25 Authors and Their Tips on DIY-ing a Writing Retreat
25 Authors and Their Tips on DIY-ing a Writing Retreat
Google "writing retreats" and there are endless lists like "55 Incredible Writing Retreats to Attend" or "22 of the Most Inspiring Writing Retreats." Honestly, the number of lists (and the number of retreats listed on each list) is overwhelming. What about those authors who just want a simple getaway from their everyday lives to focus on their craft? I LOVE planning a getaway, but I'm new to writing, so I reached out to 25 authors for their advice on DIY-ing a writing retreat. They share their advice below, everything from where to go, how to organize your day, what to bring, who to turn to for resources, when to go in your writing process, or anything else that popped into their mind that they wanted to share with other authors thinking about DIY-ing a getaway to focus on their writing.
Want more content on writing retreats? Follow along as I plan mine on Instagram. (Catch up on what you missed by checking out the “Retreat” highlight on Instagram.)
Melissa Scholes Young
Spend the last morning of your writing retreat planning your next one. Schedule it. Lock it in. The people and pets you retreated from are still alive. They'll manage next time too.
Rektok Ross
Living in a loud, crowded house with a husband, 3 stepkids, and 3 dogs, I've found that sometimes you need to get away to really get some writing done. There are two kinds of DIY writing retreats I enjoy and can highly recommend: the first is finding a quiet, peaceful location--my go-to is the beach--and escaping for a weekend to be alone with your story. I bring my golden retriever, Falkor, for company and write looking out at the ocean during the day and then reward myself with rom coms or thriller/horror movies at night (my favorite genres!). The second DIY writing retreat I love is the stay-cation. This is when you kick your family out of the house for the weekend. Of course, I let the dog stay for this, too, but everyone else must go! The schedule is the same for me whether I'm away or "retreating" at home--I write during the day and then give myself an entertainment break at night.
Stephanie Cooke
Anywhere can be a writing retreat! For people like me who don't have easy access to a car to do a full-on getaway, look into renting a cute studio or apartment in your favourite part of the city you live in. Even a change of scenery (and fewer at-home distractions...) can help get those creative juices flowing. All you really need is your laptop (and a charger!) plus a notebook and pen for brainstorming. And maybe some of your fave writing snacks!
Julie Ryan McGue
Offer to housesit for one of your friends who has a house in the country or by a lake. Pack up your computer, your journal, your chargers (don't forget these!!), a few comfy outfits, and a bottle (or two!) of really good cabernet. Start your day with strong coffee and an entry in your gratitude journal. Sprinkle in throughout each day: yoga, meditation and and as many writing sessions that your brain will allow. Take leisurely walks and observe nature while you mull over the chapters/essays that need work. Or brainstorm new pieces, submissions, and publicity. Forget about all social media for the week. Maybe call your mother, but always check in with your significant other. Don't forget to smile. This is your time!
Evelyn Kohl LaTorre
Write sitting in your bed. That's where I've written my award-winning memoir, Between Inca Walls: A Peace Corps Memoir, and Love in Any Language: A Memoir of a Cross-cultural Marriage. It's comfortable and my memory-foam mattress embraces me as I recline comfortably and recall the adventures from my life.
Carolyn Lee Arnold
Set up a zoom call with 1-2 writer friends at the beginning and end of each writing session. Share what you plan to do, and then what you did do. Accountability and support mean everything!
Barbara Clarke
My critique partners and I rented a house for 3 days as a diy retreat. We live in different states (WA, SD, VT) and had getting together in-person/no zoom as a reward for working hard on our memoirs. It turned out to be wonderful in these ways: we worked on our writing in the morning, took a break/lunch, had a strategy session - how to get unstuck, problems in the story, etc - and then wrote for a few more hours in the afternoon. In the evening, each of us chose a night and read from whatever we wanted for immediate feedback - incredibly helpful to hear you own writing being read by someone else and fun. The owner of the house came on our third night to water her massive deck plants but didn't interrupt us. She told me later: there were 3 women in her house writing books, laughing and sharing - just what she'd hoped her house would be for guests. My memoir, The Red Kitchen, was partly written in that house and published in April 2021. My two partners are almost there as well. We each spent about $150 ($100 each for the rental and $50 max for food). We still talk about that time and vow to do it again soon.
