Most writers long for a stretch of uninterrupted time to write, perhaps with a measure of education mixed in to hone their writing skills. Here is a stepwise plan for designing an inexpensive writing retreat or workshop.
Make notes on the following aspects of the writing retreat or workshop to help give shape to the event:
Start with Goals for the Retreat or Workshop
1. Establish goals for the retreat or workshop: Is the retreat simply intended to be a space and time to think and write? Or is the goal the revision of a novel, experimenting with a new genre, or learning a new skill? Going into the retreat with some structure is important, even if that structure is simply six predetermined hours of uninterrupted writing a day.
Writing Retreat or Workshop Basics
2. Choose a time frame for the retreat or workshop: Will this be an overnight venture or simply a day trip? How much time should be set aside for travel? Must vacation days or childcare be arranged? What percentage of each day should be devoted to writing, to learning, to revising?
3. Determine a writing retreat or workshop budget: Are there funds available for accommodations, meals, and supplies or will most of the retreat be based on cheap or free opportunities? For writers who want to write and learn at a traditional workshop or conference venue, there are a multitude of scholarships, fellowships, and working retreats available. The ShawGuides Web site on Writer Conferences and Workshops is a great start for researching scholarships.
4. Determine a writing retreat or workshop location: For budget-minded writers, cheap and free opportunities abound. It is advisable to choose a site away from home, even if home is expected to be quiet on the chosen days. In addition to the scholarship opportunities mentioned above, a writing retreat or workshop can be as simple as a day spent writing and learning at the local library, university, or coffee shop. A budget hotel can also be a haven for a writer who craves a quiet space alone. Similarly, spiritual or religious retreat centers often offer solitude and silence for low fees or visitor-determined donations. It’s important to scout out Wi-Fi locations if Internet access will be needed for research.
Optimizing the Writing Retreat or Workshop Experience
5. Consider joining forces for the writing retreat or workshop: There may be a writer or two who can add value to the event by sharing ideas, providing support, and splitting or sharing costs. Retreat or workshop partners must be chosen with care in order to preserve a productive and peaceful atmosphere.
6. Make a list of tasks for the writing retreat or workshop: A list of tasks will help to ensure the goals of the retreat or workshop are met. For example, a goal of revising a novel might include creating a timeline for milestone events, writing an alternate mother character, and sharpening the dialogue in Chapter 7.
7. Pack a bag that includes all writing retreat essentials: Besides the obvious pen, paper, and laptop, are reference books needed? A visit to the library may be in order to supplement resources from home. According to the goals, include a how-to book on a particular skill or a treasured book meant to trigger inspiration.
Writing retreats and workshops do not need to be expensive or complex ventures. Thoughtful planning to determine the purpose, time, and place of the retreat or workshop, as well as a forward- thinking review of budget, possible collaborators, and supplies, will ensure an optimal and economical use of time to write and learn.
Katherine Hauswirth - Katherine Hauswirth works full time as a medical writer and publishes freelance creative nonfiction and poetry. Her topics of expertise ...
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