Creating a Writer's Retreat

Having some dedicated time to spend writing can increase your productivity no end.  Spending money on a weekend away is not an option for everyone; you can however create your own writing retreat at home.  This will require a little planning and a certain amount of self-discipline it can be just as productive as a weekend away.

Planning the date

The key to a successful retreat is planning, this applies if you are going away for a weekend or taking a couple of days off work and having your retreat at home.

If you have a family you may find it easier to plan your retreat during the week and book a couple of days off work. You will need to ensure that during your writing times you are not disturbed at all; no-one asking where the vacuum cleaner is kept, no answering the phone and no friends over for coffee. Choose one or two days when you can just sit down and write

It should be possible to organise 5 hours of writing in a day – that is 2 slots of two and a half hours; any more than this and you may become fatigued.

Preparing for the day

Place – select a place to write, this might be your dining table, a desk in an office, the library or your local coffee shop.

Food – wherever you are going to write ensure you have enough food and drink available; prepare it in advance so you are not taking up valuable writing time. It is OK to eat a meal in your local coffee shop if either you are writing there or the cafe is within a short distance of where you are working.

Writing – decide exactly what you are going to write on your retreat. You do not want to sit at your desk, pen in hand, and have no idea about what comes next. You may decide to outline a novel or write a complete chapter. You may decide on a short story or an article. Have a plan of what to do and a basic outline of subject, characters or plot. Gather any materials you need and bookmark any websites for research.

Family – for your retreat days you need to be on your own, ensure that you have selected days when you will not be disturbed. If there are other people in your home then make sure you choose a writing place out of the house. Arrange for the children to see friends, ask a partner to go visit their family for the day. If family are around they will disturb you.

Chores – list anything that you have to do on your retreat days day – walk the dog, get children to school. Then try to find alternatives where possible, perhaps a friend will take and collect the kids from school. Give the dog have a shorter walk and then perhaps a second walk at lunchtime.

Music – you may prefer to work in silence. If not put together a playlist or CDs to listen to. Do not have the radio or TV on, these will distract you.

On the day

From the moment your retreat starts image you are on holiday in a luxury hotel, if you are on holiday you will not be doing the washing up, putting the washing machine on, cooking meals, or making the beds. This is back to the planning, if you have to provide an evening meal for the family then do it the day before.

Have a start time for your writing and be in your writing place at that time. Ensure you have water and snacks with you. Turn off the Internet and emails, turn off your phone or at least put it on silence face down on the table.

Write until lunchtime, do not stop, do not answer the phone, do not answer the door. Just before lunchtime make a note of what you are going to do after lunch, this might be edit the short story you have just completed.

At lunchtime stop for a break, move away from your writing, take a short walk, eat lunch and drink water. Take at least half an hour but no more than an hour. If you have reached a difficult point in your writing relax and try to think through the problem. You might decide to meditate for a short while – this is not only relaxing but can refresh you. During lunch do not do any household tasks, check emails, or use social media. You want to keep your mind open for your writing only.

After lunch return to your writing again with snacks and water. Towards the end of your writing time review what you have achieved. If you have completed a short story or article then why not post it off to your chosen magazine. If you have two days for your retreat then note what you are going to do the next morning.

At the end of your writing day you may have the family back home, if this is the case then feed them and relax with them. If you have managed to get some quiet time in the evening then relax with a meal and some music. It is useful to keep the TV turned off and just listen to music as you are thinking through your writing.

What are you waiting for – select your dates and enjoy your retreat.

Happy writing.