Have you ever considered putting together a DIY writing retreat? It’s not as difficult as it may first sound!
Raise your hand if you’d love some uninterrupted writing time—a chance to focus fully on your work without the demands of everyday life. You’re not alone.
Maybe you’ve thought about applying to a writing residency or dreamed about one of the many writing retreats offered each year.
Unfortunately, for many, these opportunities are nothing but daydreams. The cost of travel is prohibitive for many writers, and taking two or three weeks (or more) off from work can be nearly impossible, especially if you’re writing on the side of a full-time job.
But no matter whether you’re a full-time, part-time or any-moment-of-spare-time writer, you can take time away to write, right now.
How? Create a do-it-yourself writing retreat.
Why you should take a DIY writing retreat
Making your own time and space to write is a shortcut to many of the benefits of attending a writing residency or retreat. Although a DIY writing retreat doesn’t have the prestige factor of places like Jentel and Hedgebrook, you’ll still find immense value in setting aside a few whole days to write.
Here are five reasons you should take yourself on a writing retreat:
1. You want time to write
Maybe the day-to-day hustle is getting in the way: you just can’t drop everything and write.
It’s hard to separate out time for your writing! A writing retreat gives you at least a few hours of quiet, peaceful writing time. It can help you build your writing stamina and even jump-start a daily writing plan, which you can take back to your regular life.
2. You need structure
If you schedule your writing retreat ahead of time, down to the hour, you won’t have time to think about what you “should” be doing. You’ll be doing it.
3. You don’t know what to write
Just finished a project and not sure what to try next? A writing retreat will force you to pick a direction — any direction — and just write.
Try using prompts or test out a totally new genre or style. If you’ve just finished the first draft of a mystery novel, try writing a children’s picture book. Focused on blogging? Write the first few chapters of that memoir you’ve been thinking about.
4. You’ve had a project sitting on the back burner for far too long
Going on a writing retreat will force you to set goals and work towards them. It gives you the headspace to take a good hard look at your project and finally get down to brass tacks. You have to make progress, because that project is all you’re going to focus on for the length of your retreat.
5. You’ve always wanted to feel like a real writer
Want to know who goes on writing retreats? Writers!
How to create a DIY writing retreat
Taking yourself on a writing retreat doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as kicking your family out of the house for an afternoon and writing at the kitchen table. But to truly get into the retreat mindset, you’re going to need a few things:
- A change of scenery: Try to go somewhere new, even if it’s just your garage. Giving yourself a break from your usual routine will put you in the right frame of mind to explore
- A goal: Don’t just say “I’m going to write.” You need a specific, measurable goal. Do you want to just get words on the page? Give yourself a page or word count to hit. Do you want to finish a project? Break it down and aim to finish next step—a chapter, scene or article
- A plan: Don’t pretend you will write for four hours straight, everyone needs a snack! Write out a schedule for yourself, including coffee breaks and time to relax
Plan ahead to avoid distractions
The hardest thing for many people is disconnecting. If you know you’ll be distracted by email, leave your phone in the car and turn off your computer’s Wi-Fi.
If you’re worried you’ll want to run errands, head to a new town. Don’t go somewhere where you’ll run into neighbors; instead of the local coffee shop, try a coffee shop in a different neighborhood or the library at your local community college.
Once you’ve found a writing hideout, write your goal on a piece of paper and tape it above your writing space or in your notebook. If you’re in a coffee shop or another noisy place, put on headphones or retreat to a quieter corner.
Remember to take breaks
After you’ve spent about an hour writing, give yourself a short break outside your writing space. Don’t think about how much you’ve done or how far you are toward your goal. Instead, enjoy the chance to dedicate time to writing. After your break, head back to your writing space for another hour or so. If you’re feeling good, feel free to write more! If not, try freewriting for a few minutes to loosen up.
If you have more time—a whole day or weekend—take time off in the afternoon to go on an adventure. Take a run or a hike, or visit a museum. Taking a break can inspire new ideas, not to mention renewed enthusiasm for writing.
Celebrate your retreat, however long it is
If two or three hours is all that you can take, great! Open a fresh page in your notebook or computer and spend a few minutes reflecting on what you accomplished.
Did you like your retreat? Did you feel stumped? What could you do next time to make it easier for you to write: go some place quieter (or noisier), bring a pen and notebook instead of a computer, write with a buddy? Jot down a few notes on your experience and make a quick plan for your next retreat.
Remember, you don’t need a lot of time or money to write. You just need a few hours and a plan.
