This is a lovely space tucked away in South Austin. We held a day long staff retreat for 17 people, with a potluck lunch. The grounds and buildings are well taken care of, and there were plenty of tables and chairs to accommodate our activities. The space is comfortable and casual. Bonus is there is a stovetop(no oven or toaster oven though) coffee makers, microwave and sink inside. Bethany was so welcoming and helpful. Highly recommend for teams looking to get out of the office for a day to brainstorm and plan. We didn't use the cabins on site, but they are available for overnight stays and seem just as cozy as the main house. read more

This venue was fantastic for our weekend retreat needs. The Buddha Hall was plenty of space for our group. Nice and open with plenty of room for us to move around. The owners were very communicative, and easy to reach when we had questions. We'd use this space again! read more

I am really disappointed as I have contacted them thru email, and phone, left voicemail messages - but never heard back. Maybe I mentioned that we are a prayer group and non profit org? Maybe not, but I can't think of any reason why they don't call back at all. read more

The Writing Barn is a beautiful place to take a class, host a party, plan a retreat, or take a family vacation. Deer are nearly always frolicking in the woods, there's a fire pit for smore's and everyone has their own space to think/play/work. The cabin rooms are a delight - each room is well-appointed with its own bathroom and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. You can even have the kitchen stocked ahead of time. You can't go wrong with this gem in South Austin. read more

Hello Bethany, I wanted to share with you and Sunny how much my daughter Arielle and I appreciated attending the writing day away. This was our first visit and it was absolutely a wonderful and encouraging experience. Arielle is a designer and felt much more centered working on her proposal which is due today at 11:00 AM! Yeah! I had an opportunity to write some much-needed narrative for my cookbook proposal and to work on some research for a magazine article I will be doing in July. I wanted you to know that the facilities were awesome and we really enjoyed the collaboration with the other writers at lunch. I know Arielle plans to return for the Words and Wine on April 26th and I will be returning for the June, Writing Day Away. Thank you so much for providing this much-needed resource! I hope to meet you personally next time. Peace & blessings! Sheri Raleigh-Yearby read more

Austin has its own "Walden Pond," and it lies quietly in a woods in south Austin. The Writing Barn literally changed my life during and after a retreat I took last summer at a Writer's Reboot weekend (it stimulated a daily writing practice that I continue even today). Claire and Bethany led an entire weekend of unplugged creative writing sessions, helpful learning presentations, off-site create-a-thons, and a small community of like-minded writers who shared coffee and pizza and then separate alone time where someone like me could search for a long-lost voice. The environment and camaraderie there was perfect. Standing in the August heat of a wooded compound in the middle of Austin, who knew you could have an epiphany and reboot the muse? Thank you, Writing Barn staff and the owner--and the land. The Writing Barn waits for any person who writes now or wishes they could get started writing. It waits for you in a thicket of mesquites, oaks, and cedar trees along with a host of cicadas. I did not get paid to write this. They deserve every word. read more

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We just had our baby shower at the writing barn and it was amazing. Loved the place and setup. Almost all our guests complimented us on our choice of location. We did a Harry Potter theme event and it went so well with the place. This place is nestled in between woods with deers running around and worked so well for our party. Bethany was very accommodating and super friendly. I can't imagine doing this any other way. read more

The Writing Barn's Lotus Room was the perfect spot for our board retreat this past weekend. The property is so peaceful, and the Lotus Room had all the equipment we needed to have an effective and productive meeting. We relaxed on the wrap-around porch and watched deer browsing in the live oaks on breaks from our strategic planning sessions. An ideal place to get away from the usual routine, but still in town and close to everything. Truly the best of both worlds! read more

Great place for writers to emerge from their caves and meet other like-minded folk. I love the Write-Away days -- goal setting, quiet work, chatting over brown-bag lunch, more quiet work, then review of progress against goals. Find a spot, create, watch the deer. read more

I took a memoir writing class in fall 2019 and was really disappointed by the quality of the class. The class was advertised as a beginner/intermediate course but was not a welcoming or friendly environment to beginners at all. The class always started late, took way too long of breaks, and was filled with unrelated time-fillers and fluff. I dropped out of the class early and asked for a refund because the course was very expensive. The staff wrote me back that they'd get back to me later with their decision, but never did, which I found very unprofessional. I would definitely recommend avoiding this place. read more

I recently had my wedding at the Writing Barn and it could not have been more perfect! We rented the space for the weekend and Bethany and Vivek were so wonderfully accommodating and laid back, which I truly appreciated. Bethany communicated with me for months prior to the wedding, addressing all my questions and needs and both she and Vivek made sure the property was in tip top shape for the wedding weekend. It was the ideal space for an intimate, backyard-style wedding and all of our guests were in awe of how magically beautiful it was! The hanging outdoor lights everywhere are especially stunning and working in education and literacy myself, the space held extra meaning with all the books, lovely writer's touches, and autographed 'party porch.' The Writing Barn is truly a little slice of heaven tucked away in south Austin-my husband and I can't wait to return for our one year anniversary! read more

We had a Vision Day meeting for our team at The Writing Barn and it was the perfect setting. The building itself looks great on the inside and out, but the surrounding land adds an amazing atmosphere to the whole experience. You're in the middle of a neighborhood but you feel secluded like you're out in the country. Our whole team was impressed with The Writing Barn and we'd definitely book another meeting there in the future. read more

The Writing Barn is a wonderful venue for events, weddings, workshops, retreats, etc. I recently attended a writing event there, and as soon as I turned onto the property, I was greeted by a deer family including a beautiful spotted fawn. The property is well maintained and the owners have put such thoughtful detail into the decorations and amenities. They will do everything they can to make you feel right at home. My stay there was productive, peaceful, and full of creative energy. I look forward to visiting The Writing Barn again in the very near future! read more

Why didn't I know about the Writing Barn sooner? I have lived in Austin for 10 years, and in the past year I have attended two Write-Away Days and one free Words and Wine Wednesday event. I have already enrolled in another class for this spring. The Writing Barn is a delightful space for writing and revising, but its real value is building a community of writers in Austin. Owner Bethany's genuine interest in the success of the writing community (whether commercial or personal) is the real treasure here. I encourage you to get on the mailing list and don't be afraid to sign up for any of the events that catch your eye. You'll always meet neat people and learn something new. read more

This is a brilliant concept and beautiful place. I attended a week-end of write-away days, met sweet and dedicated writers, focused, and made significant progress that had I been isolated on my own would have come much more slowly and, most significantly, much less happily. I toured the accommodation facilities, as well, and they are clean, comfortable, private, and inviting. Recommended for sure! read more

I've taken a class here and have attended a write-away day. The class got me started on a writing project that is changing my life. The write-away day was a wonderful alternative to spending the day writing at home or at a coffee shop. For me, there is nothing as motivating as the company of other hard-at-work writers in a serene, distraction-free setting. read more

I attended a one-off writing session at TheWriting Barn last night and had a wonderful time. Even though I wasn't as experienced a writer as the other attendees, I felt very welcome and comfortable, and the author, Rene Steinke, did a great job of facilitating challenging and engaging writing exercises. The 'barn' itself is a charming space for writers and a variety of events. Hopefully I'll be back! read more