Introduction
I have just returned from my critique group’s second annual writing retreat. We spent three days in northern New Hampshire writing, relaxing, socializing, and eating (one of our writers is a professional chef!). One of the best things about this retreat is that it was structured, and yet flexible. We had a plan, but frequently amended the plan to include spur-of-the-moment activities or to designate more time where it was needed. I now feel refreshed in spirit, mind, and body; ready for more writing. In addition, I am immensely glad these ‘gurlz’ are my writing partners and, most importantly, my friends.
The Drives Up and Back
While I balk at sometimes having to drive an hour and forty-five minutes one-way to work, I thoroughly enjoyed the long drive to and from the retreat. I carpooled with one of my CPs. We were able to chat and catch up, something neither of us had had much time for in the past several weeks. It was the perfect start to three days of writer’s bliss.
Hitchhiking
In this article by Kim, one of my critique partners, she explains how to use ‘hitchhiking’ to get the creative juices flowing. While we ate lunch and waited for all six of us to arrive, we practiced hitchhiking stories. One of us would start a story, and we’d keep going around the table, adding a sentence or two at a time, until the story ended. Let me tell you, the stories never went in the direction I thought they were going to go. I was particularly grateful for this activity: I used it to flesh out some of my Storystorm 2020 ideas.
Juggling
One of our critique partners is a professional clown and circus performer. She treated us to a juggling break where we learned to juggle poi and practiced what we had learned last year: juggling scarves. This elevated our heart rates and got the blood pumping to our brains in preparation for our next activity: making vision boards.
Vision Boards
At the beginning of the month, we worked together to help each other come up with a focus word for 2020. Mine was ‘explore.’ We took our words to the retreat, and used scrapbook materials, magazines, and other craft supplies to create a collage representation of what our word meant to us. Set among the background of music and wine, this was the perfect creative activity for the evening. I made three vision boards! (I couldn’t stop myself!)
Morning Yoga and Wish Paper
Kate, another one of my critique partners, teaches yoga to teens at the library. She led us in poses that stretched the body, followed by an exercise to stretch the mind. We wrote wishes for 2020 on wish paper and curled each paper into a cylinder. We then placed the cylinders on a plate and lit the top of each one on fire. After a few seconds, the wishes leapt into the air, consumed in flames! I caught my charred remains and smeared some of the ashes into my writing notebook—I’m not really sure why; it felt symbolic.
Storymatic
I have to purchase this game for writers. Jackie brought Storymatic—both the version for kids and the one for adults—to the retreat. We selected cards like “librarian in love” and “mirror” or “covered in tattoos,” “doesn’t feel attractive enough,” and “obvious plastic surgery” and spent 10-15 minutes writing stories which integrated the phrases. Then we read our stories out loud. My favorite memory was not being able to finish the first (and then the second!) sentence of one of my stories without everyone interrupting with laughter and snorts.
Acting
We helped each other unstick our sticking points. This ‘helping’ took the usual form of ‘talking things out,’ except, however, when it didn’t! We discussed one partner’s plot points. We brainstormed titles for another member. After that, we acted out the picture book I’m writing and which recently has me stumped. Watching my story performed as a play was hilarious and fabulous, and probably one of—if not the—highlights of the retreat. This exercise—which was more fun than work—helped me immediately with setting, plot, dialogue, and a whole lot more. Above all, I am so grateful for these moments of laughter and improvisation and will cherish them forever, even if this particular picture book never gets published. (But I think it will! Someday!)
Freewriting
What would a writing retreat be without freewriting? There was plenty of this, thank goodness! I got to do my morning pages, kept up with Storystorm, and worked on drafts for at least two picture books. Similarly, I wrote poems, concocted silly brain-unblocking stories, and journaled. I may use one of the Storymatic ideas that I fleshed out during a freewriting session, and turn it into a picture book. In addition, I may also use a question one of my critique partners asked me—What would you tell your eleven-year-old self if you could go back in time? —as a blog post.
Conclusion
There is no ‘all-in-all’ or ‘in conclusion’ sort of ending that justifies just how amazing the entirety of this writing retreat was. Friendships were solidified and strengthened. Tears and laughter united us. And writing… did I mention how much I love Love LOVE writing?!
Have you been on a writing retreat lately? Similarly, what do you look for in a writing retreat or critique partners?