by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
Last month, I attended a work/brainstorming retreat with my mastermind group. Six of us gathered to brainstorm books, career goals, marketing plans, and to spend quality time together as friends and writers.
These women have been an incredible blessing, and I wouldn’t be where I am as a writer (and a person) without their mentoring, friendships, and prayers.
When time and finances allow, I do my best to attend writing conferences and writers’ retreats because there’s something empowering about surrounding yourself with writers who get you, writers who understand story, and writers who know the trials and challenges of walking through the publishing journey.
As I flew home filled with encouragement and motivation to write new books, I took some time to think through why retreats fill my cup. I realized retreats offer three essential Rs for me: restoration, relaxation, and revitalization.
Renewal: Every writer who attended the retreat came for a different reason. A couple attended with a story in their hearts and needed story structure or direction to make it into a salable product. A few needed career coaching or some marketing advice to grow their sales and relationships with readers. For me, it was a mix of both of those. But it was also a time of renewal. I hadn’t seen these ladies in over a year due to COVID restrictions canceling our favorite writing conferences. Being with them in person renewed my spirit after meeting a book deadline. I needed to figure out what was next with my writing career. Their wisdom and guidance renewed that spark for a new series. Spending quality time with them allowed me to soak in their collective years of wisdom, and spending quality time with some of my closest writing friends renewed those relationships face-to-face in a way that doesn’t happen through virtual get-togethers. Hugs, anyone?
Relaxation: Even though this was a work-related retreat with a focused schedule so everyone had time to get their problems solved, we had early morning time, a break after lunch to walk on the beach, and evening downtime as we watched a movie together and ate popcorn. Again, getting away from the daily chaos of our busy lives allowed us to just chill out without having to worry about meeting the needs of others—well, beyond our group, that is. Our families were in good hands back home. For me, soaking up the sun, sand, and surf is one of the quickest ways to relax. When I allow myself to relax, I’m giving my brain and my body essential rest so I can move forward with my goals. And that leads me into my third R.
Revitalization: No matter how supportive my family is, they don’t understand the ins and outs of a writerly brain. I’m sure that goes for any career. Getting away with other like-minded writers revitalizes my spirit and my writing energy. Deadlines are a necessary evil. I’m so blessed to have them, but once I turn in my book to my editor, I can exhale…until the next deadline. I had turned in my last book for my contract at the end of March. So I was in the unique position of deciding which path to take—a new series for my editor or branch out into doing an indie series. Gleaning advice from my mastermind group showed me the right path to take. Their excitement for my new series revitalized my creative energy, sparking plot ideas and a new direction to take in my fictional world.
I understand not every writer has the ability to get away, especially during the pandemic when travel has been limited. However, if you do find yourself in a place where you can gather with a small group of writers with whom you trust to talk story and help grow your career, I encourage you to make it happen. Even if it’s a virtual retreat where you can set aside time in your busy schedule to focus on story and building your career. The value of attending a writing retreat is one of the greatest investments you can make, not only on a personal level, but also on a professional one.
When was the last time you attended a retreat? What was your best takeaway?
A determined dad. A wary mother.
Making amends is never easy…
Injured in a kayaking accident, champion Evan Holland returns home to train rescue dogs. But his unexpected partner is the woman he left behind, Natalie Bishop. And she has a secret: a son Evan never knew he had. Now Evan must prove he can be a real father. But earning Natalie’s trust back will take hope, forgiveness—and risking everything on forever…
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, The Father He Deserves, releases in July 2021. She is the content manager for Novel Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys quality family time and being creative with words, photos, fibers, and papers. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com.