Emily Colin
There's nothing quite like a writing retreat--the chance to have time and space to focus on your work with none of the usual distractions (laundry! grocery shopping! Mom, I'm huuuunnnngry...). It's an amazing opportunity to delve deeply into your creative process, knock out a ton of words, figure out sticky plot twists, and generally escape into your head (which, let's face it, is where most of us writers live, anyhow). There are some fabulous retreats out there, and I've had the privilege to participate in some of them--but you can also create your very own.
Here are some of my top tips for DIYing a writing retreat:
1. I happen to live near the beach, and a few of my friends own beach houses or condos that they rent out during the summer...but during the off-season, sometimes they have fallow periods where a guest has canceled and/or their place is unexpectedly empty. One of my most effective writing retreats took place over a weekend, just thirty minutes from my house, when a friend's Airbnb guest canceled at the last minute. If you know anyone who has a rental property and might be willing to let you hide out there for a couple days, it's worth looking into!
2. Conversely, consider planning a retreat with other writers—renting a house and splitting the cost. They’ll understand your need for solitude during the day, as you all retreat to your corners to type furiously—and if you hit a snag, there will be other folks there to help you through it. Though you won’t have the complete isolation that can be really effective in terms of plunging into the world of a story, you *will* have company—which can be equally valuable, depending on where you are in the writing process. When it’s time to take a break, you can all make dinner together and commiserate over the day’s woes—and, of course, successes!
3. Speaking of making dinner, minimize the number of reasons that you'll have to go out. If you're staying in a place with access to a kitchen, plan your meals in advance and go grocery shopping before you get there. I often find cooking to be inspiring and a great way to recharge--but if I'm in the groove, sometimes I don't want to do anything but heat up a frozen dinner. So, when I'm shopping for a DIY writing retreat, I get a combo of ready-to-go meals (frozen pizza, anyone?), and ingredients to make a favorite dish or two ... something I love, that the other folks in my house aren't big fans of. Conversely, if you have the funds, go ahead and order takeout!
4. Whether you’re on a retreat with other folks or alone, get yourself on a schedule, and don't let yourself be distracted. It's all too easy to sleep late if you're not accountable to anyone but yourself, but before you know it, you've wasted half your writing day. If you're a night owl and are going to make up the time late in the evening, that's one thing--but if you suspect you're going to fall asleep at 9 PM watching Netflix, that's something else again. Try to wake up early, grab your morning beverage or meal, and then get right to work.
5. Set your goals before you go on the retreat. What do you hope to get done? Is it reasonable? Check in with yourself to see how you're progressing and see if you can figure out what barriers you're hitting along the way. At home, with all that’s likely going on in your life, there are a thousand reasons not to sit down at the computer. When you're on a retreat with no distractions, it becomes easier to see what's stopping you from writing--social media usage? Too much time worrying about writing instead of actually getting the words on the page? Identify your barriers and see if you can problem-solve how to surmount them, so when you're back home again, you can be aware of these challenges and implement your newfound strategies.
6. If you don’t already know what your preferring writing rhythm is—how you’d work in an ideal environment, with no other demands on your time—retreats are a fantastic way to figure it out. You may not be able to replicate this exact model when you’re back home, but knowing how you prefer to write (small chunks of time? Long stretches? Early in the morning? Late at night?) is key to your success as an author. The closer you can come to recreating this dynamic when you’re back in your regular life, the more efficient and effective your writing process will become.
