 As much as I LOVE teaching, summer is still my favorite time of year. I love the weather and I have more time to write and attend conferences.
With some new book contracts underway, I have a LOT of writing to do this summer. I decided it was time to plan my own little writing retreat. (Just like the "real writers" always talk do!) Have you ever considered time away from distractions to focus on a book project or two? Of course my dream get-away would be to go to the Highlights Foundation cabins and schedule myself a week of "unworkshop" days. I've been there for workshops before and highly recommend going! With un-workshop days though, you stay there, enjoy the AMAZING food, and write in the barn, your cabin, out in the woods, or whatever inspires you. If you have the money...do it! My next search for a writing retreat was looking at Airbnb's. There are many options all over the United States. You can search by location, type of dwelling, price, or dates. There are tiny houses, apartments, private rooms within a house, even tree houses! The prices are a wide range, but can be more affordable than other options. Do check reviews for safety and cleanliness. Another option I considered was using up some hotel reward points and staying for a week or two at someplace like a Fairfield Inn, with a full kitchen and bigger room. It would be a quiet, clean space to get a lot of writing done. As I continued my research for a place to go, I thought about offering to dog sit or house sit for someone. It could be an exchange of needs. I need a quiet home to stay in for an extended time and someone else may need someone to take care of his/her home. Bingo! I found the perfect match for me. I'm so excited, as this person is an author also and part of my stay will be with her there. We will have a chance to write during the day and chat and critique each other in the evenings. I still hope to try one or all of the other options out other summers, but for this year, I'm looking forward to my time away writing, like the "real writers" do. |