The April Mini Retreat is this Saturday (April 13).
Join us for 12 hours of writing, goal spotting, moral support, and the kind of encouragement and accountability that work. It’s all live and online (on Zoom), where you control your camera and you control how much you look at your screen.
You know you want to.
You’ll spend the first four hours writing.
That’s right; you get four solid hours to write. Your fantasy has finally come true! Or is that just me lately? I’ve been stupid busy with travel and family and other projects. Four hours feels like the luxury it is, that’s for sure.
Most of us begin with Daily Pages, which is what we call the journaling habit. We do this to get our thoughts straight, to set our intentions for the day, and to give ourselves permission to mess around with creative ideas that may or may not find a home in our current WIP.
You can do something else with the time, if journaling isn’t your thing. You’re welcome to dive right into your WIP or write letters or fingerpaint your way through a short story - it’s up to you.
I use timed focus blocks to get everyone into focus and flow, then check in periodically to keep track of each writer’s pace and progress. I’m available to bounce ideas around, talk through plot holes, test out new approaches, and tell you what you’re doing well so far. That’s all optional. Some writers like to touch base during the day with a conversation, while others want to keep their heads down and write without interruption or distraction.
I’m here for all of it.
Creative minds need a breather.
We break for two hours in the middle of the day. You can keep writing if you’d like, but I strongly encourage you to take a break. Go for a walk, eat lunch, drink plenty of water, take a nap. Your brain will continue to process and your mind will ruminate, even without your constant oversight. Refueling like this is reinvigorating.
You’ll write again for another three hours when you return.
Some of the writers join for the first half of the day. That’s called a Tiny Retreat. It’s a great way for busy people to honor their need to write for several hours, then make themselves available for friends and fam for the rest of the weekend.
It’s quite popular.
Coming back feels so good.
The afternoon is pretty much just like the morning, only with fewer check-ins because everyone has found their flow by this point and have remembered how good it feels to be fully immersed in the worlds of their creating. It’s leave me alone to write time, and it’s magical.
We break again in the early evening for dinner, more water, another walk, mindless TV watching, etc. and come back together for Proof of Write.
Proof of Write is where each writer shares up to five minutes of something they wrote during the retreat. Every other writer listens, takes notes, and provides positive feedback. Everyone in the room gets to read their work, and everyone in the room gets to identify what works in everyone else’s writing.
Positive feedback is so powerful.
Different writers, different uses.
The monthly Mini Retreat serves as a starting point for many, a first step in a 30-day or 3-month habit. For others, it’s an island in the stream, a steady landing spot for that one day a month they know they can make progress on their WIP. And for others, it’s just another day in their writing career, this time with other writers in their virtual space.
I’ll be working on my new novel, the one that scares the bajeezus out of me because I have no idea if I am good enough to write it. I’ll also be working on a personal piece about my aunt’s passing, which also scares the bajeesus out of me for the very same reason.
What will you be working on?
But that’s not all!
Have you heard of the Tidy Retreat on Sunday?
It’s super productive and satisfying. You won’t believe what you can get tidied up and squared away in just a few hours. You might think you’re just clearing off your desk, scrubbing your shower, or decluttering your kitchen, but you’re really doing is making time and space to take care of the things that affect your writing environment — and cutting down on procrastination attractors.
Live on Zoom. 900am-100pm Sunday, April 14. $29
Still here?
Oh! Are you looking for in-person retreats?
You’re in luck! The May retreat is full (and private), but the June retreat still has seats available. And the Early Bird price still applies! It’s good through April 30, 2024.
Write on the Rails
Friday, June 14 - Monday, June 17
FRIDAY:
Write on the train from Emeryville, CA to Reno, NV.
Check into the Peppermill Reno.
Meet for dinner.
Adjourn to the writing suite for Proof of Write.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY:
Morning session in the writing suite - 4 hour of writing.
Afternoon session in the writing suite - 3 hours of writing.
Meet for dinner.
Adjourn to the writing suite for Proof of Write.
MONDAY:
Write on the train from Reno, NV to Emeryville, CA.
EARLY BIRD PRICE: $349; does not include travel, meals, accommodations, insurance, or any other additional associated fees.
REGULAR PRICE: $459; does not include travel, meals, accommodations, insurance, or any other additional associated fees.