Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn't you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! We are 47 authors who have banded together to support and promote each other. If you've made your way over here from Mikki Cober's page, you've come to the right place. Mike lives in Florida, which I think would make a great spot for a retreat.
This week's question comes from S.C. Mitchell who asked us to describe our perfect writer'e retreat. I like this question because I enjoy going on retreats for a couple of different reasons.I've been to retreats with my RWA chapter and last summer I did a solo retreat. I'm going to give you the highlights of each kind.
This week's question comes from S.C. Mitchell who asked us to describe our perfect writer'e retreat. I like this question because I enjoy going on retreats for a couple of different reasons.I've been to retreats with my RWA chapter and last summer I did a solo retreat. I'm going to give you the highlights of each kind.
Open critique session For my chapter retreats, we rent a house large enough for 18-20 people and spend a long weekend together. I find them energizing and educational.
My chapter does open critiques and even if it's your chapter they are critiquing, everyone learns from it. The ideas and suggestions they offer for other works stir creativity for mine. We offer workshops as well and I always carve out time for writing. And eating. There is always too much food. and plenty of laughter too.
My chapter does open critiques and even if it's your chapter they are critiquing, everyone learns from it. The ideas and suggestions they offer for other works stir creativity for mine. We offer workshops as well and I always carve out time for writing. And eating. There is always too much food. and plenty of laughter too.
Last summer, I went on retreat to my parents' home in Arizona. Every year, they escape the hot desert weather and travel to the mountains of Utah. They agreed to let me stay at their house for three weeks to immerse myself in writing.
This was my 'office' view for the duration of the trip.
While there, I focused on adding words to the page from about 6 AM to 8 PM every day (okay I took the weekends off to go to my brother's house and laze in the pool, which recharged and energized me. Fun times!). I didn't feel bad for not fixing dinner for my family because I was in the writing zone. I worked through most meals. Finally, at 8 I'd stop for the night, have a glass of wine, watch a little TV or read. Then get up and repeat the cycle the next day. Occasionally, I'd have a visitor in the yard in the form of a coyote.
Heavenly! Except I did miss my family. It was good to go home, but it felt better knowing I'd written a short story that I published in November and got a great start on my upcoming April release.
This was my 'office' view for the duration of the trip.
While there, I focused on adding words to the page from about 6 AM to 8 PM every day (okay I took the weekends off to go to my brother's house and laze in the pool, which recharged and energized me. Fun times!). I didn't feel bad for not fixing dinner for my family because I was in the writing zone. I worked through most meals. Finally, at 8 I'd stop for the night, have a glass of wine, watch a little TV or read. Then get up and repeat the cycle the next day. Occasionally, I'd have a visitor in the yard in the form of a coyote.
Heavenly! Except I did miss my family. It was good to go home, but it felt better knowing I'd written a short story that I published in November and got a great start on my upcoming April release.
So that's my idea of a good retreat. Time spent working, refining my craft and rediscovering why I love writing. I'm looking forward to more in the future.
Your next stop is the lovely Sarah Hegger's blog. I'd go on retreat with her in a heartbeat. So stop there, then keep hopping along with me.
Your next stop is the lovely Sarah Hegger's blog. I'd go on retreat with her in a heartbeat. So stop there, then keep hopping along with me.
RSS Feed
