My schedule for a 4 day writing retreat and everything it taught me
How I made the most of a 4 day writing retreat and what it taught me about my writing (and myself)
Earlier this year I went on a four night writing retreat at Starcroft Farm Cabins. You can read all about my writing retreat on my blog, including how beautiful and unique the cabins are.
This post is about the schedule I put together for my writing retreat, because it worked and I actually wrote Lots. Of. Words!
Two year’s since my 1000 mile, 10 week hike across every national park in England and I was finally getting words on the page and writing about it. I have the Starcroft Farm Cabins retreat to thank for that, but also my planning, including my schedule for the week, which worked!
Tips for making the most of your writing retreat
If you are thinking of taking yourself on a writing retreat, whether it is at Starcroft Farm or your own little escape then hopefully these tips will help.
1. Make a rough plan, but don’t overplan
The Starcroft Farm retreat included a small activity each day, like a chair massage (yes please), a 121 hour with a writing coach (so handy), fresh cake with fellow writers (what’s not to love) and more. These little daily activities helped me plan my schedule, knowing I had something each day to work around, instantly gave me a bit of structure.
I then set myself some daily word count goals and daily activities to start my day, such as a walk, good breakfast, reading and journalling. Alongside writing goals I also scheduled in time for mapping ideas and book structure or writing something different like a letter to a friend or a poem.
I made sure there was plenty of free time, including afternoons off or knowing once I had reached my writing goal I could spend more time reading or go on a longer walk.
2. Remove Distractions (or put time aside each day for them)
I have a serious addiction to my phone and part of this week was working on that. I scheduled time each day to check emails or respond to anything urgent and turned my wifi off the rest of the time.
We can so easily get sucked in by other people’s deadlines so get an away message up and either completely switch off or schedule times for responding.
3. Make plenty of space for walks and exploring
I took my dog, Cookie, with me. In part because she was with me on my hike so features heavily in the book, so it seemed right she was with me for this. But also because she forces me out each morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening. We need nature for our creativity and those walks through the local woods helped inspire new words and remind me of memories from our hike.
4. Read every day!
I don’t know a writer who doesn’t read. I am constantly inspired by what other people write, whether it is something similar or totally different to what I am trying to write. I read some or all of 5 books while I was at Starcroft Farm and this helped me switch off from the busy fast paced world I am usually a part of.
5. Start your day with journalling
Journalling was the first thing I did each day (except make a cup of tea) and was a space to write some ideas or goals for the day and just clear my head ready for the writing!
6. Nourish yourself with good food, fresh air and inspiration
I brought some healthy homemade food with me and stocked up at the local farmshop once that had run out. A healthy nourishing breakfast with a book or podcast and regular time outside in nature helped keep my brain and belly fuelled.
My daily writing schedule
My day’s followed a similar pattern that went something like this
7.30am/8.00am (a natural wake up)
Tea and journal in bed
Walk with Cookie
Breakfast and reading
10.00am
Writing - with a target that increased each morning from 1000 - 1500 words
If I finished this and didn’t want to continue I would then read or go for another walk
12.00pm
Emails and urgent communication
1.00pm
Lunch and walk
2.00pm
afternoon activity such as book structure, working on my proposal outline and whatever activity was scheduled as part of the writing retreat like the chair massage
This could also include an afternoon off to visit the farm shop or nearby town
5.00pm
relax, read, walk, be creative such as writing a poem or a card to a friend
6.00pm onwards
dinner, more walks, more reading and probably an early night. Sleep is so important for our creativity too!
I wrote out my schedule on an A3 sheet of paper and drew little phones with crosses through them for the periods I wanted my phone in a different room. And you know what… I stuck to it!
Everything my writing retreat taught me?
Though I could have happily stayed longer, the four night retreat really helped me move my writing, my book and my brain forward. Here are a few things it taught me:
1. I need time and space to think and write
I have tried to be one of those people that can write a book on their phone during snippets of down time between meetings or on the tube to work, but that hasn’t worked for me. I find I write best when I have the time and space to do it. The lesson here is in how I carve out those times. It doesn’t have to be a whole week away, but an afternoon away from my phone and emails really helps.
2. A reminder that I can write, even with smallish pockets of time
What amazed me about the retreat was that when I sat down to write I could bash out 1000+ words in a relatively short space of time. It definitely needs editing, but the first stage is getting words on a page and this reminded me I don’t need hours to make that a reality.
3. I don’t need TV and can read so much more without it
I’m not really someone who watches tonnes of TV, but being without it enabled me to read so much more. It’s amazing how much time expands when you are away from your phone and other digital devices.
4. We absolutely need to walk in nature every single day
This was such a huge part of my experience. The cabin I stayed in was in a field on the edge of a woodland which was the perfect spot for easy regular walks. I would often leave my phone behind to truly immerse myself in the woodlands sights and sounds and it always left me feeling better when I returned
5. Silence is ok
Other than talking to Cookie and the occasional gathering with the other writers I was alone for the week. With wifi and 4G regularly turned off on my phone it meant I didn’t have Spotify either. When I arrived, the cabin’s radio was tuned into ClassicFM so I left it tuned where it was and enjoyed occasional classical melodies in the background as I wrote. Otherwise it was just the sound of birds or the leaves blowing in the trees for company.
6. Space for procrastination is essential
The schedule I put together was loose, though I have put set times above, they weren’t specific. I would get to each activity when I got to it and there was plenty of time for extra walks, reading, drawing or whatever I fancied.
I have learnt I (and we all) need more of this in our lives. We risk losing our imagination and creativity if we don’t allow the space for procrastination and even boredom! And believe me, with the world the way it is, we NEED our imagination to work a new way of doing life that is better for people and planet!
7. For me, Cookie is essential too
I never get lonely when I have my dog with me. For me she epitomises so much of what is good in life. Eating, resting, playing and running outside in nature. Dogs are a joy and I can’t imagine my life without them. Cookie is my constant inspiration to focus on the best things in life! (I’m sure if she could she would be reading and writing too)
I truly recommend a writing retreat, whether of your own making, or something pre organised like the one I went on with Starcroft Farm Cabins. But make sure there is plenty of space within the schedule and let me know if you also get loads of writing done!
Thanks for getting this far and see you soon
Jen x
Read my Starcroft Farm Cabins Review
