Creating Your Own Writing Retreat: Free, Staycation, and Vacation Options
Snag our FREE download of our two-day retreat itinerary, too!
Writing retreats—no matter the length of time or location—are a great way to refocus on your project and filter out the daily distractions that can eat up your time. In this post, we'll cover what a writing retreat is, how it can help you write more, and we offer retreat ideas at home, as a staycation, or out of state. We’re also sharing a two-day itinerary to follow for your writing retreat as a free download.
What Is a Writing Retreat?
A writing retreat is when you plan for a dedicated time and place where you will make progress on your manuscript without distractions. You can plan a writing retreat as a weekend away or even as a few hours in your local coffee shop or a quiet place in your home.
How Will a Writing Retreat Help Me?
Writing retreats allow you the ability to focus on sleeping, eating, writing, and moving your body. You get to cut out all the other distractions that typically take up your time, such as laundry, television, scrolling social media, and other responsibilities. Specifically, a writing retreat can help you:
Set aside dedicated time to work on your writing
Get into a creative flow
Explore new ideas and perspectives
Break through your writer’s block
Free Writing Retreat Ideas
If you want to test out a writing retreat to see if it’s helpful for you or if you want to keep your expenses under the price of a cup of coffee, here are a few suggestions:
Visit your local library, coffee shop, or bookstore and work in a quiet corner
Set up a writing station in a quiet room where you live
Find a quiet spot to write in nature
Join a writing group in your community
Staycation Writing Retreat Ideas
Want to schedule a writing retreat, but don’t want to go too far from home? Try a staycation retreat. Here are a few ways you can change your scenery without changing zip codes:
Book a hotel room in your city for a night or two
Rent a condo or home in a nearby town
Swap houses with a friend for a weekend
Set up a tent in your backyard and treat yourself to a camping retreat
Vacation Writing Retreat Ideas
If you're able to travel, try one of these writing retreat ideas:
Plan a writing retreat in a more remote location like a cabin in the woods or a beachside resort
Attend a writing conference and join workshops and take advantage of other opportunities to connect with writers
Apply for and attend an artist’s residency program
Visit a city or town known for its literary history like Key West, Florida, or Boston, Massachusetts
