Planning to set aside the time and space to write new words can be one of the best ways to amplify your creative process. Whether your space is an early morning coffee shop, an Irish pub, or a planned writing retreat–scheduling the time to write is essential. For myself, working full-time, raising kids, attending figure skating & hockey with family, and carving out time to cook healthy meals… tends to demand most of my daylight hours. Therefore, dedicating the time to write must be deliberate.
Over recent years, I’ve been blessed to join a couple of writers who similarly battle with this time crunch challenge. We’ve found that planned writing retreats with chunks of undisturbed time, are paramount to moving our writing projects forward. The following is a list of key ingredients to a successful writing retreat.
- Stunning Location to Write in Community
When a local schoolhouse was renovated into a modern haven, I made sure to reserve the space for a writing escape before the word got out and they were booked solid. The Modern Schoolhouse offered us humble writers a decadent, bright, and unique space to set the rest of our lives aside as we worked on our manuscripts. We shared the daily chores of cooking and supported each other in our goals by discussing our writing, sharing favourite books, and brainstorming through our stumbling blocks.
2. Historical Inspiration
The Modern Schoolhouse offered a unique opportunity, being housed in an original Bruce County schoolhouse. The academic and playful history is built into the stone exterior, set into the deep windowsills, and heightened by the sky lights and lofty ceilings. In the entrance hall the walls boast original school photos. I’m married to an Elphick and Elphick children cover the wall. In one photo, my father-in-law as a young boy, sits crossed legged, smiling for his picture. The location has been renovated with all the comforts of a modern luxury hotel while paying homage to its history. What a great place for writers to learn from one another.
3. Speedy Internet
While on retreat, I made sure to engage with the writing community. I recently began joining ‘Write Ins’ with the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. There are time slots each day of the week where members come together through Zoom, declare their writing intensions, and then write uninterrupted for ninety minutes. I enjoyed writing for these sessions in a cushioned, hanging chair. I felt encouraged knowing there were others working away at their goals.
4. Time to Ponder
A part of writing new words, oddly enough, is periods of not-writing. Maybe we needed time to research (the internet was fast by the way) or to meander our way out of a plot hole or contemplate a character’s motivations. Sometimes we needed to pause and prepare food, or sit and stare at the walls. Regardless, we had the luxury of time to ponder in a bright, quiet, and clutter free space.
5. Coffee, Tea or Wine Breaks
In the breaks between writing sprints, we brewed and boiled and dredged through our challenges. Taking a moment to make a hot drink afforded us the opportunity to step back from our words and gain perspective. To bounce our challenges off each other, share joyful passages and feel out where we wanted to write to next. We also took the time to celebrate small feats. I was on a mission to cut my word count to under 100,000 words and promised myself a glass of bubbly if I could. I’m happy to report, I MADE IT! Cheers!
6. Location, Location, Location
This Modern Schoolhouse is nestled close to the hamlet of Pinkerton, which is conveniently close to my home farm. In the past, our retreats have been at least a half-day drive away. Time that can be spent leaving the world behind, making plans, or enjoying a writerly podcast. But for this retreat, I was fortunate to be so close, I could sneak home to take my precious pups out for a tour. They are voting for this location for our next retreat! I only hope we can still make a reservation. Once the word gets out, this haven is likely to be fully booked.
Thank you to The Modern Schoolhouse for sharing your gem!
I love the modern schoolhouse! All the energy of the children through the ages must be in the stones as I was so inspired to write in this location. A gem for sure!