by Pip Harry
28 August 2015
Writing can be tricky at the best of times – add kids, fur babies, washing piles or work commitments and it can be almost impossible. Writers retreats and workshops offer creatives the precious ‘gift of time’ and the chance to escape domestic duties and the daily grind to bring a project to life. Retreats also bring together like-minded authors, screenwriters, playwrights and illustrators to share ideas and network. Sound like heaven? Read on…
There are literally hundreds of writers retreats available all over the globe. Some retreat programs are free to attend but there’s a formal application process and you’ll be selected on the merit of your proposed project. Others are open to all but they charge room and board fees. Here are a few to try.
Djerassi Artists’ Colony is located an hour’s drive from San Francisco but it feels like another planet. Expect rolling hills, ocean views, wandering deer and a resident chef who whips up organic, healthy meals. They offer five-day paid or 30-day selected residencies for international writers and artists.
Arvon Retreats are run from three beautiful rural writers’ houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire in the UK. The five-day paid courses, tutored by leading authors, are a mix of workshops and individual tutorials.
Varuna the Writers House offers a range of paid and selected residential retreats and workshops for Australian writers in the NSW Blue Mountains area. Alumni rave about Varuna’s home cooked hearty meals and peaceful bushland setting.
Every writing retreat is run differently. Some will expect you’re well underway with a project, and others will be happy for you to show up with a concept and rough notes. Generally speaking, experienced authors go for the selected residency programs (which tend to be longer stays) and unpublished, newer scribes for the paid, shorter retreats. Having said that, talent is the main selection criteria, so retreats are often a mix of emerging and established authors.
Most writers retreats offer a solid portion of uninterrupted, solo working time. Make sure you arrive fully prepared to work independently. BYO snacks, a reliable laptop and USB stick, research materials and notes. The scenery might be distracting, but don’t forget you’re here to do a job. Set a realistic goal for your time away – like a target word count or number of pages. Stick to it!
You’ll be given your own room or cabin which will likely have a desk, power source and Wi-Fi (although don’t count on reliable internet access). You might be sharing a bathroom or making your own breakfast and lunch, but most writers’ retreats will bring in a chef to whip up a communal dinner in the evenings. Take a good book, as the likelihood of a television is very, very remote. Retreats like participants to ‘unplug’ from the outside world.
Socialising is a valuable part of the retreat experience. Retreats provide a chance to leave your usual writing cave and pick up tips on agents, publishers or other industry professionals as well as sharing your own experiences of roadblocks and triumphs. Egos are rare and most people are really happy to share their writing journey. Some retreats will offer formal workshopping in a group, which will be moderated and provide structured feedback on your project. Don’t be shy to read aloud from your WIP, pack a thick skin and make sure all your feedback for others is balanced and constructive.
Have you been on a retreat? Which one and did you find it beneficial in starting/finishing a creative project?
Photo by Owen Wassell, Unsplash
