Spring 2026:

Women’s Eastern Shore
Writing Retreat

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March 27-29, 2026

For women writers of any skill level, writing in any genre.

Tilghman Island Inn, MD

Welcome to the Spring 2026 Women’s Eastern Shore Writing Retreat, where you’ll find protected writing time within a supportive community of like-minded writers.

Participants of this inaugural, biannual Women’s Writing Retreat will gather this spring at The Tilghman Island Inn, located on Maryland’s picturesque Eastern Shore, “far from the maddening crowd.” During the unique, three-day, two-night retreat, writers will connect to create space and time for their own writing endeavors, whether fiction, nonfiction, academic, etc.

Through a welcome reception and dinner, the Inn’s cozy shared writing spaces, discussion of writing prompts to spark creativity, mealtimes, outings, and voluntary, post dinner sharing, writers will discover camaraderie that may last long after the retreat’s farewell gathering.

Schedule:

Friday

  • Optional early arrival to write at the Inn. 1:30pm-4:30pm
  • Welcome drinks and dinner provided by the Inn. 5:00pm
    • Introduction to Writing Prompts.

Saturday

  • Morning writing session. Writing prompts available. 9:00am-12:00pm
  • Breakfast at the Inn — breakfast box provided by the Inn.
  • Coffee and snacks provided by the Inn.
    • Attendees may spread out, write in their rooms or shared spaces.
  • On-site lunch boxes provided by the Inn. 12:00pm-1:00pm
  • Afternoon writing session. 1:00pm-4:00pm
  • Optional drive into town / explore local shops and dinner.
  • Optional post dinner sharing of writing prompts, or other writing, at the Inn.

Sunday

  • Morning writing session. 9:00am-12:00pm
  • Breakfast box provided by the Inn
  • Participants may opt in to group lunch ordered and delivered from local restaurant.
    Optional break or continue writing. 12:00-1:00pm
  • Participants continue writing until 3:00pm.
  • Goodbye reception at local coffee shop. 3:15pm-5:00pm (Optional food and beverage purchases)
    • Optional sharing of writing accomplishments

Details:

  • Who should attend:  10 women writers of any skill level, writing in any genre.
  • Why: To build community and uncompromised writing time!
  • When: March 27-29, 2026
  • Where: Tilghman Island Inn, Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Register!

  • $700 per person with a $350 deposit.
  • Includes welcome reception with champaign, 1 dinner, 1 lunch, 2 breakfasts, and snacks.
  • Rooms chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Deposits due: February 21th (Nonrefundable).
  • Deposits will be returned if unable to fill the retreat.
  • Full Payment Due: March 20th.

Meet your retreat hosts!

Shawnee Callier is a professor who loves writing, reading, traveling, and getting outside, whether running, hiking, or stand‑up paddling. Her scholarship examines the bioethics, law, and policy implications of emerging technologies. Her work has been recognized nationally: in 2017 she received the NIH Genome Recognition of Employee Accomplishments and Talents (GREAT) Award for collaborative research identifying obstacles to representative genomics research, and in early 2025 she was named a Black trailblazer in genetics by the Smithsonian and the National Human Genome Research Institute. She has published her work in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Science. She co‑authored a Science article, for instance, examining how artificial intelligence may intensify exclusion cycles in medicine and deepen existing health inequities. Although she enjoys exploring the art, food, and wine scenes across the DMV, she often finds herself returning to familiar favorites to write and dine at Zinnia or Koma, or sip wine in Middleburg. She is currently writing a book about achieving justice in the implementation of emerging biotechnologies, such as genomics and artificial intelligence. She lives with her husband and 100-pound dog and writing buddy, Kane.
As a writing specialist for over 20 years, Jill Rendelstein delivers creative, interactive workshops, and one-on-one experiences to level up writing strategies and skills for professionals and students around the world. Jill has been instrumental in admissions acceptance for hundreds of students to their top college choices, including Yale, Harvard, Duke, Notre Dame, and Stanford. As a graduate from American University, she received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, with a concentration in the Teaching of Writing. While working as a College Writing instructor at The George Washington University and The American University, she continued to conduct original workshops for prestigious DC Metro area (and beyond) institutions, such as the Pentagon, FortyPlus of Greater Washington, Montgomery County, MD schools, prominent law firms and more.

Jill has written for publications, such as The World & I magazine and The Washington Times newspaper.  She lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, and her pit bull, Charlie in the DC Metro area. Although she usually prefers fiction writing, Jill is currently writing a work of nonfiction about AI collaboration. When time allows, she writes Sunday mornings at the local Starbucks (sometimes with Shawnee!) and the odd free day during the week.

Jill enjoys writing (obviously), reading fiction, cooking, traveling, exercising, hiking, visiting wineries, spending time with friends and family.