Jessica Vitalis
The beauty of a DIY writing retreat is that it can be adjusted based on your needs! When you're up against a deadline or you simply can't find the time to squeeze writing into your schedule, booking a few days at a local hotel can give you the quiet and focus to really dive into your work. On the other hand, if you're feeling like your creative well is dry, you can book a writing retreat in a location that fills you with inspiration--perhaps somewhere you can enjoy long walks by the sea, or in a large city where you can write in sidewalk cafes. Booking writing retreats with critique partners is another great idea––make sure you pick a location where you won't be tempted to spend all your time out exploring, and agree on the schedule in advance; building in writing time as well as time to share work/brainstorm together can make the trip a true success.
Kristan Higgins
My writing retreats are more like plotting retreats, and they are truly some of the best times I've ever had, filled with laughter, support, ideas and wine. My suggestions would be: 1. Choose your people wisely. They should all be writers. Make sure they're people you can trust and who truly enjoy helping others…avoid the people who are just there to use you and don't want to give back. 2. Divide up the time equally, and make sure you build in breaks for eating, stretching, getting outside. Set some time aside for writing, too, if that's your thing. 3. Plan something fun for everyone…a game of Scrabble or Cards Against Humanity, dinner out, a drag show. 4. Be open to ideas. You're going on this retreat for a reason, and you don't have all the answers. Likewise, avoid being The Authority on Everyone's Work. 5. Everyone should weigh in on everyone else's book, regardless of genre. There's nothing worse than finding that one of your members hasn't read the material. 6. Bring wine. And chocolate. And coconut ice cream.
Andrew M Nehring
Writing retreats are Fantastic and they can do wonders for your book. My first piece of advice is just focus on enjoying wherever you are but while your there ponder about your book. When ever I just sit back relax, take everything in and I think about my book, a flood of amazing idea will hit me. Secondly wherever you are go on adventure! This will not only give you a fun time, but you might add it to your story in some way or maybe its the key to unlock a great idea, either way its a win win. Finally when your ready to sit down and write. Write in a place that's peaceful, it could be a balcony with the sun in the sky and the wind in your hair, or maybe poolside, but wherever you chose pick a place where your one with yourself and at peace, it'll make the time writing fly by.
Jamie Beck
I like retreats that blend quiet writing time with small-group brainstorming sessions, in which case it is important to exchange plot ideas/synopses in advance so people come prepared with ideas. It's also important to allot enough time throughout the retreat to accommodate everyone's needs equally.
Barbara O'Neal
The best advice I can offer is to keep it simple. Find a pleasing location an hour or two away from home. Get a room you can live with for a few days because you'll be spending a lot of time there, and be sure there's a desk and a coffee/tea maker. On the timing--that's very personal. If I go too early in the book, I don't have enough information to really do a lot of writing, and I'm better off doing that noodling work in my daily life. I like to go toward the end of a first draft, when the book is fully in motion and it will feel good to shut out the world and just drive to the end. I also like going on retreat for revisions, when I need to really dig deep without distractions.
Diane Wald
Many years ago I took myself on a little DIY writing retreat that I still remember as being very meaningful and productive – – not to mention a lot of fun. I was newly married and enjoying life, but felt that my writing was taking a backseat to my day job and a lot of other things. I decided to go away for a long weekend and just write. By myself. I wanted to go somewhere that was different but not different enough that it would distract me from writing, so I choose an inexpensive little off-season motel near the Hyannis dock where the ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard sail in and out. I lived near Boston, so it wasn’t a long drive. I was extremely familiar with Cape Cod, having lived in Provincetown for three years as a fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center, but I was not all that familiar with the Hyannis area. I figured it would be less distracting there than seeing familiar places and possibly people. I’m pretty good at being alone. So I packed up my little Chevy Citation and took off for a few days. My writing getaway it was a total success. The motel room had a sitting area that looked out over the dock and the huge ferries lumbering in and out with their foghorns and lights we’re wonderful to watch. I set my laptop on a table there and assigned myself two hours of writing and then a break — then stretch, rinse, and repeat. I had a coffee pot and a hot plate and I was all set. In the evening I would take myself out to dinner and walk a bit by the water, and then come back, call my husband, watch a little TV, and go to bed. Next day, same situation. What I ended up with was a long stream-of-consciousness prose poem detailing all my experiences as I sat in my little retreat. It got my writing juices flowing again, and was well worth the minimal expense. I highly recommend doing something similar!
