courtney maum

Welcome to Courtney’s line of writing retreats for people ready to take their craft, creativity and publishing know-how to a whole new level.

In 2023, author, brand strategist and publishing expert Courtney Maum launched an entirely new kind of writing retreat: a mentor-led blend of craft and business instruction to improve participants’ writing, navigate the business of publishing, and solidify their literary citizenship well beyond the workshop.

For three successful years, Turning Points has been based off an inversion of the traditional workshop model that centers problem-solving, strategic revision and author agency instead of group feedback. In 2025, for the first time, Courtney is offering an RSP intensive in New Mexico, a week-long “Ready, Set, Publish” program that will unlock new levels of confidence, professional preparation and industry savvy for all who participate.

The week-long program will start at the micro level with workshops on loglines and query letter writing, before exploring the importance of opening pages, maintaining momentum across a book-length project, and checkpointing character development and plot points across the work as a whole. The week will end with empowering sessions on audience development, essay creation and pitching, newsletter writing and other platform-related topics. Each participant will have a private phone consultation with Courtney before and after the retreat to help with goal setting, accountability, stamina and self-confidence. The RSP Intensive is designed to welcome writers in all genres except for poetry, with lessons addressing fiction, nonfiction and memoir writing with equal attention and strategy. Each cohort is hand-picked with careful attention to group synergy and dynamics. Please see our testimonials below for a sense of what our writers gain from our unique approach to programming.

Worried whether you are too advanced—or not advanced enough—for this program? Worry not. Our motto for the RSP Intensive is: Come with a mess, leave with a plan. No matter what level you are at with your writing and/or career, we will meet you there by modifying the group exercises to suit your current needs. For example, if you’re already agented, during the query writing session you’ll work on back jacket copy for your book. If you are in brainstorming mode for a new project, the week will help you flesh out your book and plot it. Everyone’s skill level will be addressed and well supported during our time together at the ranch, and post-ranch via our robust alumni program.

Applications for the 2026 retreat open February 1st and close April 30th, 2026.

FAQS

I can’t tell if I’m too far along in my career to attend this or not: The RSP intensive is structured in a way to accommodate writers at all levels, even those who have already published. Each offered class will have a modification to meet people at their skill level. For example, if you’re already agented, during the query writing class, you’ll work on back jacket copy for your book. For people who have book deals, the sessions on pitching supporting essays and audience development will be particularly helpful. If you are in brainstorming mode for a new project, the week will help you flesh our your book and maybe even plot it.

Can I apply to the RSP Intensive if I’ve attended Turning Points before? Yes! Unlike with our workshop-based programming from prior years, the RSP Intensive is open to all past Turning Points participants.

Are there one-on-ones with Courtney during the retreat? During the retreat, no, but before and after the retreat, yes. Each participant will have the opportunity for a one-hour call with Courtney before our week together, and a 90-minute follow-up call after the retreat, once the participant has had time to let all our group work settle in.

What genres of writing are accepted? All except poetry. (You can be a poet—we love poets!—but the main project you are coming to work on should be something other than poetry as Courtney hasn’t published in that genre.)

Gosh, this is a lot to pay for one week in the desert. How can I feel confident that it’s worth the investment? First of all, you’re right. Turning Points is expensive. But its value extends far, far beyond the week that you’ll stay with us, Yes, we rent out the entire ranch and have literally the best chef and sous-chef that New Mexico has to offer. (They’re from the iconic Los Poblanos hotel in Albuquerque.) Yes, you’ll enjoy luxury accommodations, an exquisite setting, delightful field trips— these are perks of the tuition, but this isn’t what you’re paying for.

With Turning Points, you get support from Courtney personally before and after the workshop. You automatically join an alumni network of powerful, empowered and deeply generous writers that is growing every year. We have regular meet-ups in person, near daily Zooms, a wildly active group chat and networking assistance. Courtney personally guides Turning Points alum through tricky-to-navigate situations like AWP and other literary gatherings and make connections when she can, plus, we host reunions where everyone offers something, and states something they need, maintaining a support network year round. Basically, if you are able to attend Turning Points, you get the camaraderie and kinship from an MFA program in a week, instead of two years, with New Mexico’s famous sunsets and sunrises to boot and the best food we think you’ll ever have.

