Dreaming of running away to write a novel, memoir or a few short stories? Me, too, just about every day! I’ve escaped a couple of times and here’s my take on how to plan a great writing retreat:
- Don’t go empty-handed. I used to think that if only I could retreat from all the responsibilities of my ordinary life, literary lightbulbs would pop on all around my head. So, I managed to arrange a semi-retreat where, for one week, I had every morning free to brainstorm. Amid all the pressure I put on myself to create, I wasn’t able to come up with a single bright idea. The next time I retreated, I packed a draft of over one hundred pages. When I didn’t feel especially creative, I edited. Much better.
- Think carefully about how much solitude you want. I once read about an author who set herself up – for an entire month — in a cabin on a small island accessible only by private boat. Perfect, I thought: I could get so much done in a place like that! However, on a recent self-catering retreat in a rambling manor where a half-dozen of us often gathered in the communal kitchen or dining room, I found the minimal socialization a pleasant break. In a lot of ways, it recharged me. Note the adjective “minimal”; I recommend a place where it’s easy to avoid social interaction when you want to. Make sure you have a private room spacious enough to stay in for long periods of writing time – you don’t need cabin fever on your dream retreat.
- Choose a location with few distractions. Most people would consider this a no-brainer. Not me – I’ve often thought it would be great to retreat someplace where, after a longish day of being creative, I could stroll out my door and wander sidewalks lined with inviting cafes, shopping and other diversions. I’m reconsidering this, though, after hearing from my good friend, Wanda, who went to a renowned arts center in a scenic mountain town for a few days of intensive work on her novel. “But it turns out they have yoga, and I hadn’t brought anything to wear so I had to go shopping. And then I ran into old friends and we went for lunch and…” She had a great time, but she didn’t get much work done. There goes my idea for a writing retreat in Manhattan.
- End your retreat with a real treat. I recently spent three weeks in the rambling manor mentioned above. It’s in the south of France, in a town so small there’s not one café. Seriously. I didn’t mind the lack of shops and eateries because, after all, I was there to work. And I was looking forward the carrot at the end of my writing stick— five days in Barcelona, where there’d be plenty to see and do. (And there was.)
- If you discover a great retreat, share it. See that photo up top? One of those buildings in the distance is La Muse Artists and Writers Retreat. I heartily recommend it. But don’t book the Erato – that’s my room, and I’m going back!
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