Elise Hooper
Set very clear daily goals for the retreat. When I went away on a retreat in March of 2021, I was planning to write a rough draft of a new book. I set myself up with writing 1000 words in 90-minute stretches and I tried to do at least four of these sessions a day. I even had several days during which I did six of these sessions. Was I writing great words? NO! But I was making progress and figuring things out and this is the goal of a rough draft. By the end of my retreat, I had a huge chunk of writing completed, but more importantly, I had immersed myself in my story. I finally knew who these characters were, and I understood their world. When I went home, I had a renewed sense of purpose with this new project and a lot of momentum to shape my mess into something better.
Audrey Wick
As long as writing is kept at the heart of a retreat with fellow writers, the time spent will be a success. Write on!
Lori B. Duff
Some writing friends and I got together at a hotel in a state park. There were plenty of little comfortable corners if the hotel room got claustrophobic and pretty scenery if we needed to talk a walk to clear our heads. We would meet for meals and talk about what we were doing, (or not, if we were on a roll) and in the evenings we'd meet with a bottle of wine and share some of our efforts and give feedback. It helped keep us accountable, while at the same time helped us avoid the distractions of home (laundry, dishes, kids). Sometimes just a new environment in and of itself is inspirational.
Brenda Janowitz
I LOVE the idea of a writing retreat, but sadly, I've never done one! I wish I could say that I have certain rituals and that I have a process for letting the muse in, but the truth is, I’m just a busy working mom, so I write when I can. Sometimes, I’m dictating full chapters on the voice memo app on my phone. Sometimes, I’m jotting notes on the backs of receipts. I say: do whatever works! So, I guess the best advice would be to make wherever you are into your own personal writing retreat. Writing is a gift, so anytime you make space in your life to allow that creativity to flow, honor that. If it's in the car at school pickup, or on a sunny beach with a glass of Prosecco in hand, take a moment to appreciate the fact that you've given yourself this time... and then get to work!
Jackie Townsend
In a cheap room with bars on the window, sit in that chair until your word count is done, then walk through cobbled alleys amongst the ghosts of Keats, Goethe, and James. Walk and walk and then walk some more. Until your feet are burning and your back is aching. All roads lead to Rome.
Julie Valerie
If your writing retreat is also a research trip involving a road trip to remote locations like my most recent writing retreat was, balance high-tech with no-tech. Travel with both GPS and printed maps, voice recording apps and journals, and don't forget to capture the atmosphere and "vibe" of a place before you leave it (no-tech, "on location" information). Otherwise, you'll have to rely solely on high-tech resources (like the internet) to capture it. Nothing beats "being there," like being there, and often, the writing project is honed long after the writing retreat.
Vali Benson
My name is Vali Benson and I have been a writer all my life. I can also now call myself a published author. It was always a dream to publish my own work. I still can’t believe it, but it’s now a dream come true. Ever since I can remember, I have had a book in my hand. As a lifelong reader, I often thought, “I could do better than that”. So, I decided to finally do something about it. People have asked me to explain the writing process, but I can’t. I don’t think there is a right way or wrong way to write a book. But I do know what works for me. As far as writing retreats go, my advice is to utilize your time provided on research trips.
Historical fiction is my genre of choice. As such, my advice for a writing retreat is to incorporate your research and writing into one task. You don't have to be a globetrotting adventurer to competently research a writing project. Start with what is in your own backyard. That was the inspiration in writing my book; a young adult historical fiction novel called "Blood and Silver". The story takes place in Tombstone, Arizona. For thirty years, I have lived in Tucson, Arizona. Tombstone is only forty-five minutes down the road, practically backyard distance.
