The Creative Connection Retreat is our annual 3-day long event for Black women writers, independent authors, and creative entrepreneurs who want to build a recognizable brand, sell out your books, and boss up your entire business.

Writers and Creatives will leave the event with a stronger and more focused brand, enhanced writing, and creative skills.

See you in 2024!

hosted by miniskirt myrt

hosted by miniskirt myrt

workshop hosts

workshop hosts

  • Desiree Tallely

    VP, LEGAL AT REVOLT & TV MEDIA

  • Adrienne Davis

    FINANCIAL PLANNER

  • Kailani Raye

    LIFE + BUSINESS COACH

  • Dominique Webb

    FOUNDER, CULT CREATIVE AGENCY

  • Naz

    CONTENT STRATEGIST

  • Donye Taylor

    DIRECTOR, FOHR

  • Christine Pride

    WRITER, EDITOR, PUBLISHER

  • Monique Mensah

    SELF-PUBLISHING COACH

special guests

  • Tia Williams

    AUTHOR

    Tia Williams had a fifteen-year career as a beauty editor for magazines including Elle, Glamour, and Essence. In 2004, she pioneered the beauty blog industry with Shake Your Beauty. She wrote the bestselling novel, The Accidental Diva, and penned two YA novels: It Chicks, and Sixteen Candles. Her award-winning novel, The Perfect Find, will be adapted into a Netflix film starring Gabrielle Union. 

    Tia’s most recent novel, Seven Days in June, was a Hello Sunshine book club pick and a New York Times bestseller. She lives with her daughter and husband in Brooklyn.

  • Shavone.

    MUSICIAN & FORD MODEL , FOUNDER, FUTURE OF CREATIVES GROUP, GLOBAL HEAD OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMUNICATIONS, TIKTOK, AUTHOR OF BLACK INTERNET EFFECT

    SHAVONE. is a multi-hyphenate creative and force in music, fashion and tech. She’s internationally known across industries as a renaissance woman who continues to disrupt the norm as a classically-trained musician,FORD model and change-maker in tech, named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Marketing & Advertising list.

    SHAVONE. is dedicated to disruptive thinking, supporting women in creative fields and amplifying the stories of underrepresented voices. Whether it’s SHAVONE.’s influence in fashion or her pursuit to break the mold as a millennial who’s trailblazing a new path for future generations of women in tech and entertainment, SHAVONE. is disrupting industries as a champion of creativity and inclusion.

    Her influence and impact in fashion, tech and music have been profiled in outlets like Billboard, Coveteur, DAZED, Complex UK, Hypebeast, PAPER, ELLE, and EBONY, noting her history-making moves as the first African-American woman and trailblazer to create roles held at both Twitter and Instagram. As a tastemaker and founder of her own creative collectives Future Of Creaties and Magic In Her Melanin, SHAVONE. has collaborated with top brands across industries, ranging from Nike to Google, Spotify, Dapper Dan, Twitter and Instagram. SHAVONE. also currently heads up Diversity & Inclusion communications for TikTok out of Los Angeles. And this year she will be a newly published author with the upcoming release of her new book BLACK INTERNET EFFECT set to be published this year by Penguin Random House.

  • Britt McCombs

    CREATIVE EXECUTIVE, AUDIBLE STUDIOS

    Britt McCombs is a Los Angeles born, Newark, NJ-based Producer, Editor and Writer. She graduated from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University and received her Master of Arts in Filmmaking-Screen Documentary from Goldsmiths College - University of London.

    Currently, she manages Development and Production for Audible’s music and storytelling franchise, Words + Music. Her credits include Original’s from Tom Morello, Common, LeBron James’ SpringHill Company, Chuck D, Rufus Wainwright, Yo-Yo Ma and Brandy, with projects from yasiin bey, Mariah Carey, Issa Rae’s Raedio and many more to come.

    In addition to her work at Audible, Britt founded Newark.FM - a digital radio station based in Downtown Newark, NJ. The station featured an Urban Alternative music format mixed with live talk shows and pre-recorded podcast by and about people in minority communities. She operated Newark.FM for four years up until the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Cree Myles

    BOOK INFLUENCER + EDITOR

    Cree Myles is a book influencer, inaugural editor, and curator of the Penguin Random House initiative All Ways Black. She has collaborated with Center for Fiction, Belletrist, Out of Print, and Booksparks. She has also been in conversation with many amazing authors but doesn’t like to name-drop. Ta-Nehisi Coates was one of them. She mostly hangs out on Instagram @creemyles or @allwaysblack.

