Happy June! Okay, it’s July tomorrow so I’m just a little late with this newsletter. How are you? What are your plans for summer? I’m hoping to get one of my many WIPs finished. Let me know on this discussion thread what your plans are!
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to get away on a DIY writing retreat with my two closest writing friends. So I thought I’d share some tips on how to run one of your own.
If you can, leave your house and city behind. It’s good to have fresh surroundings so you really feel like you are “retreating”. We headed to the beautiful California coast but choose a location that gets you in the right frame of mind for creating.
But don’t worry if a physical change of surroundings isn’t possible. You can still have a retreat at home. Set boundaries with your family if you need to (I am working for these hours and don’t disturb me unless it’s an emergency!), put on some ambient music or noise canceling headphones, and get comfortable.
If you’re retreating with other people, make sure you put aside time for catching up, exchanging news, and celebrating milestones. Especially after the past year!
Set your intentions for the retreat. And share them so you can hold each other accountable. They should be achievable but also stretching. For example, write three chapters, write 1000 words, draft a new picture book etc. If you’re retreating alone, let a critique partner know your target. Or even post it on social media. Just have some kind of accountability.
But also, make time to rest and recharge.
And have a plan for food! Do you plan to cook all the meals, order in, try out some local restaurants, or a combination?
Bring along some reading material: mentor texts, craft books, books you love. You can share them with each other and something might spark a new idea.
If you want more structure, you could have timed writing sprints, use prompts, or do some workshopping.
The beauty of DIY is it’s completely customizable to you. It’s your retreat so…
ENJOY!
News Roundup
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of helping Vicky Fang launch the latest book in her Layla and the Bots series: Cupcake Fix. It was her first ever book launch as all her other books launched during the pandemic so it was a wonderful day. Check out all her amazing books here.
The Wish Library: Together Forever launches October 1! Get your preorders in now via your local indies or online retailers. There will be preorder gifts so keep hold of your receipts and stay tuned. Order via my local indie if you’d like a signed copy.
See you next month. Hopefully before the end of it!