What You Need to Know about Writers' Retreats

with Enisa Haines

Distraction. Procrastination. Muse on strike.

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If you're unfocused and time-poor one way to boost your creativity is a writers' retreat set in serene, inspiring surroundings. Imagine spending hours in your own room focused on your writing and getting the words out. I could. And after that time of uninterrupted writing you can take breaks for meals to replenish your energy and go for walks through the forest or along the meandering creek to inspire your muse. Spending time with other writers and learning about various aspects of the craft from each other is an added bonus.

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There are many different types of retreat:
You can get away alone - the Solo Retreat. You and a few writer friends can allocate time together - the Do-it-Yourself Group Retreat. You can connect with a small group of other writers - the Communal Retreat. Choices to suit every writer, that's a plus.

If you don't want to travel far, the local library, park, community centre room or a cafe are great locations to get away and write undisturbed.

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If you are able to travel far from life's distractions and obligations, then there are houses, lodges or country hotels offering rooms, desks, bathrooms, all set within idyllic scenery and available worldwide.

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If you can take a day away and treat yourself to a place where you can let your creativity loose, do so. I would. If you can steal a weekend, a week or a month away, even better. However long the time you take a writers' retreat will motivate you to write. Wether you take it alone, with writer friends or writers you will connect with for the first time, a writers' retreat will inspire you. Whatever your goal, a writers' retreat will help you reach it.

And that, for writers, is priceless.

Have you attended a writers' retreat? Did you find it beneficial for your writing?

Love to love that I'm going on a writers' retreat in Wales in December.

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Love to laugh: Am I crazy trading the hot sun for a cold that will freeze my bones? Oh, the lengths writers go to for their craft!

Love to learn: Connecting with other like-minded writers is always a plus.