  • Jasmine Lawrence

    FOUNDER, EDEN BODYWORKS

    Jasmine is the Founder of EDEN BodyWorks. Devastated by the harsh chemical products, 11-year-old Jasmine sought to develop affordable products that were all natural and really worked.

    After more than 15 years in business, her products are now available at retailers nationwide including Target, CVS, Walmart, HEB, and Sally Beauty just to name a few. Jasmine Lawrence is also a Product Manager at X, the moonshot factory. She has held a number of positions creating consumer focused products for companies like Facebook, Softbank Robotics America, and Microsoft. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and her Masters in Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington.

  • Shira Lazara

    FOUNDER + CEO OF EMMY NOMINATED BRAND, WHAT’S TRENDING

    Shira Lazar is a Web3 advocate, collector, and advises as well as consults with companies in the space relating to cryptocurrency, NFTs and the metaverse.

    As a broadcaster, Shira uses her platforms to create content and education around Web3, bridging the gap between the industry, creators and consumers. She is a founding member of the popular BFF project focused on bringing more education and access to womxn in Web3. You can listen to her weekly podcast Inside Web3 which also airs on radio stations across the US. She is also committed to bringing wellness to Web3 with her company Peace Inside Live.

the schedule.

the schedule.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

  • Check-in + welcome breakfast.

  • Beauty Suite + Headshots

  • BY DESIREE TALLEY

    Writing and publishing offer many tangibles and rewards for authors and creatives willing to chase their dreams, but without proper planning and engaging the right individuals, it can do more harm than good. With creative pursuits and intellectual property, don’t forget to protect your ASS•ets! Your writing career and published works can’t afford you to skip out on the legal knowledge offered in this workshop. In this workshop, attendees will learn which legal matters are critical to authors and creative entrepreneurs like copyright, partnerships, contracts, trademark, IP, and more. If you love it, then secure it!

  • BY ADRIENNE DAVIS

    During Money Management for Creative Entrepreneurs, I will give you the exact tools you need to take control of your finances. No more stressing about your budget because you haven't been properly taught how to manage your money… ESPECIALLY as a business owner. No more guessing which tax deductions are best for solopreneurs. In this economy, it’s essential to invest in yourself, your business, and your finances. This session will teach you how to confidently manage your money as a creative.

  • BY KAILANI RAYE

    Learn the ins and outs of going from just Instagram friends to creating a client/provider relationship. We will discuss how to create the proper workflows and systems so that you can transition from DM questions and hearts, to fully booked out calendars and invoices paid in full!

BE ABOUT YO BIZNESS

Day one offers workshops and resources to teach valuable business basics. Authorpreneurs and creatives will explore methods for scaling up and developing a solid, successful business. How often to file taxes and when you should apply for trademarks and copyrights are just some of the important questions addressed, along with discussions on proper business etiquette and finance. Next, indulge in our beauty bar to prep and build confidence before you level up your brand with our on-site headshots, taken by Aspen Cierra Photography. It’s all about the foundation, and we will help you build yours!

Attire: Photoshoot Fresh aka Business Casual

  • BY DOMINIQUE WEBB

    Branding is so much deeper than a logo, it's an experience. In this workshop, I will be teaching you the basics on how to build your brand authentically and organically so that it stands out even in a saturated market. We will be going over the key components that you need to understand in order to build your brand: your customers, brand culture, brand voice, brand messaging, positioning, and value. From this workshop, you will walk away feeling confident and clarity around your brand.

  • Lunch and learn with MYBFF’s Founding Member, SHIRA LAZAR

    A leading female voice in the Web3 space, Shira Lazar shares her journey from What’s Trending in web2 to bringing wellness and women empowerment to Web3 and answering questions on finding your voice and brand building in this new frontier.

    Lunch provided by Coleys Jamaican Restaurant

  • BY NAZSARE ENGLISH

    Creating content should be fun, not complicated. Your audience is waiting for your next scroll-stopping visual! I'll be simplifying how to show up for your audience and create content that converts!

