Writing and Mindfulness: Cultivating a Daily Meditation and a Daily Writing Practice

Imagine five days in the redwood groves of Big Sur where your pen becomes an extension of your meditation practice—where silence feeds language, and language clarifies what silence reveals. Writing and Mindfulness is a rare convergence of contemplative practice and creative craft, designed for writers, seekers, and anyone drawn to the intersection of consciousness and authentic expression.

Led by Zen practitioner and award-winning author Janis Cooke Newman, this five-day workshop at the legendary Esalen Institute weaves daily guided meditation with free-writing sessions, grounded in meaningful craft conversations about storytelling. Newman, who has taught at the San Francisco Zen Center and published two acclaimed novels and a memoir, understands that both meditation and writing demand the same gift: presence. Both reveal what the mind holds. Both clarify consciousness. This workshop teaches you to harness that shared ground.

Whether you're a seasoned writer seeking to deepen your practice, a meditator curious about expressing inner experience on the page, or simply someone hungry to cultivate presence and authentic voice, you'll leave with a sustainable toolkit—and a community to sustain it.

What to Expect

Each morning begins with guided meditation designed to cultivate the openness, emotional clarity, and sensory awareness that meaningful writing requires. Afternoons and evenings feature timed writing prompts that bypass the critical mind and unlock authentic expression. Daily craft discussions ground both practices in storytelling technique.

Throughout the week, you'll share work in a supportive, non-judgmental environment—no performance, no critique, only witnessing. The workshop concludes with concrete practices for sustaining both meditation and writing at home. All participants receive one month of access to Creative Caffeine Daily, an online writing community, extending the momentum beyond Big Sur.

Venue & Logistics

Held at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—a transformative retreat center perched on the dramatic California coast—this five-day residential workshop runs Monday, December 14–18, 2026. Comfortable clothing for meditation and writing sessions is recommended; bring a journal or notebook. Esalen accommodates various accessibility needs; contact the venue directly for specific requests.