What is
it about a writing retreat that makes us so productive?
Is it the creative energy in the house?
Knowing other people are writing away (and you should be too)?
Or is it because you left behind ____ (fill in your own blank) and you better make use of the time?
Knowing other people are writing away (and you should be too)?
Or is it because you left behind ____ (fill in your own blank) and you better make use of the time?
So
what is a writing retreat? Basically, you go…away and write.
A retreat can be
an organized event someone else arranges, an off-season rental house with
friends, or an inexpensive hotel room where you hole up and stash energy bars
in your computer case.
A
writing retreat isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. When my friends ask what I did
while I was away for the weekend, I shrug and say, “I wrote.”
They’re
mystified. They can’t fathom why I leave home to do that, when I have an office
and a computer in my own house. Then again they also don’t have any idea that,
when I say, “I wrote,” I mean I wrote eight plus hours a day. I wrote over
12,000 words on a new story. (Of course, they also can’t understand why I’d want to spend eight hours a day
writing.)
But
the point is, I can’t be that focused at home.
Unlike a writing conference, which
can be wonderful in a different way, the point of a writing retreat isn’t
classes or meeting editors and agents. Although, the group I go away with has shared
marketing ideas and…maybe I should back up a bit.
Way back in 2008, a group of women
from the Pacific Northwest finalled in the Golden Heart—and formed a bond based
first on writing and then on friendship. Every year since then, we’re gotten
together over the long Martin Luther King weekend for a writing retreat. While
there’s tons of writing, there’s also laughter and stories, Courtney Milan’s
lessons on branding, Rebecca Clark’s yoga sessions and Rachel Grant’s chocolate
martinis.
I’m halfway through a new story,
with most of the remaining scenes blocked out. I haven’t a clue about the title
or cover. Hmm… wonder what the women are doing this weekend?
Have you ever been on a writing
retreat? What do you think is the best part?
5 comments:
I've participated in a couple writing retreats over the past two years and LOVE them. I try to do one a year now, if I can. It's amazing how getting away for a few days to think about nothing but writing really frees up the creative energy.
It's been a while since I've done a writing retreat, but oh my goodness, I remember them fondly. All that focused time dedicated to writing, with no children banging on your door, or housework calling to you... And the company of other like-minded people. Heaven.
No, I haven't been on a writing retreat, but it sounds like a wonderful thing to do. I'll have to add it to my bucket list. Seriously.
It's been years since I've been on one. Oh, how I loved that last retreat! Got so much done! It was just writing, food, drink and writing. Not necessarily in that order. I highly recommend them.
Clearly all y'all need to put a writing weekend on your calendar!
Hmm... am I hearing the first annual NYUS Writing Weekend?
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