Thursday's thing to love...

Thursdays thing to love about being a writer--Writing Retreats.

The opportunity arose for me to go on another writing retreat, so I seized it. It was a gift--a condo offered by a friend of a friend, for writers who needed a place to get away. So for a little over 24 hours, I and two writer friends stayed in a beautiful condominium in Vail, where we researched and read and brainstormed and took creativity naps.

Two retreats in a month -- that's more than I'd usually attempt -- but every writer needs the occasional getaway. (I think that every person needs the occasional getaway, but that's a subject for another blog....) Different writers have different reasons, but uninterrupted time and a peaceful space are the perfect treatment for many different writing problems. Call in favors, get help with your home or work responsibilities, find a quiet place and GO. Need more reasons? Read on....

Ten Remedies found on a Writing Retreat:

1. Rest and recharge your creativity.


2. Seek inspiration in long hours of peace and silence.


3. Fuel your writing with beauty.


4. Fill your head with all the details of your project, so that you can see the big picture.


5. Live, breathe, and dream of your work for a few days, so that you can play out the story like a movie in your mind.


6. Seek story structure solutions by reading and re-reading a few excellent books. Take notes on their plot structure, character arc, or whatever suits your needs.


7. Pour out a first, sloppy draft by getting in the flow and not stopping until you feel like it.


8. Take time to have fun with writing, to re-discover why you write.


9. Sleep enough that your brain is fresh.


10. Take along friends for encouragement, laughs, inspiration, and joy.

And if you read this, thank you John and all the other wonderful people who've made a getaway possible for someone who could use it!

:) Cheryl