Many long years ago, I was granted a writer retreat at the Mary Anderson Center. They no longer have a poet/writer retreat, but they do have an artist/potter one.
I took a printout of my fantasy trilogy, SAGE. I had taken it apart and cobbled it back together out of many rewrites, and badly needed the retreat. I needed to have nothing on my mind but this huge story. I needed to be able to hold the whole thing in my head with nothing breaking my train of thought or claiming my attention, so I could get all the scenes in order with the sometimes bizarre continuity intact.
Is this a perfect writing space, or what?
Retreat Desk
Coffee. Snacks. Water. Music. Big Fat Fantasy. Notebook and pen. Perfect!
Got ‘er done, too.
If you ever get a chance to do a retreat, I highly recommend it, especially if you have a project like this to wrestle into shape. Shaw Guides has a great place to start looking.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character goes on retreat but it doesn’t work out so well.
MA
Jessica Nunemaker
March 5, 2015 at 6:33pmThat’s a far drive for me…but it could just be worth it. 🙂 I’ll drive anywhere for little Indiana but outside of that, it’s hard to justify. Ha!
Marian Allen
March 5, 2015 at 10:13pmWell, how about Midwest Writers Workshop in Muncie, Indiana http://www.midwestwriters.org/writers-retreat/ or Indiana University Writers Conference http://www.iuwc.indiana.edu/ ? I’ve been to both and recommend them. I’ve never been to Rope Walk Writers Retreat http://ropewalk.org/ in New Harmony, but I hear it’s outstanding.
Jessica Nunemaker
March 5, 2015 at 4:56pmHmm. I had no idea. I had heard about the train doing something like that before but I guess I didn’t realize it was a thing. That’s an idea I could really take advantage of!
Marian Allen
March 5, 2015 at 5:56pmOh, yes, do! Green River Writers in Louisville has a great one I highly recommend!
Jane
March 5, 2015 at 9:39amI can think of some stuff I’d like to retreat from!
I love SAGE. I’m really glad you were able to get it just the way you wanted it.
GO GET THE BOOKS, FRIENDS!
THEN READ THEM!
Marian Allen
March 5, 2015 at 9:42amTHEN REVIEW THEM, LIKE JANE DID! lol