Are You a Candidate for a Writing Retreat?

Questions When Considering Writing Retreats

• Could you use focused time away from my usual writing spaces? Writers can get so tied to their writing routines that they lose a bit of creative energy. Entering a new space which is designed for nothing but inspiration can be invigorating. 
• Are you in need of feedback from others? Writing can be such a solitary undertaking, and often without regular input. The most accomplished writers will tell you their work isn’t done in a vacuum.  Criticism and praise are valuable tools to propel your writing, and it’s one thing that can be accomplished through a writing retreat.  Many retreats include workshops specific to your piece. This alone can be worth the investment of time and money to attend.
• Have you been struggling to finish a project? This was me. A manuscript that languished, 80% completed for a year. It would’ve stayed that way had I not been nudged to get away and focus on the ending. What I came home with wasn’t perfect, but it was enough of a foundation that I could massage it and come up with an ending that I loved. 
• Have you been struggling to START a project? Writers with a reservoir of ideas are often good candidates for retreats, as well. For them, it’s not completing a project that’s daunting, but starting it. Dedicating several days to beginning a work will be a contribution to the entire work.
• Is it important to have more movement in your day? Exploring a new location for a few days fosters the need to move, to walk, to discover. Even if you’re in an environment that has nothing to do with your subject matter (think writing a sci fi novel at a beach retreat), chances are you’ll have time outside to move and think, then bring those thoughts back to the keyboard. 

Writing Retreat Options to Consider

• A place you’ve always wanted to visit. Perhaps someplace you’d like to explore further at a later date if it appeals to you over the course of a few days. It can be local…within your community or it may require a passport and a plane flight.
• A structure that works for you. Perhaps it’s regimented sessions and deadlines built into the retreat. For others, something more freeform works best.
• If it’s your first retreat, try something no longer than four full days of writing. This will allow you to be productive without getting completely burned out. The right number of participants. Would you do better on your own at a solitary retreat or with a large group? A bedroom of your own or a shared space? 
• Find something that includes transportation, most/all meals, and lodging. That way, there’s no need for you to plan anything beyond getting yourself there.