Writing the Sound 2025 is wrap! Here’s what folks had to say about it!
“It would be impossible to list everything I enjoyed about the retreat but I’ll try. Its mountainous seaside setting, the panoramic views, the almost touchable proximity of night sky constellations all took my breath away. Its warm, welcoming hosts Sonja and Johanna, their inclusive, encouraging workshops, generous feedback and acceptance of individuality created comfort and security. The food prepared by Kevin was fresh and outstanding with a scope to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions. The entire retreat was an uplifting, energising experience for me. “
“I loved the location, the food and the opportunity to connect with other writers. Gambier is a beautiful place to think about writing and Sonja, Kevin and Johanna were marvellous hosts.”
“I enjoyed the leaders and the sessions, the setting, the participants, the accommodation, the food. Having a private session with Sonja was super helpful.”
Stay tuned for info on Writing the Sound 2026. You can also sign up for my newsletter!
July 25-27th
Early bird special! Book before June 20th and receive a free one to one consult with Johanna or Sonja.
Writing the Sound is a rustic off-grid weekend writing retreat located on Gambier Island overlooking beautiful Howe Sound.
Writing the Sound 2025 is all about creating art from life.
Two award-winning artists will lead an intimate group of participants in generative workshops all about truth-telling and story making. Sonja Larsen is a writer and Johanna Nutter is a playwright and performer.
- Daily workshops & discussions
- Lots of time and space for writing
- Healthy food & snacks provided
Early bird special! Free one to one consult with Johanna or Sonja.
writing the sound
Summer camp for your creative spirit
Comfortable glamping accommodations with electricity and cell access but no wi-fi
Good food from our garden as well as other local and organic ingredients
Lots of mountain and ocean views as well as opportunities for hikes and forest bathing.
Let us feed you body & soul
Local and organic meals provided.
Workshops & Activities | $400 weekend
- 3 workshops (10 hours of workshop time)
- One performance
- One evening social & reading
* Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja.
Accommodations | $35 – $150 a night
Whether it’s bringing your own tent, staying in the glamping tent or getting cozy in the little cabin, a variety of unique accommodations are available for the retreat.
Food and Refreshments | $150 weekend
6 healthy organic and/or locally sourced mostly plant based meals
Coffee, tea, refreshments and snacks to fuel your creativity!
Writing the Sound 2025 is all about creating art from life.
What happens when two old friends and award-winning artists get together to share the challenges and pleasures of creating art from life? Join us for an intimate and thought-provoking weekend about life, art and the power of stories.
Art From Life
Sonja and Johanna have both used their own lives in their work, and are interested in the challenge of producing work that is rooted in truth. In this session we’ll talk about some of our own rules and thoughts on creating art from life, and hear from participants about their experiences or questions.
Friday – Sonja Larsen / Johanna Nutter
The Living Tree
Trees are timeless symbols of storytelling. We come into this world already tied to it through countless connections, and then we grow, our choices forever in response to what came before.
From the ancient Taoist story of the useless tree to Joseph Campbell’s hero entering the forest at the darkest point, we’ll write and play our way through our figurative roots and branches, reaching for creative alchemy: those moments when the personal becomes universal.
The techniques and exercises explored in the workshop will be supported by a performance of TREE HUG, a solo show Johanna created as a peace offering to her mother.
Photo by Andrew McInnis
Saturday – Johanna Nutter
Emotional Geography
(or how do we get there from here?)
Whether it’s in fiction or memoir, the elements that shape the environment of our stories, both physical and emotional, can help readers visualize and navigate the world we are creating.
In Emotional Geography we’ll explore geography as a metaphor and a framework for thinking about a story. What dominates the landscape? What dictates how you navigate through the terrain? We’ll do generative exercises that explore relationships between place and theme, and help define the navigational maps and signposts that build structure and meaning in your work.
*This workshop includes a self-guided series of prompts to explore the property and reflect on these ideas.
Sunday – Sonja Larsen
About Us
Johanna and Sonja were both recovering hippie kids and aspiring creatives when they met waitressing on the Main in Montreal.
In addition to their offbeat childhoods, they have a broad range of experience in creating art from real life experiences and love the work of helping people find and share their own story.
Sonja Larsen
Author
Sonja Larsen is an award-winning author and creative late bloomer who loves helping people find their voice. Her writing workshops and retreats are geared to helping people build the skills and courage to tell their stories.
Her memoir Red Star Tattoo – My life as a girl revolutionary won the Edna Staebler Creative Non-Fiction Award and short-listed for the Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust award and featured on the CBC and National Post’s best books of the year lists. A graduate of the SFU Writer’s Studio, her short work has also appeared in anthologies as well as literary publications in Canada, the US and the UK.
Johanna Nutter
Playwright & performer
Johanna Nutter is an interdisciplinary theatre artist and teacher recognized for bringing people together through personal narrative. Her plays, notably my pregnant brother/my playwright sister, have toured in both English and French across Canada and internationally, from Centaur Theatre in her hometown of Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), to the Soho in London, UK. She engages with artists, festivals, and organizations to help professional and aspiring creators tell their stories. Recent collaborators include Sobey-winning artist Nadia Myre, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, and her alma mater, Concordia University. Her work is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a communal act—one that fosters connection, empathy, and a deeper understanding of our collective experience.
