Pro Tip #1 for Writing Retreats

Part 1 in my series of miscellaneous tips and incidental information for taking yourself and/or others on a writing retreat.

Writing retreats can be incredibly productive, satisfying getaways from the everyday writing (or non-writing) routine. Done well, they inspire, invigorate, and set writers up to continue to meet their creative goals for a long time after the actual retreat.

I have been leading writing retreats since 2017. As I prep for retreat #18 in a few days, it occurs to me that I have quite a strong list of Pro Tips for just this sort of thing living right up my sleeve.

I thought I’d share my Top Ten today, but each Pro Tip requires more time and space on the page to make it worth reading, so I’m breaking them down for you, one at a time.

On Saturday, I shared a different three off the top of my head, to do with cats, backpacks, and crossing things off lists. They’re over here if you want them.

If you’d like to try one of my writing retreats, the ones that start and end on a train with a hotel stay in the middle are the most newbie-friendly. I’ve got two coming up this year, one in June and one in November. Let me know if you’d like more info.

They fill up fast, so reach out now while you’re thinking about it.

But first!

Last week’s journaling prompts:

Next week’s journaling prompts are on the other side of the paywall with my Top Ten Pro Tips for taking yourself and/or other writers on retreat.

• #115 - Bother and Possible

• #116 - Kindness and Obedience

• #117 - Safety and Grieve

• #118 - Excel and Stretch

• #119 - Incredible and Relieved

• #120 - Relinquish and Stretch

• TODAY #121 - Inflate and Admit

The most interesting word-pairing for me featured a word we saw twice this week. #120 - Relinquish and Stretch.

Just the other day, we had Excel and Stretch and I talked about how reaching for a goal or making yourself stretch for a goal improves you and benefits you in ways that you don’t often expect.

So now I’d like you to take a look at what you wrote the other day around excel and stretch and see what beliefs about yourself you may need to relinquish.

What beliefs can you relinquish about situations in your life, like if you feel trapped or like you don’t have a choice, or a goal is too far beyond your reach?

What would happen if you relinquished those beliefs and replaced them with something that actually helped you meet a goal?

For example, I do have choices. I have small choices. I can make small choices. I can take small steps.

What happens if you do that? What happens when you change your beliefs one small reframe at a time?