  • BY DONYE TAYLOR

    Look, it’s hard to build a profitable personal brand, but what's better than getting PAID for being yourself? With the right beliefs, knowledge, and tools, you can tap in. The power of leading with your authentic self and securing the bag is real! During the Monetize Your Authentic Brand session, you will learn the methods I've used to grow an engaged social community and secure 5-figure brand deals for doing what I love. If you have ever struggled with how to get people to care about what you're selling, how to build meaningful connections with your audience, or how to pitch brands to pay you as an influencer, then this workshop will change everything for you! I'll help you understand the essential keys of how to create, grow, and monetize your authentic brand.

  • This isn’t your regular ladies’ night! We’re staying in to indulge in good food, drinks, and a movie. We’ll cap off our night with a cozy fireside chat with NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author of Seven Days in June, The Perfect Find, and The Accidental Diva, Tia Williams. The fireside chat will be moderated by Jasmine Lawrence, Founder of EDEN BodyWorks.

    Food by Wings + Waffles and Drinks by Selva Rey Rum

FLOW WHERE YOU GROW

Release your inhibitions and dig into the creative side of your business! Our second day of workshops delivers quality training on branding, marketing, content creation, and developing influencer partnerships. Attend the lunch and learn session to learn how to create and market an NFT in Web 3.0. Leave day two with abundant knowledge on how to advance yourself as an author and a creative.

Attire: Fashionable/Casual (day) + Cute Pajamas (night)

  • Start your morning right with Morning Mindset with Tai. Then, warm up your body with a workout session with Kesha.

    Breakfast provided by The Beignet Box

  • BY BRITT MCCOMBS, AUDIBLE

    As technology changes, so does the way readers access their favorite authors and books. Every day, millions of listeners engage with stories through audio and are entertained by a unique method of storytelling. That’s why Black Girls Who Write is working with Audible to help inspire Black creators to develop their next project with listeners in mind, taking their original stories from readers' hands straight to their ears.

    The Art of Storytelling: Creating an Audio Experience to Amplify Black Stories teaches participants what content makes for compelling audio storytelling. Armed with the tools, methods, and resources to navigate the audio space, authors will leave with the knowledge to create an Audible experience that ropes listeners in from the very first word to the last.

  • Lunch provided by Pink & Boujiee Tacos

  • BY CHRISTINE PRIDE

    This workshop provides an insider's behind the scenes perspective on the big-five publishing houses, how they work, and what agents and editors are looking for. It will help participants understand the business of publishing and how to put their best foot forward in terms of their craft and presenting their work to publishing professionals. Knowledge is power-- and this workshop will arm folks with an intimate understanding of the industry and will serve as an opportunity to get advice straight from a 20-year industry veteran.

  • BY MONIQUE MENSAH

    A workshop that details my proven 4-part formula for building a profitable author brand, self-publishing a high-quality book, and getting consistent book sales, so you can position yourself to be a full-time authorpreneur.

  • We know that Black women are ROYALTY, and our finale party is another opportunity to showcase that. Get dressed in your finest shade of purple to end the weekend with our catered dinner celebrating Black women and Black excellence. Crown on and head high; meet us there!

    And yes, wearing purple is required.

    Hosted by Cree Myles of All Ways Black, Penguin Random House, and keynote speech by SHAVONE., Musician & Ford Model, Founder, Future Of Creatives Group, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion Communications, TikTok, and Author of Black Internet Effect.

    Catering by Pepper + Mint Catering

    Cocktail Hour by Ten to One

HONE YOUR SKILLS

Bring wellness to the forefront on day three. We know your talent and work ethic will only take you so far if your mind and heart aren’t in the right place. So, we’re highlighting the importance of mental health for Black women by starting the day with a mindfulness activity. Afterward, bring your latest WIP or ideas notebook to our writing session and connect to other writers in the room. The day ends with two workshops dishing the details on traditional and self-publishing.

Attire: We are providing fitness wear for the day + purple for the 50 Shades of Purple Dinner

2023 partners

MAJOR PARTNERS

CREATIVE CONNECTION PARTNERS

SWAG BAG & EVENT PARTNERS

faq’s

  • The retreat workshops and events will occur on Friday, October 14 - Sunday, October 16.

