How to Plan a Writer’s Retreat Around Joy
I’ve never been the sort of writer to escape to a monastery or sequester myself in a cabin in the woods. I wouldn’t like those places on a normal day, so why would I enjoy them while I’m trying to write?
No—it’s best to incorporate all the things you love into a writer’s retreat. It is a retreat, after all.
To design your perfect writer’s retreat, ask yourself two questions:
What are the things that I enjoy?
How do I optimize them to create the most creative space possible to nurture my writing?
I like cities, and I like beaches, so for the past two personal writer’s retreats I’ve stayed at a quaint little boutique hotel overlooking Santa Monica Beach. It’s right in downtown Santa Monica with everything within walking distance—delicious restaurants, Trader Joe’s, and a Target. It’s also just a Metro stop or a quick Uber ride away from visiting friends in the evening.
I’ve realized lately that I don’t actually like to be in the sand on the beach. I just like to look at it. So from my sixth-floor window in an absolutely charming hotel room—with a king-size bed and a table perfect for writing—I can stare out at the ocean during those pause moments when imagination needs room to wander.
It also has room service. This is an absolute must for me. If I have to break my stride in the morning and go downstairs to get breakfast, I will never write. So the moment I wake up, I press the room service button, order a pot of coffee, and enjoy a bakery item from a favorite bakery that I picked up the day before—just waiting for me to indulge.
In the afternoons, I go for a walk and enjoy a cup of tea on the veranda, once again overlooking the ocean. In the evenings, I typically meet up with a friend or colleague for dinner or to catch a show.
This intentional time for connection adds to my creative flow, eliminates loneliness, and gives me something to look forward to in the evenings—My mornings are dedicated to writing, my afternoons to rejuvenation, and my evenings to connection.
All my favorite things are there: aesthetics, the ocean, the city, stimulating conversation. Oh—and of course, writing.
So to plan your perfect writer’s retreat, ask yourself what you enjoy, and then find a way to optimize those things into your retreat. Build a creative environment around the things that make you come alive.
A note about goals: I think it’s important to have goals for your writing retreat—but to carry them loosely. If you put too much pressure on yourself, then it won’t feel like a retreat anymore. If you accomplish anything, even if its just a few hundred words, give yourself lots of praise!
Check out the books that have evolved from my writing:
Katherine Spearing MA, CTRC is a huge advocate for the power of art to help us on our healing journey. She participates in improv theater both as a performer and coach and is the author of one novel. Her latest book, A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts, addresses the spiritual abuse survivor’s recovery journey. She has been a guest on a number of podcasts, including IndoctriNation and A Little Bit Culty, is the author of several nonfiction articles, and writes regularly at katherinespearing.com and tearsofeden.org.