Create Your Own Retreat

If you have 2024 plans to go on a writing retreat, read on.

As you may have seen from our previous posts, writing retreats are an important part of our routine. We’ve both been to multiple organized conferences and retreats (Highlights being a particular favorite) but you can also create the retreat atmosphere yourself without flying to far-flung locations.

We’ve been on DIY retreats together several times so here are some tips on how to create your own retreat experience. You could even apply some of these tips to retreating in your own home if getting away isn’t possible right now.

Solo or together?

I love retreating with Vicky and our critique partner Faith as we’re comfortable with each other and always get inspired by one another’s work and practices. I have also gone away by myself to a hotel to write and I got a lot out of that, but it did get lonely.

Think about what would work best for you and talk to your writing friends to see if they’d be interested in getting a group retreat together.

Faith, Vicky and Christine on retreat

Choose a location

The ocean immediately springs to my mind when I think about a perfect retreat location. For you it could be the forest, a mountain cabin, a picturesque lake.

Once you know where you’d like to go, research possible accommodations. Do you need multiple bedrooms for a group? Does anyone feel comfortable sharing or do they need their own space? How many bathrooms do you need? Is there a nice communal sitting area? An outside space? And be upfront about your budget too. Don’t book anything that doesn’t work cost-wise for everyone.

Vacation rentals are great but a hotel could also suit your group. We’ve always preferred to go down the rental route since we can make food together and relax in a communal sitting space without being disturbed by other guests.

Christine’s perfect retreat location always involves the ocean

Before the Retreat

Think about the following things before your retreat to make it go smoothly.

1. Goals. We shared in our last post that we like to set a goal for our retreats. What do you want to achieve by the end of your retreat?

2. Structure. Are you going to have an agenda including check ins, reading each other’s work, eating lunch together etc? Or would you prefer to be flexible and go with the flow?

3. Expectations. If you don’t want to be too rigid with a structure, you might want to set some expectations around when it is quiet time for working and when it’s a good time to chat. And also share your goals so you best can support each other.

4. Food. No one wants to be hungry on retreat. Are you going to grocery shop together on arrival? Take charge of one dinner each? Eat out one night? Bring your own snacks? Be sure to take into account everyone’s dietary needs when planning your meals.

5. Transport. Arrange between you how you’re going to travel to your destination. Car pooling is always a fun way to extend the retreat and talk about your goals en route.

6. Packing. Comfort is key on retreat so choose clothes accordingly. Also think about any activities you might do such as yoga, running, hiking. And of course, check the weather! Also remember any writing essentials from your laptop charger to your favorite pens. I like to add mentor texts or writing craft books to my bag too.

7. If you’re planning an at-home retreat you should also plan ahead things like your goals, structure of your day, and definitely your food.

Donuts are essential writer fuel

How We Planned Our Last Retreat

Our destination was a vacation rental right by the ocean but we started our retreat by meeting in a nearby town for lunch (and yes, donuts). Then we went to Whole Foods together to get food for breakfasts, snacks, and meals (spoiler: we got way too much food). This is an area where we could have probably planned more: which meals would we eat out and therefore which meals did we need to shop for.

When we arrived at the vacation rental we chose our rooms. There were no bad bedrooms and we all had our own bathrooms so it was perfect.

Then to set the tone, we went for a walk on the beach and shared our goals for the weekend, before spending some time writing quietly.

Everyone worked to their own schedules, letting each other know if we were doing something like yoga or a walk if anyone wanted to join in.

The weekend went in much the same pattern, time together for meals, solo time for working, and time on the beach to walk and meditate.

Now it’s Time for Your Retreat

At last your retreat is here! Your phone is on do not disturb. You have your comfiest clothes on and you’re tucked into a cute writing corner by the fire. You’re ready to get those ideas down on paper and have the most productive few days ever!

Except sometimes it doesn’t go that way. I once wrote several thousand words that I’ve never looked at again. Another time I played with poems for a potential novel in verse. The important part for me is allowing my brain space to create and not have to worry about anything from real life for a few days.

Yes, Vicky once created an entire chapter book that she later went on to sell (Ava Lin is coming soon!) but I know other retreats for her have been about getting contracted work finished and not about coming up with anything new.

Your retreat doesn’t have to result in a masterpiece for it to have been a success. And I know when I get home, I always feel inspired and ready to keep creating after spending time on retreat.

Do you feel inspired to book your own retreat now? Have any questions? Tell us in the comments.

And look out for our first paid post next week. Vicky is going to talk about writing early readers, a category she’s been very successful in with three series so far!