You’ll choose a word of inspiration and create a keychain, necklace, or bracelet for focus.
Sound Bath Reiki Meditation
We will release tension and completely relax into the sound waves of crystal singing bowls, gongs, and other sound bath instruments.
Writing Time / Free Time
There will be plenty of time to write! Get words on the page. Work out your plot line as you walk along the beach. Or, if you seek inspiration, explore Hatteras Island and the surrounding area.
What Guests Say:
“Overall, I can honestly say this retreat was one of the most personally fruitful ones I have ever attended. I truly enjoyed myself and realllllly wish it was days longer.” –Karen S
“Ego Break was the perfect retreat to reset my creative spirit and thus my writing.” –Becky K
“The Ego Break retreat takes a deep dive into finding your inner artist (authentic self) and applying that “freedom from Ego” to writing practices. I experienced a personal breakthrough following the retreat that will impact my writing and my life for years to come.” –Pennie N
What’s Included and What’s Not Included with the Registration Fee.
Your Investment in This Experience Includes: Room for 5 nights/4 full days, all of the included meals will be prepared by our cook and served at the retreat house: five dinners, five breakfasts, four lunches, snacks, various wines, coffee, teas, water, soda, workshops, critique sessions, a private Reiki session, murder mystery dinner, beach bonfire, horse riding on the beach, towels, linens, washer/dryer, hot tub, fellowship, motivation, and inspiration… We will do our best to accommodate food preferences, ie…vegan/vegetarian, however, depending on cross-contamination sensitivities, we might not be able to accommodate gluten free diets. If you are gluten free and are interested in attending Ego Break, please contact to discuss options. If you have food sensitivities/aversions, please comment in the “notes to business” section during your registration process. ***There will be a Zoom session with Ego Break’s host and all retreat guests before the date of the retreat, so that we may introduce ourselves and ask/answer any last minute questions.
Ongoing Support: The fellowship and support continue after the retreat in our exclusive, active, Ego Break Facebook group. You’ll also stay motivated and accountable to continue writing by participating in our monthly Zoom critique sessions.
Not Included: Transportation to and from retreat house, Travel expenses, Travel Insurance, Personal Toiletries
How to get there: If you need to fly in, the nearest airports to Hatteras Island, North Carolina are Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN), New Bern, which is 86 miles away, and Norfolk International Airport (ORF), which is 122.1 miles away. Then you’ll need to rent a car and drive to the Island on N.C. Highway 12. The retreat house is located in Rodanthe, North Carolina, which is on Hatteras Island. After your reservation is paid for in full, you will receive the exact address.
Ego Break’s Host & Presenter
Rooming Options:
Cancellation Policy: 100% of all monies paid less a $75 processing fee are refunded for cancellations made within 60+ days before the retreat start date. 50% of all monies paid less a $75 processing fee are refunded for cancellations made 30-59 days before retreat start date. 0% will be refund for cancellations made within 0-29 days of retreat start date. However, 100% of all monies paid minus a $150 processing will be refunded in the event that Everything Is OK is able to rebook your canceled room before the retreat start date. For guests who’d like to share their private room with a friend, there will be an additional fee of $750 for the 2nd guest. Through 8/15/23, you may pay for your reservation in full or on a payment plan 15% + a $100 processing fee now and then receive an invoice for the balance to be paid by 9/15/2024. After 8/15/23, the reservation fee must be paid in full for new reservations.
Bedroom 1
2nd floor private master suite with a king bed, private full bathroom, and private ocean front balcony. $1999
Bedroom 2
The bedroom where Diane Lane slept in the movie Nights in Rodanthe. This 2nd floor bedroom has a queen bed and shares a bathroom. $1899
Bedroom 3
The famous blue bedroom where Richard Gere stayed during his visit to the Inn in Nights in Rodanthe. This 2nd floor bedroom has a full bed and shares a bathroom. $1899
Bedroom 4
3rd floor private room with a king bed. This room shares a bathroom. $1899
Bedroom 5
4th floor private room with a king bed. This room shares a bathroom.
$1899
What Guests Say:
“Karrie put on a first-class event and did everything possible to make things run smoothly. She surveyed the group ahead of time about our preferences, held a Zoom meeting for us to get acquainted, and now has a private social media site so we can share photos and communicate with one another. During the retreat, Karrie created a congenial environment. I felt an immediate connection to the other attendees who came from different walks in life and all over the country. There was a great balance among educational workshops and relaxing, fun activities. I highly recommend this retreat for writers. Karrie, Anna, and Chef Jake exceeded my expectations in how well cared for I felt and how much I learned. Wanted another week and hated to leave.” –Marilyn B
Everything Is OK on an Ego Break!