Writers sometimes need solitude. Many writers create pages of prose around crowds, but generally, writing is a solitary experience, so, writers need solitude. Writers have their designated “zone”’ spots, but occasionally, the desire to get away arises. A writer’s retreat offers opportunity to refocus on your craft. It’s also time, to maybe entertain new genres or writing styles, or chill the mind before beginning that next novel.

Writers’ retreat conferences often provide a particular interaction and feedback authors need to better their skills. This blog, however, is about a personal writer retreat: private time for an introspective exploration of your writing life. But, with current issues related to air travel and personal budget constraints due to etcetera and yada-yada, a writer’s retreat seems impossible if not impractical. It isn’t, though.

Week-long retreats on the beaches of Hawaii sound wonderful, but again, affordability is key. Closer to home means less spending for travel, and perhaps you have other responsibilities requiring you remain close by. So: you need to get away to recharge your writing, prefer to be close to home, and must watch the pennies. Think outside of the box. The idea of retreating at state parks is likely farthest from consideration, but they’re an ideal writer’s retreat destination.

Now, let’s assume “spousal” care, childcare, and “job” care (i.e., days off) are settled …

The Writer’s Retreat Care Package

Some of us are pen-and-paper writers, others of you are laptop devotees. Either way, as this is a writer’s retreat, here are writing essentials to pack:

• Water & (healthy) snacks. No writing focus happens without a hydrated body or with distraction of stomach growls. A portable cooler goes well here.
• Pens & paper. Plenty pens and paper (loose leaf, notebooks, etc.) will come in handy—even for those unable to imagine parting with their laptop. When that battery needs charging, but the writing juices are still flowing …
• Portable power station (fully charged). Typing away on that beloved laptop, you’ve got the best prose you’ve written in years zooming across the page. And then you get notification you have 10% battery life left … Let’s remedy the frantic stress of that moment by being prepared. Useful for cellphone recharging, too.
• Books & Bubbles. Writers should be readers, but sometimes, getting the time for it proves challenging. As this is part-vacay, pack books in your favorite genre. Blowing bubbles is an excellent stress reliever. Just pack some.
• Your Muse charm or trinket. You’re a writer; you know what this is. You also know how futile this retreat will be (real or imagined) without it.
• Non-writing essential: weekend/overnight bag. You may use it, you may not, but only you know what goes in it.

And there you have it. Start working on prepping your care package. In the next blog, the focus is retreating (literally and figuratively). You’ll see.

Stay serif and read on.