How many people attend? 9 participants max. Participants will be joined on the property by Courtney, chefs Daniel and Mel, and the property owner, Molly. Ranchhands will be working with the horses and cattle while we are in residence but won't be a distraction.

Do I have to go to every class offered in the RSP Intensive? It’s strongly suggested to attend all the classes offered in your discipline because they are structured chronologically and thematically to build your knowledge base. However, we are human, and it’s a jam-packed week. If there is a class that doesn’t get your bell ringing, simply speak with Courtney about it before the class kicks off.

Accessibility information: There are bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground level that can be accessed without any stairs, but to get to the main retreat center from the parking area there is a short walk over gravel and flagstone followed by three steps. There will be several meetings in the property owner’s house which would mean getting down those three steps and a minute-long walk over a gravel driveway or a short car ride. We will do our best to work with retreaters to accommodate their needs so they feel comfortable and safe while with us.

Is there transportation? This year, transportation to the ranch is not offered—local purveyors have unfortunately stopped renting mini-buses as they have in prior years. Carpools will be organized internally once the final group is selected, but costs for rental cars is not included in tuition.

Will alcohol be served? Though wine, beer, and alcohol will make an appearance during the week, nonalcoholic options will always be available and this is not meant to be a boozy week or atmosphere. We’ll start off our first full day with mocktails to make sure everyone safely acclimates to the altitude. On consequent nights where alcohol is served, about two glasses of wine or beer will be available with dinner and margaritas will be offered on the first and last evening of the retreat. Being sensitive to the fact that we might have people in recovery with us, we’ll be encouraging participants to be responsible about—and with—their alcohol intake. If you are eager for a bacchanalia, Turning Points is not the place for it.

What’s your cancellation policy? We have a strict cancellation policy in place for this destination workshop because the balance of our ranch deposit and all group expenses are due at the same time as your full tuition. Our vendors have no-refund policies, so we must follow suit. Refunds will not be offered unless we can find another participant to take your place. Refunds will not be given if you must leave the retreat while it’s underway, but we will certainly make efforts to help you participate virtually if you do have to leave before the retreat has ended.

Please also note there is a $150 non refundable deposit per accepted application to cover the time put into retreat preparation should you decide—post acceptance—not to participate.

Email turningpoints.retreats@gmail.com for other questions.

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Additional photos of the Monte Prieto Ranch in New Mexico where we hold our retreat:

Bunkhouse (7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, wrap around terrace, meeting space); El Quincho (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, communal kitchen, coffee station, fireplace + shared living room); outdoor areas (including dipping pool). If you’re looking for neighbors: there aren’t any. This is privacy writ large. Please check out our Instagram page to see more photographs of the retreat and each year’s wonderful cohort.

TESTIMONIALS FROM SELECT 2025 PARTICIPANTS

“The Turning Points experience gracefully and humorously undoes everything erroneous you’ve ever been told about what it means to be a published writer. Courtney manages to both strip the BS and hype around writing and publishing while returning to them their rightful esteem and weight. The retreat is beautifully thought-out and paced with each individual author workshop being more like a masterclass packed with relevance for every writer across fiction and non-fiction genres. In Courtney, each writer has a staunch advocate who never backs away from straightforward feedback and ’stress-testing’ that comes, so clearly, from her respect for each writer’s individual project and unique voice. Unlike so many other workshop experiences, Turning Points is not a stage for Maum’s ego but rather a well curated and inspiring boot camp organized around tremendous support, care and her hard-won decades of experience on the front-lines of writing and publishing. the icing on the cake is that all of the above (and so much more!) takes place in the most glorious of settings in the very heart of old world New Mexico. Participants are nourished daily with locally sourced foods prepared with love and skill, as well as the most comfortable accommodations and creature comforts that allow deep rest and relaxation in between the more rigorous engagements. Turning Points is an essential experience for any writer hungry to grow into a more courageous and rooted version of themselves!” -A guide, teacher and writer, Christiane Pelmas is nearing completion on an experimental memoir about parenting a child through addiction. 