I love historical fiction because it combines the majesty of an author’s imagination with the beauty of the past. Any writer of historical fiction is obligated to do copious amounts of research. They should feel obligated anyway. Research will be the heart of your story, the building blocks of your narrative. It is also essential to any quality piece of historical fiction. If research is done correctly, it should be a rewarding but grueling process.
One needs to scavenge unusual places, not just the top three Google hits. Try not to settle for strictly names and dates. If you invest in the research phase, it will pay off significantly down the road. Dig beyond the numbers and you just might uncover something someone had overlooked or never found before. I love sourcing museums, libraries, newspaper archives, and even historical homes. Don’t rely on your computer only. Everyone can get that information. Not only is it not original, but it is also not interesting. If you can work from the original source, it falls on you to interpret the story. This allows you to not have to depend on someone else’s version of the truth.
My first book, "Blood and Silver", tells the tale of a young girl who finds herself in trouble and alone in 1880 in Tombstone. My heroine uses her wits and charm to carve out a new life for herself and her sick mother. I had a premise but was immediately confronted with a classic problem of the historical fiction author; my inspiration had little to do with my subject. The little town that I was familiar with had about 1,300 residents. The town that I was writing about, Tombstone, AZ in 1880, had a bustling population of 15,000 with over 100 saloons and every sort of vice imaginable. The locations were the same, but the places were very different. My solution was simple, I had to immerse myself in the era. I went to he city of Tombstone for direct, hands-on research. I would dig through deep sources during the day and organize my notes at night. In the course of my research, my story emerged.
"Blood and Silver" is my debut novel. It was released in April of 2020. Last month, "Blood and Silver" won First Place the 2021 San Francisco Book Festival, in two separate categories. I may have waited awhile to pursue my dreams, but now they are coming true. If you want to be a writer, then BE a writer. Invest yourself in your research and don't forget to have fun!
Thanks for reading and happy writing!
Best, Vali
A.D. Anderson
Get up early or stay up after everyone has gone to bed and revel in the beauty and sounds of nature that accompany that time of day -- streams of sunlight at sunrise, owls and tree frogs in the wee hours -- it's like your in another world
Shelley Nolden
My advice is specific to those authors with family responsibilities: While there are many beautiful, serene locations for writing retreats that can spur creativity and plot epiphanies, there's also something to be said for the comfort and convenience of your own home. My best writing retreats occur in my living room, with one key ingredient: solitude. My husband, who's incredibly supportive of my writing career, takes our children on a road trip to visit Grandma in a neighboring state whenever I have a big deadline to meet. The enemy of a successful writing session is distraction. So when picking the perfect spot for your own writing retreat, I encourage you consider your top choices' potential for interruptions. Because let's face it: a dip in the ocean can be pretty tempting while trying to craft that perfect lead-in sentence for a new chapter.
Alison Hammer
I recently planned a week-long beach writing retreat with my co-writer and two other friends and it was AMAZING. Here are two and a half things we did that I loved:
Don't over schedule yourselves. We had some activities planned for book research and it worked out really well to have one field trip every other day, so we had one day in between just to write and relax without being on a schedule (other than getting ready to go out to dinner!)
We each got a night where the group brainstormed something with us. I had the ladies help me with plot points on a future book, someone else had us read their first twenty pages and talk about how to make it better, and we did a title brainstorm for another writer.
Buy a lot of coffee and snacks. Have fun, and don't be offended if someone wants alone time. A lot of writers are introverts and need to recharge!
Tammy Euliano
Several days with a small group of other writers at an otherwise empty home. Take turns cooking. Take walks in pairs or more for creativity breaks. After dinner meet together to workshop ideas or critique each other's pages.
