How to Plan a Successful DIY Writing Retreat
Photo by Cara Fuller on Unsplash
It’s not too late for a summer writing retreat! I love writing retreats because they allow you time to really delve into a project. Too often in our daily lives, we have to squeeze writing in between all the other “life stuff.” A retreat, no matter how short, gives us the time and mental space for a deeper dive.
You might envision a retreat as a week-or-month-long luxurious space of no distractions whatsoever, in an idyllic locale, preferably with all meals delivered to your door, and daily cleaning service. Which is fine if you can score a spot at a big-name residency like Yaddo or MacDowell. Or if you can spring for a stay at a posh hotel. If those are options for you, go for it!
However, that is only one type of retreat. And for many people, it’s not realistic. Other types of retreats are available, or create-able with a little imagination.
Here are some considerations if you want to plan your own retreat on a limited budget of time and/or money:
How long have you got?
How long can you get away? And by “away” I do mean away. I’ve tried to do at-home retreats and it’s all too easy to let the usual chores and distractions lead you from your resolve to write. It’s possible, but not ideal. But where you go depends on time: Do you have an afternoon? A day? A few days? A week? Longer?
Where will you write?
If home is not an option, where to go? If you only have an afternoon, then a café, library, or a park, or the beach might be an option. It depends on whether need a computer, or if you can write with a notebook and pen, or if a well-charged pad will suffice. It also depends on whether you want a quiet place, or a place with some activity and background noise, which many people find to be more conducive to concentration.
If you have a day or a few days, maybe spring for that hotel/inn/B&B. Or think about a personal retreat at a center like Omega, Kripalu, Esalen, or a monastery or Buddhist community center near you (if they offer stays).
If you have a week or longer, do you want to rent a cottage? Air B&B? Does a friend have a place you can stay? I recently did a retreat at a friend’s house where I was the house and cat-sitter while she and her husband were on vacation. While there, I finished the latest draft of my novel.
Solo or with others?
You might envision a retreat as a solo endeavor, but adding a person or two or three can be a great idea. It helps with accountability, for one thing; if you’re checking in every evening, it’s harder to spend the day web surfing or lost in other distractions. It can really ramp up productivity to be part of that group energy. You can also split expenses for accommodation and food. If someone is hosting at their home, try to make it as retreat-like as possible for everyone. Pitch in to help with any meal prep, and make sure there is scheduled time for everyone to do the work you’ve gathered to do.
A client recently had me as a “guest speaker” at her writing group’s retreat. If you don’t want to hire a guest speaker on a topic, maybe each person can present on a topic of interest to the group. Learning can be part of a solo retreat too. Maybe you take a craft book with you, or sign up for a webinar or lesson online.
What will you write?
This depends on your goal for the retreat. Are you looking to come up with ideas for new work? Hoping to break through a difficult chapter? Hoping to finish a draft? If you’re with another person or a group, are you critiquing or discussing each other’s work? Having a plan and a goal in place is a good idea. It may help to have a daily schedule (if your retreat is at least one day): walking and/or yoga or some other movement, time to write, time to daydream, time to read...
If you only have an afternoon (or a morning), then obviously your goal must be laser-focused. Pick one thing to focus on. Don’t try to cram too much in, or you’ll feel overwhelmed. But do have a goal in mind: if you just show up and say “I’ll just figure it out when I get there” then you will likely waste your time – unless your goal is freewriting ideas for a new story.
Be flexible though! A retreat doesn’t always go exactly as planned. Be present for what is actually happening, even if it doesn’t look like what you envisioned. Be aware of your energy. If you’re drawn in a different direction, why is that? Are you avoiding the work you came to do? Or do you really need to explore something new?
This week I’m off to a writing retreat with a friend at her home in Maine. We’ve exchanged novels-in-progress and will be discussing them, and doing some writing, and talking about writing, and maybe doing some goal-setting...
A writing retreat can be whatever you make it. Periodically setting aside some time to focus more deeply on your creative work keeps you engaged, motivated, and productive. Above all, it tells your conscious and unconscious mind – as well as those around you – that you take this writing thing seriously.
So set aside a few minutes today, and plan your next writing retreat.
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