As of the time of this posting, I, Erica Vetsch, am prepping for a writer’s retreat! Yay! I love a good writer’s retreat. Relaxing, reinvigorating, rejuvenating. A time with fellow writers who understand, who are all working on projects and striving to reach their goals. A time for sharing industry news, catching up on family and life, and of course, writing and brainstorming. I’ve been to many retreats in the past, and they’ve all been profitable. I’ve both planned, hosted, and attended at different times, and here are the tips I have gleaned along the way to plan a successful writing retreat.
- Define at the outset what makes a successful retreat for you. Not all retreats are created equal, and the goals for each one will be different. What are you hoping to accomplish? Is it to reach a certain word count? Is it to brainstorm and get a novel outlined? Is it a time to relax and reflect and refuel? Having a clear goal in mind will help with the rest of the planning.
- Decide upon the type of retreat you want.Do you want a loose structure where attendees can do what they want, when they want? Do you want scheduled workshops and brainstorming sessions? Do you want to include some sight-seeing, or marathon writing sessions, or research trips to museums? How much fellowship vs. how much work time? Make certain that the format is clear for all who attend.
- Decide upon the venue. There are so many options: hotels, retreat centers, campgrounds. You could host it in your home or at a VRBO. Each venue has pros and cons. Expense, space, level of luxury, food options. What location meets the needs of the most writers?
- Decide who to invite. The retreat experience is often made or broken by those who attend. Do you have a small handful of close writer friends who share your goals? Do you want to open it up to an entire writing group, critique circle, or organization? Would it be more profitable to you to go on a solitary retreat, or go with just one or two friends? Start small with folks you already know you get along with. One difficult or negative voice at a retreat can take down the entire group. If you’re not the one in charge, then go with a mindset to get along with folks and be a good retreater.
- Prepare as much as possible beforehand. Determine what you’ll be working on while you are on the retreat. Are you brainstorming a new story, editing, writing a draft? Know in advance so when you get there, you don’t waste time deciding where to start. Pack wisely. Bring the right clothes for the season. If you’re taking turns making meals, shop early. Plan your travel. Flying, driving, sharing a ride? Plan enough time to arrive without feeling stressed. And don’t forget to get things on the home-front squared away so that nothing implodes while you’re gone. If you have small children, arrange for their care. Pre-make meals when you can, lay out clothes for the kids (and maybe your husband) for each day you’ll be gone. Plan a fun activity for them for the evenings. (You might get so good at this the kids will beg you to take retreats more often.)
- While you’re at the retreat, be flexible.Remember, things rarely go exactly as planned. Let go of your grand expectations and get realistic. You hoped to write forty-thousand words this weekend, but ten thousand is probably more in the realm of possibility. If someone wants to switch up the plan, evaluate the switch and see if this is a hill on which you want to die. There are some times when you have to put your foot down and say, “No, I can’t play right now. I have to write.” But sometimes the change in plans can be a good idea. Evaluate and be flexible.
- Be sensitive to others. Respect others’ space. Respect others’ personality types. If someone needs quiet to write, but you need music to write, wear your earbuds. If someone wants to go for a walk to clear her head, don’t be offended if your offer to go along with is turned down. Respect others’ sleep-time. Some folks need lots of sleep, some not as much. Some need quiet and dark to sleep, some folks like the light on and white noise. Some people are natural night-owls and are at their most creative after 10 pm. Be sensitive to your roommate’s needs. Don’t keep them up if they need to sleep. Also, recognize that you’re one of a group of individuals. Don’t expect everything to be just as you would have it at home. Go with the flow and extend grace to each other.
- Be prepared to do your share. Are you riding with others to the retreat? Be ready when they show up, and if you’re the driver, arrive when you say you will. If you’re a passenger, chip in for gasoline. Bring what you said you would bring, be responsible for things you signed up for, and be on time for scheduled things. This type of can-do/will-do attitude will ensure that you’re invited to the next retreat.
BONUS TIP: After the retreat, evaluate what you think went well, and what you would change. Was the group too big? Was the location good? Was the retreat over- or under-planned? Did you come away refreshed with much accomplished? Did you feel you got bang for your buck? Keep all these things in mind when planning the next retreat.
Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn’t spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all.
ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/