When to retreat, and when to sally forth!

I just got back from a weekend retreat at a quiet hotel up in the mountains with several other writerly types. I get to go a couple times a year. Every time I waffle back and forth about going because it’s not cheap, and I feel guilty about spending the money and taking the time away from family that I don’t get to see enough of as it is. This year I had to deal with leaving my dog at home with the potential of thunderstorms (which freak him out) and having to ask a coworker to check on him since my husband was out of town.

Mountains out of molehills, right? As I mentioned in my last blog, that’s life. And that’s true. But what’s also true is that I really needed some time without distractions – no laundry, no chatty husband, no bike ride in beautiful weather, and no other excuses for not doing some writing.

And by writing, I have to admit that I somehow managed to edit two full versions of the same manuscript. Yes. Two. Full. Versions. And they needed to be put back into a single version with all the “best” edits. Nothing could be more mind-numbing and annoying. I would do anything to avoid it at home, including pooper-scooping (and if you knew my dog…well, let’s just not go there).

But at the retreat, I settled my procrastinating butt down in my comfy, cozy, quiet nook and made myself get through that mess. I made it through, and there was a great deal of satisfaction in having it done. But more than that, I knew if I hadn’t had the retreat time to do it I would have dragged out that ugly chore for weeks, if not months, instead of getting a manuscript I really liked back into working condition.

I also took some nice walks to clear my head, came up with a couple great twists, and wrote out my antagonist’s backstory, which really helped with the plot. I did more of that on the four-hour drive back home, but because I can’t write down what I think of while driving, I forgot about half of those great ideas before I could get to a stopping spot. Oh well, maybe they’ll come back to me during the next round of edits.

A retreat doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to involve long drives or overnight stays. It can be as simple as going to the library or a quiet coffee shop for a few hours. But no matter how you do it, it can really be a great way to focus on your writing, particularly if you are in a tough spot or are trying to work through some plot holes.

So consider sallying forth to a retreat, big or little, structured or freestyle, and remember: Write On!