Accommodations
Writing the Sound is hosted at a hand-built solar-powered home located on Gambier Island/Chá7elkwnech, located 20 minutes by water taxi from Horseshoe Bay. Bordering a provincial park with views over Howe Sound/ Átl’ka7tsem, the 7L Cabin is a true labour of love, and was built with the help of over 75 friends and family and many reclaimed and eco-friendly materials. In addition to the main cabin there are a variety of unique outbuildings & camping sites.
Expect comfortable glamping, with three bathrooms with flush toilets, an outdoor shower with hot water and spectacular views and lots of amazing spaces for writing, walks, and hikes.
The Little Cabin
Large glass door leads out to the main deck overlooking Howe Sound. A queen sized bed as well as a sleeping loft make the little cabin a versatile spot for one or two people.
Bathroom right next door
Desk can be converted to a standing desk.
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Book with a friend and you can each save 10%!
Want to extend your retreat? This room can be booked with meals for $225 a day.
Little Cabin
$150 per night
The little cabin connects to the main cabin deck overlooking Howe Sound. 
The little cabin connects to the main cabin deck overlooking Howe Sound. 
A comfy queen sized mattress 
Watch for deer out the side window 
The litte cabin features a sleeping loft 
The loft has a comfy reading cushion and a double foam mattress. 
We suggest a 60/40 split for double occupancy
The Studio
Have you ever slept in a room with a rock jutting out of the floor? This unique space located below the little cabin the studio has mountain and water views and a great cross-breeze on hot summer days. The studio features a queen sized bed and a small private deck.
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Studio
$100 per night
The Bees Knees
Tucked away in the trees and overlooking the garden the Bee’s Knees is a sweet & rustic little space for creativity & contemplation. A single bed with a double memory foam mattress offers a comfortable sleeping and sitting area, and a desk provides a private and serene place to work.
Desk can be adjusted to standing height.
Has a cute but primitive composting toilet facility and a main bathroom with flush toilet is a short walk away.
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Bees Knees
$75 per night
The Bee’s Knees is a sweet & rustic little space for creativity & contemplation 
A single bed with a double memory foam mattress offers a comfortable sleeping and sitting area 
A sit/stand desk provides a private and serene place to work 
The Bee’s Knees gets a visitor 
The Bee’s Knees has a small outdoor sitting area
The Power Tower
Overlooking the garden this second floor guest room with a comfortable double mattress will have you sleeping and working high among the trees. Has a small private balcony. Solar panels on the roof provide power to the main cabin and the out buildings.
Main bathroom with flush toilet is downstairs.
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Power Tower
$75 per night
The Bell Tent
Located near the main cabin, the Bell tent is full of airy inspiration and beautiful views.
A single mattress with a double memory foam mattress offers a comfortable sleeping and sitting area, and a desk provides a private and scenic place to work.
Main bathroom with flush toilet and sink is a short walk away.
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Bell Tent
$60.00 per night
The Bell Tent has views out to Howe Sound 
The Bell Tent is a short walk to the main cabin and washroom 
A desk, chair and electrical access help your creative adventure 
A single mattress with a double memory foam mattress offers a comfortable sleeping and sitting area 
Located a short walk to the main cabin and washroom.
Lots of camping spots
We have a tent platform as well as a variety of suitable camping spots!
Book before June 20th and receive a free one hour consult with Johanna or Sonja
Camping Adventures
$35 a night
Ready for a weekend of truth-telling and story-making?
Book before June 20th & receive a free one-hour writing consult with Sonja or Johanna. Bookings will be processed on a first come first serve basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skill or experience level is this retreat best suited for?
Our workshops are geared to provide opportunities for creative reflection and insight so we hope they will be useful for writers at all experience levels. Wonder if this is the right fit for you? Let’s chat!
Tell me more about Gambier island and the surrounding area
The Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound watershed includes a majestic fjord perched spectacularly on the edge of Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Its landscape is dramatically scenic and encompasses remarkably diverse habitats capable of supporting over 5000 known marine and terrestrial species. read more https://www.howesoundbri.org/atlka7tsem-howe-sound
Gambier Island is about 17,049 acres (6,899 hectares) in size and is located about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) north of the Horseshoe Bay community and ferry terminal. read more https://gambierislandconservancy.ca/location
How do I get to the retreat?
The water taxi to Gambier leaves from Horseshoe Bay. You can drive or take public transit (the 257 bus from downtown) to Horseshoe Bay. Weekend parking is sometimes difficult and/or expensive in the summer. We’ll send you more detailed informration about the water taxi booking closer to the event! The water taxi departs from the government dock. The water taxi ride is about 20 minutes. We’ll meet you at our dock to take you to the retreat.
Cancellation policy
I reserve the right to cancel due to insufficient registration or conditions that make any such activity unsafe. In the event of a cancellation deposits and payments will be refunded. *Deposits are non-refundable if you cancel less than 7 days before the retreat.