The hubster plays a lot of chess. Matches for his club and our County which often take him to exotic destinations such as Hastings! Lol. My overseas readers probably won’t get that joke so I apologise…just Google Hastings 😉
I’ve been going through the calendar and it seems that on the following dates I will be home alone all day!
Saturday 12th January
Saturday 26th January
Saturday 2nd March
Saturday 24th March
I could just potter around, do a bit of housework, scrub the bath, catch up with some decluttering perhaps? Nah! Sod that! I’m going to have some Mini Writing Retreats 🙂 Ok, when you think of a writing retreat you think about going away somewhere, but, there’s nothing to stop you having one at home 🙂 As Judy Reeves says “Consider that a writing retreat is not necessarily a place, but a concept.” Good old Judy, I love her 🙂
A mini retreat can just be a day out of your normal life, where you just do what you want to do (writing wise), without all the pressure of home and family stuff. Ok, yes, I know I’m lucky. My kids aren’t little, they don’t need my constant care and attention. So if you have little kids get their dad to take them out, for the whole day! 😉
I did a couple last year and they’re great fun! Here’s what you do:
1. Gather together supplies. We’re talking chocolate, cake, Pringles, hot chocolate (these are just some of my faves by the way, but you’ve probably got your own). Alcohol is probably strumming it a bit, you don’t want to end up falling asleep at the keyboard 😉
2. Plan in advance what you’re going to write. Personally I like to use prompts. Why? Because I use my mini retreat days almost like a day of practice. A chance to get away from the project I’ve been working on for the last 3 months, allowing my creative juices to flow and my muse to be inspired.
3. Wave bye to the kids/husband/wife, shut the door and turn off the phone and computer. As far as the world is concerned you’re on retreat so don’t use it as a day for surfing the web, catching up with blogs or FaceBooking. No no no. If you really were on retreat, with no internet access, no phone reception, people wouldn’t be able to get hold of you then would they? So don’t let them now. Remember, mentally you are un-contactable 😉
4. Dress comfortably and start writing! And munching 😉 Simples!
My final tip for a mini retreat is to get yourself a copy of this baby!
Inside is a selection of cards each listing 20 prompts on different themes 🙂
Nooooo, don’t be silly, I’m not going to list some of them here, that wouldn’t be very fair on Judy now would it. But, if you really do fancy giving it a go, e mail me and I’ll help you out with some ideas….but I won’t reply today as I’m on retreat 😉
And that’s it! 🙂 I’m excited already! Poor hubby, he feels bad leaving me on my own all day on a weekend. I’ll cope I say with pouting lip as I push him out the door *sniggers* 😉
Fancy joining me? Have you ever had mini retreats?
Related articles
- DIY Writing Retreats (shelleywidhalm.wordpress.com)
The View Outside 
Vikki, this is the coolest idea! I’m gonna have to give it a try. Your snack list sounds pretty good, with a little coffee added, and I do believe I will include some vino in the afternoon, after I get so many words in. 🙂
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He he he, thanks Tina, and yes, there will be coffee, well, cappucino’s 😉
I’ve thought about the vino….hubby may not be home til about 8pm, so if he’s not in by 6 I’ll crack open a bottle 🙂
Xx
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What a fantastic idea, Vikki. When I saw the title of this post I thought you were ‘going away’ somewhere. But the ‘concept’ is actually better than just a ‘place’. Love it! 😀
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Oh definitely Dianne 🙂
I did 2 last year and thoroughly enjoyed it! I’ll report on Monday how I got on.
Xx
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Lucky! What I wouldn’t give for even a solid afternoon just to myself to get work done on one project or another 🙂 Have fun on ‘retreat’
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Start trying to figure out how you could arrange that honey.
It is hard when you have family and commitments, but, hopefully, with a bit of planning….. 😉
Thank you 🙂
Xx
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Yes it is:)
The older girls have a girl scouts thing for a few hours in the middle of the day today. I’m planning on taking my notebook to a coffee house near the meeting and working on editing a few short stories.
Phone on silent, coffee in hand, quiet place. Not an afternoon but better than an hour or two after they are asleep 🙂
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Did you do it?
How did it go?
Xx
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My first location was a bust but there was a McDonald’s with WiFi that I was able to work for a while and have breakfast. So I got in about an uninterrupted hour of revision time on my short stories.
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An hours an hour honey 😉
Well done!
Xx
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This is AMAZING! I hope you don’t mind but I had to reblog it 🙂
I love retreats and as my pathetic little wallet will not allow me to go away anywhere, I’m always looking for ways to bring the exotic or away-from-home feel to my apartment.
I’m planning on painting my chalkboard next weekend buuuut I may get up the courage and energy this weekend so if I do paint it this weekend, it’ll be the perfect way to kick off my weekly writing retreats (seeing as I have no wife/husband/children and the dog LOVES and misses her writing cuddles). I have to say your treat list sounds great but I’ll be stocking my fridge with hummus, sliced carrots and cucumbers, tiny tomatoes, grapes, wedges of old cheddar cheese, crackers and my ultimate favourite brand of apple juice. Of course there’ll have to be some chocolate as well. Oh and Twizzlers. And perhaps some gummy worms.
