Getting Away from It All: The Joy of a Writing Retreat

Right after my divorce (cue violins), I took myself off to a friend’s houseboat in Sausalito, located on the northern shore of San Francisco Bay. I went to lick my wounds and pour my heart out on paper, having not written much for months. Away from the daily grind and inspired by the scenery, I produced a whole short story in only three days: the quickest story I’d ever written.
 
After that, I became convinced that retreats were the way forward for my writing but didn’t go on another till March 2020, just before lockdown. (2020-2021 should’ve been one long writing retreat, but I barely wrote a word during the height of the restrictions—my brain just didn’t cooperate.) Finally, this July, I was able to get away on another retreat; this time, a five-day tutored course at the Garsdale Retreat in the Yorkshire Dales. Run by married couple Hamish and Rebecca, the location was opened in 2017 by playwright, novelist and songwriter Willy Russell (which pleased me, having lived with his daughter in my early twenties).
 
I treated myself to the most expensive option of a private room and en suite (costing £860), but cheaper options are available if you’re willing to share a bathroom with other guests or share a bedroom with a writer friend. Whatever your options, attending a retreat is always a significant outlay for anyone, so was it worth it? In my case, the answer is a resounding YES, and there are a number of reasons I found it great value for money:
 

• The tutor that week was Zoe Strachan, author of three novels (another forthcoming). Every morning, Zoe led my fellow writers and me in a ninety-minute workshop that fired up the imagination for the day ahead. Each day, we also got a thirty-min one-to-one tutorial with Zoe to discuss our own work. I really enjoyed her workshops and got a lot of confidence from her feedback.
• Tues, Weds and Thurs evenings, we were entertained with readings/performances by Zoe, special guest Louise Welsh, and our hosts. These were great opportunities to quiz the professional writers about their process and publishing experience.
• The location is gorgeous, offering the kind of peaceful solitude or inspirational vistas that fuelled the Romantics (indeed, all the bedrooms were named after one of them).
• My fellow writers were a lovely bunch and fun to talk with. I remember that my Sausalito retreat was lonely, so having other writers around to chat with at mealtimes was a bonus. There were seven of us, which was the perfect number for me (fewer would be awkward, more would be overwhelming).
• And then there was the food. HOLY SHIT, the food was REALLY good. And plentiful. In fact, they should rename it the Garsdale RetrEAT. Every last morsel was homemade, from the cooked breakfasts, morning cookies and afternoon cakes, to the lunchtime soups and salads and the evening meal’s mains and desserts. I must have put on a pound per day, easy. And unlike certain other retreats, apparently, you don’t contribute to the cooking or clearing up at mealtimes. Bliss.
• I managed to produce 10,000 words in three full days of writing (Tues/Weds/Thurs). Had I not had to leave Friday afternoon, rather than Saturday morning, I would have written even more. Importantly, I was able to finish a first draft of a novel, which I can now let stew before cracking on with revision. I also made good progress with another novel, which I will continue to write over the next few months with the motivation the retreat has given me. Of course, in terms of value for money, this aspect was entirely in my hands; thankfully, I didn’t let myself down.
• I got quality reading time. When I wasn’t writing or eating, I was reading for pleasure, which in my line of work is a proper luxury! It’s also essential for the writing process too.

 
I would wholeheartedly recommend the Garsdale Retreat, but there many more to choose from. But wherever you go, be it in the UK or further afield, a retreat is a major investment of both your time and money, so here are some pointers if you’re thinking of giving it a go:
 

• Consider going for a tutored retreat that gives the day some structure. Self-motivated writing can be hard, and workshops are a useful way to kick start your writing day.
• Look for retreats that provide access to quality professionals, be they published authors or agents/publishers.
• Avoid retreats that expect you to chip in with cooking and cleaning: your writing time is precious!
• Find a retreat in a beautiful spot where your mind can unwind and where you can get some invigorating exercise—sitting in a room all day is not exactly stimulating.
• Let everyone in your life know you are unavailable for the duration of the retreat, and try to go off-grid. The only thing you should look at for those few days is your Word document. Cut out/down TV, social media, surfing, texting or calling. An immersive experience will be more productive; the fewer distractions the better!
• Set yourself a writing goal for the retreat, one that is ambitious but attainable, and hold yourself accountable for your productivity.

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