Las Vegas Writers' Retreat for Misfits. Hosted by Polly Superstar

A Weekend of Writing, Soaking (and Soaking and Writing)

Date: Saturday, August 23 & Sunday, August 24, 9 am to 7 pm both days. Cost: Sliding scale $275–$375 (Payment plans and scholarships available if you need them)

Find out more about the community and register at www.withmermaids.com

💦 The Offering

Two full days of writing and soaking. Of letting go, remembering, and imagining.

We’ll gather in a lush private home in Las Vegas with a deep hot tub, a vast pool, shady gardens, and quiet corners to write and dream. Inside, you’ll find AC (because the desert is hot), soft nooks to curl into, and a small yoga space for stretching body and mind.

Meals are simple, nourishing, and vegetarian—designed to support the creative flow, not distract from it. Snacks and drinks provided throughout the day. Travel and overnight accommodations are not included, although I’m happy to recommend nearby hotels and connect you with local community members who may have space available for guests.

💦 Who This Is For

This retreat is for writers of all kinds who want to work outside of the bounds of conventional writing spaces.

It’s especially crafted for those who have been marginalized in other creative rooms: Queers. Kinky folk. Neurodivergents. Sex workers. Gender outlaws. Love anarchists. People grieving, people healing, people finding their way home.

Whether you’re writing fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, erotica, ritual, song lyrics, or something in between, there is space here for your voice.

💦 What We'll Do

This is not a traditional writing workshop. There are no critiques, no assigned topics, no formal instruction. Instead, you’ll be guided into your own creative waters through:

1. Gentle breathwork and meditation to quiet the noise
2. Guided visualizations that loosen memory and awaken imagination
3. A soaking process to unlock the body’s wisdom
4. Slow movement and intuitive yoga (no experience needed)
5. Plenty of unstructured writing time
6. Invitations to share, without pressure or expectation
7. Daily rituals to root your writing in meaning and embodiment

You’ll write in the shade, in the tub, by candlelight, in silence, and maybe even in tears. You’ll write the things you didn’t know were inside you.

💦 What Not to Expect

This is not an academic writing class. There is no grammar lesson, no red pen, no classroom. There are no group critiques, no pressure to share, no expectation to perform.

There is no party. This is not a “scene.” This is a creative pause.

You do not need to prepare anything. You do not need to be “good” at writing. You do not need to explain who you are or why you’re here.

💦 Why It Matters

Your voice matters. Your story matters. And the act of writing—truthfully, gently, bravely—can be a form of liberation.

In this retreat, you will be held in a community that gets you.

💦 Why It’s So Affordable

The ticket price doesn’t include accommodations or extras. The food is simple, the vibe is calm, and the cost reflects my intention to keep this retreat grounded and within reach.

If cost is a barrier, talk to me. Payment plans and scholarships are available.

💦 Is This Retreat for You?

1. Have you struggled to find a writing space where you feel fully seen?
2. Have you been dismissed or “othered” for your truth?
3. Are you tired of workshops that feel like performance?
4. Do you want a creative space that’s embodied, sensual, inclusive, and real?

Then yes, this is for you.

Whether you’re writing your first paragraph or your fifth novel… Whether your pages are filled with sex, sorrow, spirituality, or satire… Whether you’ve published books or never spoken your work out loud…

💦 Guarantee

If you arrive with an open heart and leave feeling stuck, unheard, or unseen, I will gladly refund you. Your satisfaction matters deeply to me.

💦 Location

Private home in Las Vegas, NV Exact address shared after registration Hot tub, pool, gardens, and AC-equipped indoor space

Accommodation not included. Some local community members may offer a guest room, and I can recommend affordable options nearby.

💦 Still Have Questions?

Let’s talk. Reach out, and I’ll answer with transparency and care.

This retreat is an invitation to step into a slower rhythm, write from a deeper place, and reconnect with your own wild voice.

The mermaids are waiting. Come write with us.

I’m Polly Superstar, your host here at Writing With Mermaids.

I’m the author of Polly: Sex Culture Revolutionary and the founder of two influential underground sex culture institutions: Mission Control and Kinky Salon. As an artist, poet, performer, provocateur, and lifelong advocate for gender and sexual diversity, my work celebrates the richness of human sexuality.

Through writing, poetry, sculpture, painting, mixed media, immersive installations, performance art, and ritual, I delve deep into the complexities of sexuality, gender, pleasure, empowerment, and social justice.

While I’m often recognized for my flamboyant stage presence, costumes, and larger-than-life persona as a party host and performer, behind the scenes I’m a sensitive introvert. I’ve navigated personal challenges including ADHD, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and profound grief—experiences that deeply inform both my art and my advocacy.

To stay grounded, I practice yoga and meditation daily. I hold a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Yoga Alliance and teach private classes from my home in Las Vegas.

I am an avid lover of nature, finding solace in the quiet contemplation that can only be experienced at a hot spring, unplugged from the world.