South Dakota writers launch first statewide retreat for women authors

Aug. 7—CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. — A new kind of literary gathering is underway this week in Chamberlain, where a group of women writers is taking part in what’s believed to be South Dakota’s first ongoing writer’s retreat.

The three-day event, which runs Aug. 6 — 9, was created and hosted by daughter-in-law/mother-in-law duo Myja and Paula Miller. The retreat brings together female writers from across the state and region for dedicated writing time, creative connection and rest.

The Millers are already known for organizing Literature & Lattes, a clean-fiction book festival held annually in Sioux Falls. That event will return for its second year on Sept. 5 — 6 and has more than doubled in size since launching in 2023. While Literature & Lattes celebrates finished books, the retreat is focused on the quieter — and often more elusive — process of getting the writing done.

Set at a large Airbnb cabin just outside Chamberlain, the retreat includes meals, quiet writing spaces, roundtable discussions, optional massage sessions and evening campfire conversations. Writers received welcome bags with self-care items, and on Thursday night, they’ll hear from historical fiction author Kendy Pearson, who is joining the group via Zoom.

The theme of the retreat is “Write, Rest, and Relax.”

The Millers say Chamberlain was the right fit for several reasons: it’s centrally located for attendees coming from all corners of South Dakota, and the setting — near the Missouri River — offers a natural sense of peace and calm.

“We wanted something that was kind of in the middle,” said Myja Miller, who lives in Brookings. “We know writers that are West River, they live in Deadwood and Rapid City and even further west than that. We stumbled upon this Airbnb cabin just outside of Chamberlain, and it was perfect.”

While the idea of hosting a retreat is new on this scale, the Millers have organized smaller, informal writing getaways with friends in the past. This is their first time opening the experience up to a wider audience.

The focus isn’t just on productivity. While each writer has space to work on their own projects, there’s also time built in for conversations, rest and building relationships. Campfire discussions in the evenings are meant to spark connection as much as inspiration.

Among the participants is Emma Kuitunen, a young adult fantasy writer and friend of Myja’s from college. She says finding uninterrupted time to write has always been difficult while working full-time. During the retreat, she’s focusing on a modern-day YA fantasy novel set in New York City, inspired by early versions of classic fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty.

“For me, the biggest draw to attend was getting a couple days away from work to actually focus on writing,” Kuitunen said.

The hosts are also using the retreat to work on their own projects. Myja, a graduate of South Dakota State University with a degree in English and a Writing Specialization, is in the second draft of her debut novel. One of her poems was published in Dakota State University’s literary journal New Tricks in 2023.

Paula, who lives in Colman, was first published in the early 2000s with One-Eyed Jack, a children’s book. When the publisher shut down during the 2008 recession, the rest of the series was put on hold. Between that and focusing on her family’s health, she stepped away from writing for more than a decade. She returned to it about three years ago with encouragement from Myja and is now revising a current manuscript.

“I have several chapters that need hard editing,” Paula said. “Having quiet to write and think for extended periods without daily distractions will be a success this week in my book.”

One challenge the Millers encountered in planning the retreat was simply spreading the word. They promoted the event through Instagram and Facebook, including a dedicated event page, which helped connect with other local writers. The retreat was capped at 12 participants to keep it focused and manageable.

Though the first retreat is still unfolding, they hope to make it an annual event. Their goal is to create something that combines writing and rest — two things many writers struggle to prioritize in the midst of everyday life.

“The land itself is so rich and full of stories, one cannot help but to be inspired to write,” Myja said. “Peaceful and relaxing was one of the ideas in our minds when finding a venue, and that’s exactly what we found in the Chamberlain/Oacoma area.”