How to DIY a writing retreat
A guest blog by the team at Arvon, the UK’s premier writing retreat provider
It can feel impossible to balance the desire to write with the need to address all of life’s responsibilities: job, family, bills, the laundry basket, the dog whimpering to be walked. While we might all wish to escape to the countryside for a week of total focus on our work-in-progress, it’s not always realistic. So when life or resources get in the way, but your writing is still calling, a DIY writing retreat at home can keep the crucial momentum going. Here’s how!
- Block out your calendar.
Build a firm boundary around your time, whether that’s for three days or two weeks. Move meetings and social engagements, pull in favours to cover caring responsibilities if you can, and then switch off all alerts. If possible, remove your work calendar and email entirely from your phone or laptop. - Think about your writing space.
You don’t need a south-facing writing room and a vintage teak desk. You do need a comfortable chair, adequate light and, preferably, a door you can close to protect your peace and quiet. You might also like a certain kind of pen, or particular objects around you for comfort or creative resonance. A pillow, an old photograph, a hot water bottle. Go for it. Gather your tools and tchotchkes. - Keep things simple.
Keep your meals basic, easy and nourishing – perhaps batch prepare in advance if time allows. And stay hydrated! - Begin with play.
For most people, the morning is the best time for getting words down before your inner critic wakes up – and those words should be as free and playful as you like, while you’re warming up your writing muscles. In Becoming a Writer Dorothea Brande says that ‘the first step toward being a writer is to hitch your unconscious mind to your writing arm’. So try writing before anything else. Don’t watch that viral reel, don’t read the news. Dorothea also advises coffee addicts to make up a thermos the night before, so you can go straight from duvet to notebook without stopping by the kitchen. Leave revising and polishing until later in the day, when you’re likely to be lower on creative energy. - Move.If you can, make time for movement outside at some point during the day. Walking in nature can move the cogs of the imagination, clear blocks and solve plot problems in a near-mystical way.
- If you’re stuck – read.
Reading is key to any writing practice, and can be especially helpful if you’re feeling stuck. Read widely, across genres, and read critically, with a pen nearby so you can note down your ideas on what’s working, what isn’t working, and why. - Find a community.
Maybe you know someone who shares your desire to build dedicated time for their writing. Try a silent Zoom, where you both write uninterrupted together for a dedicated stretch (the pomodoro technique can be helpful here), then discuss how it felt – maybe even share work and offer each other feedback.
Psst! TLC offers regular co-writing sessions at Being A Writer – sign up to find out more.
Arvon can help!
Become an Arvon Friend: for £4 a month you can have full access to our library of writing tips and exercises: https://www.arvon.org/support/friends/
Explore our archive of Masterclassesin all kinds of genres: two hours of inspiring tuition, expert advice and creative prompts (£25/12.50 concs)
About Arvon
Arvon is a charity that has been supporting writers at every stage of their journey since 1968. It offers inspiring courses and retreats – both in-person and online – led by leading authors.
Whether you have an hour, a day, or a week to spare, Arvon is here to help you transform your writing and unlock your creativity. Grants and concessions are available to keep courses accessible to all. Arvon is a longstanding partner of TLC’s Arts Council-funded Free Reads scheme, which grants access to TLC’s high level editorial services to lower-income writers. We are extremely proud to work in partnership and recommend them to our community.
www.arvon.org