“A week at Turning Points with Courtney Maum gave me the clarity I've needed on how to move my book forward and toward publication, a highly individualized workshop session catered to my specific challenges and commitments as a writer, and a newfound sense of confidence and possibility. It also gave me the warmth of community among other brilliant writers, time to make new friends and learn from the workshops of others, and the space--in the quiet and beautiful desert of New Mexico--to experience calm, find courage, and have fun learning. Courtney is a writing and publishing wizard, and her workshop-retreat is magic.” - Professor and author Michelle Burnham who is currently working on a hybrid memoir reclaiming the joy, hopefulness and queerness of the 1970s.

“Turning Points is a one-of-a-kind writing retreat, but more than that, it's a transformative experience for anyone who wants to put their writing into the world. Courtney is the perfect guide. Although I knew that I would learn a lot from her writing, publishing and creative expertise, I was particularly grateful for how she held me through the very vulnerable experience of sharing my fiction with other humans for the first time. Courtney gives direct feedback to help you turn your work into the best possible book it can be. She also gives no-bullshit encouragement that helps you believe (and achieve!) the big dreams you have for yourself. She takes your work as seriously as you do. You can tell by how much time and effort she puts into ensuring you get the absolute most out of your time together, and she does that for every single participant. That's the part of Turning Points that's truly invaluable. The breathtaking location, mouth-watering food, vibrant community of fellow writers and dedicated "me time" to actually execute the project you came to work on are all layers of icing on top. I can't recommend this experience enough.” - Writer and content strategist Karli Petrovic, who is nearing completion on her magical realism novel “The Ballad of Bass Station” about a woman who—reluctantly—can hear other people’s soul songs. 

“Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Just wow. Thank you for an experience that exceeded my expectations in nearly every way. The food, nourishing. The ranch, vast and stunning. The other writers, inspiring new friends. The craft, illuminating and provoking. (Courtney) has built and created something so special, and I feel so lucky to have been part of it.” - Nikki Summer, writer, former lawyer, author of the We’re a Lot Substack

"I am so grateful for my experience at the 2025 Turning Points Writing Retreat. Courtney Maum is a thoughtful, generous, and compassionate writing coach, and while each writer's workshop was individually tailored, I learned something from every single discussion that could be applied to my own project. I have been working on my essay collection for several years, and my time at Turning Points gave me the insights, confidence, and enthusiastic motivation to take it over the finish line. Courtney also has a gift for predicting group chemistry and camaraderie when selecting participants. I had such an enjoyable time getting to know everyone and learning about their work; I look forward to staying in touch and cheering everyone on! The ranch location is absolutely magical, with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets and plenty of patio space and balconies from which to view them. By the end of the week I felt nourished mentally and physically—the locally sourced food was incredible. If you are considering applying for Turning Points, take the leap!" - Kim Nelson who is nearing completion on her memoir in essays, “Pop Heart” about growing up a mixed-race pop culture nerd in the Midwest. Kim also wrote a beautiful essay (with photos) about her time with us via her Substack.

“Attending Courtney Maum’s Turning Points retreat was one of the greatest gifts I have ever given myself from a personal, social, and professional standpoint. Personally, it offered me rest and nourishment in an absolutely gorgeous location. The food was divine and prepared with love and precision by Daniel and Mel, who taught us about eating locally and sustainably while feeding us in the most incredible way. The lodgings were beautiful and the owner of the ranch, Molly, made sure we had everything we needed. Nothing was overlooked. Socially, Courtney has chosen a group of women who are easy to talk to, interested in meeting others, and invested in the writing of the other women at the workshop. I learned so much from each and every one of them and became part of a writing community that I will cherish for life. Professionally, I came to Turning Points with a vague idea of what I was hoping to write and left with a idea of how to tie my writing to my professional life as a whole in a way that will enhance all of it. My workshop was fun, warm, and wildly valuable. Courtney also structured the workshops in a way that there was something different and new to learn from each one - while tailored to the individual whose writing was being workshopped, it also contained important lessons that were universal to all of us. I am so grateful to have attended this life-changing retreat and recommend it to anyone looking to expand their idea of what is possible for their writing while also enjoying themselves immensely. ” -2025 participant, writer and physician Bridget Godwin wrote further about her Turning Points experience in an essay entitled “The biggest sky I’ve ever seen.” via her newsletter. She’s currently finding the shape for her memoir about professional burnout for physicians and womens’ tendency to need a true sickness to help them reset and reprioritize.

