When I was a full time academic, I frequently made use of the opportunities to attend writing retreats - be that a day in my city, or a full weekend somewhere further afield.
A writing retreat was utterly transformative for me as writing in the everyday full time work can be challenging; I always found flow and focus and produced lots of words during a retreat. Some times, they were more broadly creatively rejuvenating where they introduced me to new writing styles, mentoring and so on.
As a mum, a writing retreat also brought a break from the decision fatigue and work of care; attending to everyone else's needs means that writing can sometimes take a back seat - or your brain can feel too full to find focus in amongst this.
When illness stops play
However; as my chronic illness progressively worsened and I left academia, the opportunities - and funds - to attend writing retreats became elusive. My health and particular issues make being away from home difficult - the travel and the logistics often trigger fatigue and flares and the stress means what was once a 'retreat' becomes too much of an ask.
And yet, I still do need some retreat time; some time out of the everyday mum and chronic illness life. Time away from marketing and being 'on' my book - to time spent in my writing.
My respite breaks: a bittersweet moment of solitude
Chronic illness means I am mostly at home; my kids however need and deserve a break, a holiday, time to see other places and people.
While I do get serious FOMO and mum guilt, our solution has become that when holidays come around; I am the one that stays behind.
This might seem like the worst case scenario, but I spend most days doing most of the care work and time with my kids - one of the main perks of having to work from home and for myself. So, we get plenty of holidaying at home and fun together too.
While the kids are away for a few days, this gives me some much needed respite time and time to regain some focus and flow with my writing - the deeper processes and especially when editing.
More than words: girl dinners, my own schedule, new ideas
During these times, my first thought is usually about how much writing I could get done - I amost always begin with grand plans about rattling out thousands of words per day. Some days I do.
However, I have also learned that these times are my opportunity to think; to plan; to strategise; to have new ideas - to think forwards and make some future goals, rather than simply react.
In the past - I would see a 'low word count' as a 'failed' retreat; the point is to get those words out. Now? I see the value in making a retreat genuinely restorative; to relish the rare opportunity to simply think.
It is also a treat to live on girl dinners at whatever time suits; to cook foods that only I like; to watch my 'silly murder programmes'; listen to my 'cringey music'; to read; to sit in the garden if weather permits; to wander literally and emotionally.
Back to reality - thank goodness!
My kids are home now and it is the greatest joy and relief to have them back; but that is the other gift of a slow retreat - realising how much you love having to write in amongst the daily challenges; and realising that you are in fact doing it and progressing and making it work.
Here's to putting that creative recharge into my daily 'little by little' writing process.
Do you need a little help getting back into your writing?
If you would like to get back into your own writing, I've put together a workbook full of my favourite writing reflection and planning prompts that always help me.
You can purchase the downloadable, 21 page, A4 pdf file workbook on my website.
- The workbook costs £3.49 (non-refundable due to the immediate digital nature of the product)
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