  • We suggest that you travel on Thursday, October 13th to Los Angeles and fly out Monday, October 17th.

  • No, flights and accommodation are not included in your ticket. We have partnered with E Central Hotel as our host hotel which is central to both venues.

  • We will require a negative PCR covid test 24-72 hours prior to check-in or proof of vaccination on October 14, 2022.

    We may have onsite covid testing. TBD

    Can I get a refund if I don’t agree with the protocols? No, tickets are nonrefundable but are transferrable.

  • Yes, food is included on all retreat days except for Friday night. Friday is a free night to venture Los Angeles.

    For virtual guests, dinner MAY be provided for VIP Virtual Guests on Saturday night.

  • You can fly into LAX or Burbank Airport. Those are the best options.

  • You can Uber/Lyft, Rent a Car, or use the FlyAway Bus to Union station and Uber to your hotel.

  • No. Tickets are final sale and non-refundable but transferrable. Guests must find someone to replace them. Tickets will ONLY be refundable if Black Girls Who Write cancels the event or if the event is postponed due to an act of God/Covid-19.

  • Yes, you will have access to the replays after the retreat weekend is over.

  • 80 In-person tickets

    50 VIP Virtual tickets

    GA Virtual Tickets are open.

    Virtual VIP tickets include a VIP swag box. Virtual GA tickets will only receive a swag box if they are apart of the of first 100 guests to purchase a ticket.

  • Friday | Business attire for the morning for your headshots.

    Saturday | Dress down during the day and sleepover attire at night, so you know that means pajamas!

    Sunday | Fitness for yoga in the morning and you have an opportunity to change. Dress to impress for dinner in the evening. The 50 Shades of Purple Dinner requires all guests to wear purple.

  • Yes, please make sure you list any dietary restrictions or allergies when filling out your registration form.

  • Yes, we have payment plan options available for in-person tickets only. You must purchase the payment plan option here.

  • Yes! Here are some of the best sites to use when looking for your flight:

    THE FLIGHT DEAL

    AIR FARE WATCH DOG

    TRAVEL PIRATES

    SECRET FLYING

    GOOGLE FLIGHTS

    MOMONDO

    SKY SCANNER

    HOPPER PRICELINE

    SKIPLAGGED

    AIRFORDABLE

  • No, you can stay at another hotel or airbnb. We just suggest that you stay in the downtown LA or Koreatown area because of traffic.

  • Rates exclusive of applicable local occupancy tax of 15.70%.  No automatic or mandatory charges are tips, gratuities, or services charges for employees, unless otherwise expressly stated. Rates are non-commissionable.

    CONCESSIONS

    • Hotel will provide the following concessions if at least 80% of the Minimum Guest Room Revenue is received. 

    • Complimentary Wi-Fi

    • Daily $20 Destination Fee Waived

    • Group Rate Available 3 days pre/post event

    CHECK-IN I CHECK-OUT

    Guest accommodations will be available at 3:00 pm on arrival day and reserved until 12:00 noon on departure day. Any attendee wishing special consideration for late checkout should inquire at the front desk on the day of departure.

    SMOKE FREE POLICY

    Hotel is a smoke free hotel.  To protect the smoke free environment, Hotel will post a $250 cleaning fee to the account of any guests who smoke in their guest room. To ensure the cooperation and comfort of Customer’s attendees, Customer agrees to advise its attendees of the smoke free policy in writing. 

    PARKING

    We are pleased to offer Valet-parking for $24 plus tax daily with in & out privileges.

  • No, tickets will not be sold at the door in Los Angeles. All tickets must be purchased in advanced for the in person event. Virtual tickets may be purchased all the way up until the week of the event.

  • Black Girls Who Write encourages persons with disabilities to participate in all programs and activities. Please contact us no later than September 15th, 2022 to request ASL interpreter services or other accommodations for special needs.

  • Please send us an email and we will get back to you if you are a good fit.

  • Yes, the schedule times will be announced at least a month in advance.

get involved.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VENDOR, SPONSOR, OR PARTNER?

For questions, specific inquiries, or vendor opportunities, please send us an email.