“I had the amazing privilege to attend Turning Points in New Mexico, getting more time with Courtney Maum’s always incisive advice. The retreat felt like a dream—every day surrounded by intense natural beauty, incredible local food, and some of the most intellectually and emotionally challenging conversations I’ve had about literature all year. As with all of the events and workshops I attended this year, the real gift was the new connections: new friends who I can see as part of my creative life for as long as I’m still truckin’.” Writer, artist and Mexico City-based filmmaker Martha Hipley, who had previously worked with Courtney at the San Miguel Writers conference in Mexico.

TESTIMONIALS FROM SELECT 2024 PARTICIPANTS

“Courtney is a genius. She has Xray vision when it comes to book manuscripts and their structure. In each and every workshop, she drilled down deep into the soul of the project, found its vibrating heart, skeleton, and viscera and with scissors, color-coded construction paper and tape, rehabilitated the patient on the operating table – performing triple bypass surgery – and allowing our work to trippingly emerge into the sunlight, trying out new dance steps that were previously unimaginable.” - Professor and author Elizabeth Dillon whose racial history of sugar, Sweetness and Ruin, will be out in 2026. 

“Turning Points has proven invaluable to me as a newcomer to the industry. The workshops were tailored to our projects, but by offering holistic advice, Courtney provided information that could be applied to all of us. I found myself frantically scribbling notes at every workshop and came away with ideas for other projects, as well as confidence and a new energy for my work. Courtney put together an amazing group of attendees and we learned from each other during meals, hikes, cattle roping, or cold plunges. We built friendships and have remained in touch. An added benefit to this retreat was the remarkably supportive staff at the ranch, who prepared incredible meals, took us on guided hikes, and helped with any issues that came up.” - Texas-based writer Dani Macedo who is working on a fantasy novel and building up her literary connections

“Turning Points is a life changing experience. You'll have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Courtney Maum on your book length project, whether a novel, memoir, or essay collection. Unlike traditional workshops where you have an excerpt dissected and critiqued en masse, Courtney approaches your work looking at the big picture. Does your premise work for a book length project? How can you best structure your ideas? How can you sell you book? Most importantly, how can you, the writer, get out of your own damn way? She's honestly a genius at tapping into the pivotal problems of your work. Just as in her book, Before and After the Book Deal, she breaks down the shroud surrounding the literary world in her own off beat, kind, and humorous fashion. This is the workshop you need to reset yourself and reenergize a project that may have grown cold. You also get to meet other amazing writers. I met an anesthesiologist, biologist, academic historian, teacher, former actress, and full-time freelance writer, to name a few, who had projects that ranged from a nascent idea to full scale revisions. Some have published extensively before, some are working on their first byline. I learned so much from every single workshop. I also felt ridiculously pampered by the beautiful ranch setting. You get quiet space and time to write. You get locally sourced, home cooked meals. When you're there, you'll feed off the energy of the other writers and the beauty of New Mexico. If there's one reason not to consider this retreat, it's that you may not want to go home!” - Dr. Melissa Desa, who is working towards completion on her first novel

”Turning Points was my 60th birthday gift to myself. It was nothing short of amazing. Not only for the respectful, unique approach, time and consideration that Courtney Maum gave to my and each writer’s project, but the heart, passion planning and gusto she puts into the entire week. Having this experience under a wide open New Mexico sky with supportive fellow writers and enjoying the most delicious healthy meals prepared by Chef Daniel Garcia and sous-chef Mel was the best gift I could have given myself this year. Or any year. Do yourself a favor! If you’re stuck in a rut, like I was. Or need a nudge to move forward, like I did. Or have stopped believing you’re a writer, like I had. Or need to hear your work workshopped in a community that is loving, wise, skilled, and respectful… this is a place to honor and receive whatever you need to continue. I also made some amazing new friends.” - Staci Greason, writer, actor, performer

