You might or might not have realised that my next book is about a writing retreat! A writing retreat is the creative equivalent of a ‘boys-on-tour’ but set in a stunning location of either a country hotel or a desirable cottage. And where a small number of authors gather to spend a specific amount of time writing! I’ve been on many – I love um! It could be a weekend away, a five day stay, an entire week or a luxurious ten days – oh, the very thought of a ‘two weeker’ would be author bliss! 
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Anyway, there are two types of writing retreat. Firstly, the structured retreat - where you attend specific classes/sessions dedicated to a specific topic: editing, characterisation, pitching to an agent, submitting to an editor. Secondly, the free-for-all writerly days where you rock up and do your own thing for the entire duration. 

I’ve attended both. I love both. Don’t ask me to choose - you’ll only get nonsense in return but each has its benefits. You’ll find yourself with a complete mix of writers - which is wonderful. Published, unpublished, a secret writer, an international best-selling author and even those not yet even calling themselves writers – it doesn’t matter, you each bring something to the table for the weekend. If you attend with an open heart and mind to accept others – you’ll learn loads and your writing retreat will be worth every single penny! In fact, you’ll probably leave willing to pay a little extra for the next one but don’t let on to the organisers, they’ll only increase their prices!

The free-for-all-do-as-you-wish kind are literally just that. You rock up with your laptop and project and do as you wish. This is the kind of writing retreat that I have chosen for my next book, 'Retreat To The Lakeside Cottage'. It gives you the freedom to work on what you need, what you wish, when you wish and in a manner that is befitting of you as a creative - whilst surrounded by like-minded people. You can’t have enough like-minded people around you when you’re a writer.

Both writers’ retreats tend to start in the same way. You arrive at an agreed location, at a given time - usually 3pm on a Friday. You're shown to your room, make yourself comfy and meet the others for a wee drink at a designated time either 4pm or 6pm in the bar. Depending how eager you are, you might have squeezed in an hour of writing having unpacked your kit. Or you might have paced around your room filled with anxiety at the very thought of meeting ten other authors in the flesh! 

I’m used to turning up, grabbing my room key and unpacking as swiftly as I can and settling down for a mini-writing session prior to the author 'meet and greet' session. I have the need to use every available moment to write in between anything else happening. You’re now understanding why I love writers’ retreats – my word count goes through the roof!

At the authorly meet-up, your organiser will go through the basics of the itinerary, the expectations, the feasible dos and don’ts, the timetable for meals and social activities – in other words the wine o’clocks or gin o’clocks session! When everyone downs tools for a mini-drink of said wine or gin. Some basic housekeeping often occurs too – relating to safety, cancelling of meals and emergency calls back home.

This session can seem pretty daunting. Each writer introduces themselves and announces their goal or purpose for attending the retreat. I’ve heard endless reasons over the years. "I’ll be able to write", "I can focus on my dream" or even "I’m away from the kids/husband/wife/partner/washing machine duties for the next ten days!" All are correct and deserve a round of applause - as all are valid in the world of writing. All are acceptable and guilt-free for the duration of a writing retreat! No one will judge you – I promise.

At structured retreats you may be given a ‘one to one’ time slot where your latest piece of work receives feedback. Which is quite daunting but invaluable in relation to your progression. Remember you don’t have to take the advice verbatim… but if someone has spotted something within your current work worthy of a comment, please take time to consider it. You might reject their opinion whole heartedly but it might be the ‘room for improvement’ that you need to get published. My advice would be to swallow your pride, listen and learn. Then mull it over, then mull it over some more, before deciding to change anything.

Over the space of a retreat you need to make notes, learn from others, ask the stupidest of stupid question and listen intently – only then will you gain the true benefit of a retreat. Which is why I love um – I learn so much about the writing world. You also learn about yourself, if you listen hard enough.
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I haven’t written about a writers’ treat that I attended, good lord no! It's not autobiographical! Simply put, I sat at writing retreats and thought … I wonder if blar, blar, blar happened? How would blar, blar, blar react? Why would blar, blar, blar do that? Could she get away with blar, bar, blar? Hmmmm, I might jot down these details because one day I might write a book about writing retreats. And that’s how it has happened. Though if I’m honest, if I ever hear that my character Rula Polowski is planning a five-day writing retreat in a beautiful chocolate-box cottage I will be the first to pay my deposit. Despite the mayhem encountered on this fictional retreat there is definitely a whole lot of authorly love and support for each other and that … that is the golden gem for me about writes’ retreats – I simply love the increased word count and the authorly love for one another!​

This framed quote sits on my writing desk. Today does feel like a magical day so I thought I'd share the blurb for my next book 'Retreat to the Lakeside Cottage' to be published in August 2024.

