As most of my followers already know, I’ve just gotten back from a “working vacation” where I spent most of my time writing Book 2. I got somewhere around five chapters done in just over two days.
Here are some ideas for planning your own (not too expensive) writing retreat:
- Take the train – this is what I did. Just book a short train trip, either round-trip or one-way and fly or drive the return trip. There won’t be any WiFi to distract you, and cellphone coverage will likely be spotty as well, so you’ll be forced to knuckle down and get that writing done.
- Get a room – splurge on a local hotel you’ve always wanted to try out. Even just a weekend away from the usual setting can be enough to stir your creative juices, and you won’t have to cook or make the bed.
- Rent an RV – just drive somewhere fairly scenic and park. Stay as long as you like. The downside is that you have to do your own cooking and cleaning.
- Go off season– you can often get a private cabin, condo or other location for cut-rate prices during the off season. Visit the beach during the winter, or the ski lodge during summer. You’re not going there for the socializing, anyway.
- Set your alerts – most of those travel-booking sites have alerts you can set up to email you when there are special deals or when prices drop below a certain level. Keep an eye on your favorite spots and book a retreat when prices are low.
- Go off the grid – if you can’t afford any of the above ideas, you can have a retreat at home if you steel yourself and shut off all the distractions. Set a time and shut off everything except the essentials. No internet, no cellphone, no TV or video games. You might even consider going whole-hog and writing longhand on paper, just to avoid temptation.
I recommend a retreat for every writer, even if it’s only for a few days, as mine has been. Just getting away from the routine can result in a great jump-start for your project. Oh, and that train trip? Going to do it again next year – you can bet on it!
