I don’t remember how the idea got started — maybe it was when we were working on our goals for 2007 — but the critique group I belong to decided sometime last year that we would like to put together a retreat for ourselves.
It took quite a while to find a clear weekend on our calendars. We’re five busy women, and between kids, travel, weddings, classes, and work, we were down into April before we could agree on a date. One of us made reservations at a guest house a couple of hours away, far enough to feel like “away,” but not so far that we couldn’t drive back in an emergency. The cost of the house spread over 5 people will be very reasonable. I think there will be housekeeping but we supply our own meals. I don’t much care what I eat during the day as long as we can go out somewhere in the evenings, so I plan to bring frozen meals and some snacks. We’ve opted not to cook meals together; we all have different dietary preferences and besides that, we cook enough at home!
Now we’re working on the retreat schedule. Here’s the proposal so far:
- Arrive Thursday: Dinner, free time, or writing.
- Friday & Saturday: Quiet writing time until 11:30 a.m., then lunch, free time or writing from 1-5 p.m., dinner, then problem-solving, critiquing, or discussion until 9 p.m.
- Sunday: writing time until check-out at 11 a.m.
The member who drew up this schedule had a suggestion that I think is great: A “quiet in the house” policy during writing time. You don’t have to write during writing time, but anyone who wants to socialize during those times should go outside the house.
The temptation will be to spend all our time socializing or relaxing, but I think we’re more disciplined than that. At our weekly meetings we usually set aside the first hour to talk (and we often do talk about books and writing during that time, anyway). The second hour is devoted to critiquing one member’s story or chapter and we try to stay on track. Not only are we disciplined, but I think (at least for me) the slight guilt of leaving house and family behind to do something purely for myself (gasp!) will keep me on the job.
Filed under: 2007 resolutions, writing
And nobody around to overhear our character discussions and wonder who the *hell* we’re talking about!
What a great idea! Happy writing!
[...] 19th, 2007 · No Comments Later today I will be leaving for our writing group’s first annual DIY retreat. I’m very excited and also nervous. Nervous because there’s so much to do before I [...]