Happy writing!
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ReBlog away Sandra 🙂
Oooooo, gummy worms! Damn, I forgot the chewy sweeties! Lol
Have fun! Let me know how you get on honey xx
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Reblogged this on Another 12 Novels in 12 Months and commented:
A brilliant idea (and a book to go along with it!). Who says you need to go far in order to have a writer’s retreat!
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Thanks honey 🙂
Xx
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I’d like to retreat. No time for one at the moment with other obligations. Would’ve this weekend, but something else came up. I’ll have to seriously consider having one.
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Do try to do one CC, it’s really refreshing, especially staying off line (which I’ll be doing in a minute lol).
Good luck honey!
Xx
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A brilliant idea!
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Thanks Barbara…..now, where’s my fluffy dressing gown?
Xx
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This is a great idea. 🙂 Good point – no need to go anywhere for a writing retreat. It is more of a state of mind. You can even travel to a quiet cafe or write near a pretty river in the warmer months to get away from the house if need be.
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That’s a really good point Sara! In the summer, spend the whole day writing at the beach….hmmmm, you’ve got me thinking now 😉
Xx
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Ooh beach. That would be lovely.
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I love this idea! I’ve been struggling for a while with ways to tempt hubby to go away for the day and leave me alone. I’m trying to rekindle his interest in fishing, as that seems ideal, but he won’t take the bait. Forgive the pun.
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Ha ha ha….golf? 😉
Good luck Zoe!
Xx
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I like this idea a lot. I’ll try it (not today as I’m working)
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Thanks Patsy 🙂
If you do give a go let me know how you get on xx
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Enjoy your day! 🙂
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I did Mary, thanks 🙂
Xx
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Excellent idea.
I too have a mini-writer’s retreat day today. Mrs W and the kids have gone shopping – giving me time to do final edits and load up a second book of short stories to amazon kindle 🙂
Was asked last night what I want for my birthday this year and all I could think of was ‘time’ ; )
Hope you get loads of great writing done.
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Thanks Keith 🙂
And as you know now from Twitter, I had a VERY productive day!
Did you get done what you needed to yesterday?
Ha ha ha, oh yes! I’m seriously considering buying a book on time management, how sad is that? 😉
Xx
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I love this idea. Many times writers don’t have time and can’t afford actual writing retreats. Why not have one in your home!
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Thanks Sara! 🙂
If you’ve got hubby and kids like I have it takes a bit of pre planning, but so worth it!
If you give it a go do let me know how you get on.
Xx
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I am honestly never, EVER on my own for a whole day. A few hours is all I get, but I do try my best to use them for writing!
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Bel, i would go mad if I didn’t get “me” time every day. But, i remember when the kids were little, having all 3 at home, before they all started school…..awful 😦 Hubby would often take them out though so i could have a few hours to recharge.
Virginia Woolf went on about a woman having a room of her own, perhaps she should have said “time” on their own 😉
Xx
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Man, I could really use a retreat too! I’m so addicted to social media though that even one day without would be enough to put me in the looney bin. However, I have given up TV/Movies for 21 days and I am definitely getting a lot more writing done. Would probably be even further along if I gave it all up. Hmmmm…time to start planning. Thanks for the great post and enjoy your own retreat!
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Ha ha ha, it was bloody hard, and ok, yes, I admit, I checked my phone once or twice, for really urgent e mails of course 😉
Good for you honey! I rarely watch TV anymore, gave up on all the Soaps….best thing I ever did!
Awwwww, thank you 🙂 Yes, I did, I was VERY productive!
Xx
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Excellent idea, – Hubs is out Monday afternoon, My work should be finished by Monday lunchtime – ahh just me and the WIP
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Good luck Jayne!
Xx
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Love this idea…just need to push everyone out the door! I’ll grab a copy of that book too…maybe organise a retreat with some of my writing circle pals.
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Thanks Mandy 🙂
Ooooo, yeah, a whole day in the coffee shop or something. Remember what Judy says, it’s not the place, but the concept! Good luck and I wanna hear all about it 🙂
Xx
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I love this post Vikki – what a great idea. I don’t think I’m likely to get a whole day, but I might do if on school hours when I next have a day off. Sandra 🙂
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Thanks Sandra, although I can’t really claim the idea, that’s Judy Reeves 😉
It is hard though, you have to ignore the sink full of washing up, the tidying, the laundry, etc etc lol
Good luck, let me know how you get on xx
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Strictly speaking, I have writing retreats every school day, for 6 hours, give or take. My retreats include M&M’s and coffee.
In the latest The Writer magazine, I became envious of no longer living in the U.K. An article talked about Charlie’s Urban Writer’s Retreat – where you go for a day away from everything. She runs them in Shoreditch and Devon, you use the offices, meet up with other writers over lunch, and tea and coffee is supplied.
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Good for you Hunter 🙂
Oooooo, that sounds wonderful! Thanks honey, will check it out!
Xx
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This is a really good idea. I often get too distracted, and don’t really do enough to shut off distractions in this way.
Definitely something I’ll try out!
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Thanks David 🙂
I try to minimise ALL distractions 😉
Good luck if you decide to do it, and let me know how you get on 🙂
Xx
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