Writers' retreats - I love um!

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 Published, unpublished, a secret writer, an international best-selling author and even those not yet even calling themselves writers – it doesn’t matter, you each bring something to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!​

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