Starting tomorrow, I’m going to try to hole myself up in the basement and focus on writing for a whole week. I have no idea how successful this will be, but I figure it’s worth a try. I had been considering going on a real writing retreat, but right now my family’s quarantined anyway until November 1st (more about that in my Sunday Post tomorrow), and my mom’s here with us, so I figure I might as well take advantage.
I haven’t figured out all the logistics yet, but my goal is to treat this as much like a true retreat as possible, at least during the day. I’m not sure how evenings will work—I might have to play that by ear.
My husband is somewhat skeptical that I’ll be able to actually focus while the family is all still right upstairs (and that they’ll be able to actually leave me alone). He may be right, but I figure it’s worth a try.
My daughter Danielle was horrified at the whole idea of a writing retreat. Her response, “What, you’re going to write ALL DAY? That sounds awful!” LOL! (Hopefully she’s wrong.)
My son Noah was just confused. He kept hearing me say that I really need to finish my book, and he thought I was going to take a week off from the family to read! (I mean, I would love to, but… um, no.)
So, my goal is to finish writing Orphan’s Song. If it doesn’t happen next week, I’ll go on a real writing retreat, but I’m giving this a try.
I won’t be around next week, but I’ll still be posting things like the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up and the Discussion Challenge Link-Up.
Wish me luck!!
Have you ever taken time away for a writing retreat? How did it work out for you? I want to know!
Best of luck to you! I myself am having to isolate while awaiting COVID results so this weekend I am doing the Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon and prepping for my first NaNoWriMo next month!!!! If I am stuck at home (which it sounds like you are as well), I am trying to make the most of it like you are!!!!! Go get it!
Exactly. I might as well do this now while I can!
That’s awesome, Nicole! I hope you find your muse down there.
Me too!
Good luck with it! It hope you manage to get lots of writing done!
I’ve always wanted to go on a writing retreat myself. I’d love to go and stay in a remote cottage somewhere nice and just write and take walks for a few days!
I would really like to do that as well, but this will have to do for the moment.
Good luck with yours! I’ve been on my supposed writing retreat for about 3 days now and have nothing to show. As soon as I’m done writing this comment I need to get to doing something!
Okay, no reading my reply then. LOL!
Good luck! I love this idea. I haven’t written in so long so I definitely think putting yourself in a writing retreat situation could be so helpful. Maybe this is something I could try!
I’ll let you know how it works!
Love the reactions from your kids lol. Hope your basement retreat goes well and you finish the book!
Good luck with the retreat! I hope it goes awesome for you. and sorry to hear about the quarantine- I hope you guys are safe and Covid- free.
Be well and have a great weekend!
“My daughter Danielle was horrified at the whole idea of a writing retreat. Her response, “What, you’re going to write ALL DAY? That sounds awful!” LOL! (Hopefully she’s wrong.)
OMG. Maybe she sees it as the longer version of doing one’s homework LOL.
“My son Noah was just confused. He kept hearing me say that I really need to finish my book, and he thought I was going to take a week off from the family to read! (I mean, I would love to, but… um, no.)”
?
Good luck!
I thought these responses were too funny not to share!
I have not done any sort of writing retreat, but I like the idea. I don’t know how well I’d focus writing ALL DAY, but just to have more time and attention focused on it would be great. I’ve talked about actually going on one with a friend who is also writing a novel, but with COVID and all that, who knows when that would happen?? Good luck with yours though!!
Lauren
I definitely didn’t 100% focus on writing all day every day, but the nice thing was that even when I stopped for a while, I always had the impetus to get back to it!
Good luck and have fun! I’ve never done a writing retreat myself, but I’ve been wanting to do one for a while now.
This sounds very cool. I hope it works out for you. 🙂
You must be halfway through your writing retreat by now. Hope it’s going well, Nicole and that it’s proving productive.
I feel like one of your kids because I have questions ? Like- do you go back up for food? For sleep? Or are you like, camping on the floor? Regardless, I hope it is going well, and that you get a ton accomplished!!
I have answers! So, I did go back up for food and to go to the bathroom, and I would talk to the family while I was up there (and pet the puppy). I tried not to stay up for extended periods of time, though. And we have a bed down in the basement (for Jade), so I slept in that—but I kind of had insomnia, so then I tried sleeping in my own bed (and then discovered that I still had insomnia. Sigh).
Overall, it went really well and I got a lot accomplished!!
Oh I hope that your little writing retreat went well! I get how it can sound horrifying to Danielle ahah, to me too, in a way, but in another way… it’s like, at least it “forces” you to write and you’re away from all the distractions, so… Progress! I hope you made some great progress with this <3