“Turning Points subverts the traditional workshop format, allowing space for writers to come to the table of their work with curiosity and openness. In an industry that can often feel isolating and competitive, Courtney has created a space where everyone feels welcomed and encouraged, and where every creative project feels valued and considered. During my week on the ranch, I was surrounded by a group of profoundly kind, intelligent, creative women who, through direct encouragement and dedication to their own work, reminded me that I am capable of everything I set out to do. The friendships I made at Turning Points have sustained me since returning home, and I hold them close as I continue along the path of my creative life. Logistically, the stunning location lends itself to expansive creative thought while meal after delicious meal kept my body nourished, freeing my mind to focus on my writing. Courtney’s warmth and guidance pulled the entire experience together, and her dedication to building a supportive, inclusive community is what makes the whole week truly unforgettable." - Writer and memoirist Elizabeth Austin, who also penned a beautiful essay about her time at Turning Points for her Substack

“Courtney Maum’s Turning Points workshop is the antidote to the tangled, chaotic murky middle of a book project. Fresh air, incredible food, the full attention of a cadre of smart, generous, caring writers, all against the dramatic backdrop of New Mexico’s wide open skies. I have attended many writing getaways, but I’ve never seen a leader as dedicated and generous as the brilliant Courtney Maum, who has X-ray vision when it comes to spotting the problems tripping up a manuscript. I wanted to chain myself to the table leg at the ranch and refuse to leave this gorgeous, supportive, productive place.” - Writer Suzanne LaFetra who will soon be going out on submission with her satirical novel about late-stage capitalism.

TESTIMONIALS FROM SELECT 2023 PARTICIPANTS

“Turning Points breaks the mold of traditional writing retreats with its holistic approach to craft and professionalization. Courtney provided an invaluable perspective on each writer's unique objectives and challenges, helping participants strategize about the next best moves for their creative careers, while workshops and the many opportunities for artistic exchange and recreation on the ranch established a supportive writing community and fostered the lifelong friendships that are so vital to surviving--and thriving--in the book business.”  - International best selling author, M.L. Rio

“Turning Points is the poignant combination of instruction and camaraderie you need to move forward as a writer. Jam-packed with actionable value I applied immediately to my craft upon return, Courtney also created a safe environment to be vulnerable and explore deeply to gently uncover truths as to what's really holding me back from reaching that next level as a writer. I made life-long friends with other attendees who will, no doubt, help me when I get stuck, commiserate with the writing experience, or just send a laugh my way when I need it most. There's magic in getting away with fellow writers and being guided through the journey by Courtney's wisdom and expertise, drawing out and magnifying the resonant moments. I will carry the warm memory of this retreat in my heart with me always. That might sound dramatic or cheesy, but I can scarcely imagine a better value-per-dollar if you're looking for spiritual and emotional—but also technical and practical—growth as a writer. This retreat has it all and is well worth the investment in you. I'm a little jealous of all future attendees and really just wish I could go back again and again.” - Writer and journalist, Bree Cox

“Turning Points is an amazing writing retreat set on a remote ranch in New Mexico. From gourmet meals to cattle roping and desert hikes, the experience was as unforgettable as the landscape. Courtney’s innovative workshop structure focused on strategy and process, creating an inspiring, collaborative atmosphere among a diverse group of women facing different writing challenges.” - Writer and brand strategist, Melinda Howard Belcher

“Turning Points was an extraordinary experience, including five-star food, a stunning ranch, and an exceptional group of smart, supportive, generous writers who became dear friends and trusted writing tribe members by week’s end. Courtney Maum is an exceptional coach, cheerleader, and businesswoman who breathed new life into my work and my writing life.” - Writer and journalist, Amy Lyons

“Offering a way for writers to gather in such a remote place opens so many doors to the self...Being away from (at least to some degree) technology, away from other people, away from "running into town" allows one to be with oneself in a way that we don't often get to experience in these times. That space and time with the self motivated and energized me, all the while being within a small group of others! The breakdown of the day flowed nicely— I loved the workshop setup, letting Courtney and the writer work through things together and being witnessed by the group with the time for feedback at the end. I thought it was genius that members of the group got to lead some workshops. Empowering people by letting them share their expertise.” - Writer, artist, memoirist Erin Harris

“Turning Points provides the solitude, camaraderie, and guidance needed to support and propel any writer, whether they are seasoned authors or have yet to be published. Not only did I receive tailored, gentle, and insightful guidance on my own work in progress, but I learned an immense amount from the other attendees and their projects. I came away with more confidence in my writing and a supportive group of writers that I now call friends.” - Writer Rachel Theler