The story is set during a writing retreat which can be a magical experience for writers ...

Welcome to the Lakeside Cottage . . . A place to write, where inspiration awaits . . .

Five authors have gathered at the idyllic Lakeside Cottage for a retreat, with the promise of peace and dedicated writing time. At least, that's the idea . . .

Retreat organiser Rula is there to edit, surrounded by like-minded souls. An interloper, especially one with whom she has a past, was certainly not part of her plan.

Eve has a bad case of writer's block, despite numerous bestsellers under her belt. Can she find new inspiration? Or will she get drawn into the dramas that unfold around her?

Alice has a deadline looming but is seemingly more interested in anything but writing. And where does she keep disappearing to?

Daphne is an experienced self-published author, but might she be more unconventional in other ways too?

And then there's Brontë, the complete novice. She's a mere scribbler, not a 'proper writer' like these other women, and she feels totally out of her depth.

As the collective word count grows, and their personal stories interweave, each woman finds herself drawn in unexpected and life-changing directions.

Preorders are available via Amazon or bookshops. 

Last weekend’s London Writers’ Salon 24-hour writers’ sprint did me the world of good, as I have a deadline nearing (1st May). So much so, I could do with something similar this weekend so I’ve concocted a plan.

As part of the ‘LWS tiered membership’ writers have access to ‘The Cabin’ - a 24 hour a day Zoom writing room which is constantly ‘on mute’ where writers gather and work, in silence. I regularly drop by 'The Cabin' each day between attending LWS’s scheduled daily sessions (8am, 1pm, 4pm and 9pm UK time). Most writers will say ‘hi’ or ‘bye’ via the chat text and then knuckle down to their work – there’s never any interruptions and as always, you can have your camera on or off. My camera will be 'on' throughout my sessions - I feel accountable that way!

My plan:
On Friday, 19th April from 8pm GMT, I’m going to embark on a personal mini-writers’ sprint. I’ll be writing in ‘The Cabin’ from 8 pm till midnight. Then after sleeping, I need my sleep, resuming at 6am on Saturday morning until at least midday. There is a regular LWS session at 9am on Saturdays so I’ll be disappearing from 'The Cabin' to attend the main session but will return to ‘The Cabin’ straight afterwards. I'm going to 'log' my progress for each hour in my diary and work as I see fit on Saturday afternoon.

If anyone wishes to join me, please do. Why not decide on your own specific goal/times/project/submission and join me! 

I’ll be sticking to the pattern we’re used to: top of the hour start, set an intention, work for fifty mins, quick break and repeat. You’re accountable only to you but it helps to focus when others are present. My intention is to work on my current project and plod, plod, plod. And drink copious amounts of tea!

I hope to see you and remember to type ‘hi’ in the chat box! ​

UPDATE: Friday 19th April - 8 o'clock till midnight - an editing session for me. I'm delighted to say I had the company of 12 other writers - all busy on their projects. It was so satisfying to know others were hard at work too. It makes such a difference to write/edit alongside others. 'Thank you' if you attended and I hope the words flowed for you. 

Saturday, 20th April - the local church clock just struck 6am ... let's make a start!
UPDATE: I worked until midday then took a few hours off before returning to my desk until 8pm.  I managed seventeen hours and edited a shed load of words. Thank you to those who joined me throughout the weekend - your company helped immensely. 

Since childhood, I've always been the tortoise and never the hare - when parents compared me to my sibling. I'm proud of that fact so nothing changes when it comes to me participating this weekend in LWS 24-hour writing sprint. I'll be plodding at my desk doing what I can, as I can, when I can. I'm not aiming to do the full 24-hours around the clock, I need sleep but I am doing nothing else from 8pm tonight. Marathon or sleep - my only options! 

My current project is nearing completion so this event is perfectly timed for me to take full advantage and work alongside other authors from around the globe.

Between each on-the-hour session there's a small comfort break so I'll be grabbing the opportunity to stretch my legs and grab a fresh cuppa. 

My book is the fourth in my Lakeside Cottage series set in Hawkshead, Cumbria. The previous three books ran along the lines of cottage booking, fun and delight as expected, conflict and chaos ensued amidst the love, laughter and life within the situation. Book four begins in chaos due to a double booking of the cottage. But it's a big cottage, sometimes people have big hearts and solutions are easily found ... or rather, they should be!

The LWS marathon kicks off at 8pm tonight which happens to be 8am in Tonga!

