Writer’s Retreat

 A word is more lasting than all

the riches of the world.

from a Connacht Love Song

 Make a Writer’s Retreat a reality. Many authors dream of getting away. Yet the same questions of who, what, when, where and how, that cause writer’s block, sometimes grind those goals to a halt.

Who should I bring?

What should I bring?

When will I find the time?

Where should I go? and

How long should I be gone?

First of all, I am a big fan of the writer’s retreat. Not the kind where someone gives you a writing exercise where you, sit by a stream and describe yourself in water colors or what your name would be if you were one of the stars in the sky, but the kind where you actually plot a new book or polish a first draft.

If you’ve decided you want a working writer’s retreat, lets look at, who, what, when, where, and how for answers.

Who should I bring? This is an important question. If you go on a retreat by yourself are you sure you can stay motivated? Be honest. The only right answer is the one that will help you accomplish your goal. If you can do it alone, start making travel plans.  But if you decide you need others to help you stay focused, ask your critique partners, or other dedicated writers.  You want to succeed and this is the first step.

What should I bring? Write down the goals for the retreat. Are you plotting a new book, polishing a first draft, or adding scenes to a work in progress? Write down your goals. Next add research books and books on craft. All of this goes in my suitcase before the clothes. Actually, in my case, dark chocolate goes in at the same time as the books.

When will I find the time? There really is never a good time for a writer’s retreat. We can always find an excuse to put it off. The best solution is to schedule it in the same way you would a vacation or a trip to visit relatives.

Where should I go? If you say somewhere “warm and sunny”, you’ve missed the point. “Warm and sunny” is code for vacation. Choose a location where you’ll have a place to write. You’ll want to schedule breaks where you can walk and visualize the next scene, so take that into consideration as well.

How long should I be gone? A retreat can be as short as overnight, or as long as a month.

A Writer’s Retreat can push your writing to the next level, where you’ll discover unique plots, multi-layered characters, and new insights into your story.  I highly recommend you give it a chance.

Good luck,

Pam