Dawn Breeze on the importance of retreat for creatives

Dawn Breeze visited The Hideout from New York in late 2024 to work on a couple of new writing projects. We caught up with Dawn recently to learn more about her time on PEI.

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DAWN BREEZE, 2024 Hideout resident

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Tell us a bit about the project you worked on during your time at The Hideout.

I came to The Hideout to complete the first draft of my debut novel and further develop my curriculum, Creativity + Courage. Drawn to the idea of being as far north as my car could take me within a short drive from New York, I sought the inspiration of Prince Edward Island's gleaming ocean and quiet beauty. The choice carried a personal resonance—Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery captivated me as a young bookworm, and recently rereading it felt like encountering a kindred spirit. Emily mirrored a part of me that I hadn’t recognized as a child—creative, intuitive, and alive with possibility—rereading the book inspired me to honor my creative self and budding book. Learning that Montgomery's home and the natural environment of Emily were rooted in PEI cemented my decision to seek the Hideout writing residency. Writing on this island felt like writing in the companionship of literary magic.

During the residency, I successfully completed the first draft of my novel, and I am now preparing to embark on revisions. Equally significant, I transcribed over a decade of my Creativity + Courage workshops—laying the foundation for offering this curriculum publicly in the coming year. The residency provided not just time and space, but a deep alignment with purpose, creativity, and courage.

What did you enjoy most about your residency week at The Hideout?

I enjoyed the location of the Hideout and its quick zip of a drive to Victoria where I indulged in briny oysters and buttery potatoes as I watched the hot pink sunset say goodnight to a delicious day. 

Why are residencies and retreats so vital for writers and creatives?

For me residencies and retreats provide the bounded container that offers creatives uninterrupted time for disciplined productivity and spaciousness for inspiration. Relocating oneself in a new place with a new schedule is disorienting and sparks new perspectives while also grounding in purpose and therefore is very generative.

Any tips for folks thinking about applying for a writing residency?

I think being prepared with a few work options for oneself is important. I find that I often think I am going to do one thing but end up doing something else and so being prepared for that pivot can help ease any anxiety as the time ticks on the residency. I also experience a certain amount of general anxiety at the beginning of every residency or retreat and so I need to have some of my routine creature comforts with me, ie. my coffee maker and coffee, my pillow. I also like to geolocate myself by walking a lot and this helps my nervous system settle while also being inspired by the new light. Lastly, I think there is the dichotomy of adventure and discipline in a residency and so planning that into the days helps. I give myself a schedule that includes both external exploration and a minimum page count or hours at the desk. 

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Dawn Breeze is a creativity advocate, change agent, and internationally awarded artist based in the Hudson Valley, NY. A leader in experiential learning design and creativity, she collaborates with global organizations, progressive institutions, and individual entrepreneurs to inspire innovation and transformation.

Her social projects reflect her commitment to fostering connection and creativity. She founded Place Corps, a progressive education institute launched in 2019 that offers residencies, fellowships, and community learning opportunities to cultivate a deep relationship with place through knowing, loving, and serving. Breeze established Instar Lodge, a nonprofit arts project space, and created Wayfinding: Imaging History with (Our)story, a participatory mapping odyssey at Olana State Historic Site. Her signature curriculum, Creativity + Courage™, is delivered as participatory workshops for institutions and corporations, equipping participants to harness creativity for meaningful growth and innovation.

Breeze’s vision and voice extend to her expansive publishing and curation of art. She co-edited Girls in Trees, a widely acclaimed anthology featuring thirty-three writers, including Sharon Olds, Nick Flynn, and Samantha Hunt, alongside editor Rebecca Godfrey. Breath 40x, is her self-published book of poetry inspired by her collaboration with iconic poet Bernadette Mayer, reflecting her poetic sensibility. Breeze writes a weekly newsletter; Sunday Circle on Substack.

Breeze holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, where she was twice honored with the Goddard Spirit Award.

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All photos courtesy of Dawn Breeze.