We'll chase 8am across the time zones:

Tonga - editing session
Wellington, New Zealand - editing session 
Port Vila, Vanuatu - editing session
Melbourne, Australia - editing session
Tokyo, Japan - sleep
Singapore - sleep
Chi Minh, Vietnam - sleep
Dhaka, Bangladesh - sleep
Male, Maldives - sleep
Port Louis, Mauritius - sleep
Antananarivo, Madagascar - editing session
Berlin, Germany - editing session
London, UK - editing session
Azores, Portugal - editing session
Cape Verde - editing session - my 9th hour
The South Sandwich Islands - a research session for a new project
Buenos Aires - fresh writing on a new project (a break from editing)
New York, USA - my 12th hour - editing session
New Orleans, USA - editing session
Mexico City, Mexico - editing session
Vancouver, Canada - editing session (My back is aching) 
Anchorage, USA - editing session - my 16th hour!!! 
A boat near French Polynesia - editing session
Honolulu, Hawaii - my 18th hour - the final hour of editing!

My back and shoulders are arching but I did it! Eighteen hours of the twenty-four hour writers' sprint. I've manage to edit a shed load of words, completed a little research and written a few thousand words on a new idea. Not a bad way to spend a weekend. It goes without saying, I'm taking tomorrow off! Woohoo!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be visiting Mere Green library in the coming weeks. It's a free event - which I'd encourage any avid readers or aspiring authors to attend. Booking is essential due to limited seats and space. Please see the flyer for the library's contact details in order to reserve your seat.

The reason I highlight avid readers and aspiring authors is because that's where I started my writing journey ... as an avid reader. I've had the 'reading bug' since I was a small child and it has continued ever since, apart from a slight AWOL period during my late teens. I have no excuse for that time - I just remember I wasn't reading. Thankfully that changed within a year or two.

Now, I read everyday, morning and night, in what was my nan's Parker Knoll armchair. My faithful dog, Teddy joins me on every occasion and we lose ourselves amongst the pages. I have a couple of poetry books kept alongside my reading chair, which I delve into every few days. My current reading book is updated on the 'Home page' along with my current audio book. 

​Remember I'll happily sign your paperback books after the author talk!

To celebrate their fourth birthday, London Writers' Salon are holding their annual 24-hour writing sprint via Zoom this weekend (Friday, 12th through to Saturday 13th April 2024). We will be chasing ‘8am’ across the time zones starting with Tonga at 8pm UK time (3pm ET, 12pm PT and 5am AEST). 

The event is free of charge. 
To participate, simply visit the ‘Eventbrite’ booking link:
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www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-24-hour-writing-sprint-a-day-of-writing-around-the-world-free-tickets-863379861407?aff=TwitterAdVid1
 
I’ll see you there, not for all of the 24 hours but for a fair amount, as I’ve a book to finish so it’s the perfect opportunity for me to work alongside others. 
 
See you on Friday night!  

Today, I attended a write-in session alongside other authors. It may sound strange, but I jumped at the opportunity given the amount of time I sit alone and write. We each came prepared with laptops and notebooks to quietly work on our manuscripts. The six authors meet at half ten, organised lunch for one o’clock and predicted a departure time of three o’clock. There was a mixture of genres in the room, some writerly chat between coffees and many words written or edited.
 
Its days such as these that helps to lift the spirit of any writer, as it gives you a chance to be productive and mingle with like-minded people. Discussions about current ideas, arising difficulties and potential plot twists were all aired and shared, along with a giggle or two. 
 
Some might say the effort to attend isn’t worth the duration spent together but I assure you that it is. If I could attend regular write-in sessions such as these I definitely would - purely for the social interactions alongside productivity. 
 
Within a few hours, my creative batteries were fully charged and I returned home eager to continue at my desk.  

For the telephone to ring.
A seasonal invite to arrive.
An engineer to appear: morning, noon or night.
A timely response to a desperate application.
For that one special person to pop the question.
For a reason to stay.
Or the signal to cross.
A heart felt rejection - an opportunity lost.
A life changing delivery swaddled in pink or blue.
Dreaded results - confirming what you already knew.
A minute here. An hour there. 
Entire weeks labelled as null and void.
A patient life sectioned by chasms.
Eternally longing, hoping or believing. 
To wait, or not to wait - the question of our time. 

I’m at the editing stage of my current project which means only one thing – my brain wishes to seek interest and excitement elsewhere. This happens to me every time I’m finishing a book so I’ve made a conscious effort to accommodate this ‘need’. Each day, I’ve set aside time to explore potential ideas for future books. Watching, reading and listening to others explain the skills of their craft whilst I make copious notes purely to pacify my brain and remain on-track with my current project until my deadline. 
 
So far, it’s proved a worthy exercise and hopefully will be useful in the coming months if a potential plot develops from either topic. If not, I’ll have learnt something new in life - which is never wasted!