Solo Writing Retreats are the best!

Get inspired, be motivated, and take time for your writing by planning your own

Have you ever considered a solo writing retreat? Planned a trip to accomplish something or rejuvenate your spirit? I’ve been on three and planning another one later this year. Lisa Shaughnessy of Your Writing Retreat Connection interviewed me about my solo writing retreats. Please continue reading below the podcast link for photos and stories about my trips.

What you’ll hear in the podcast:

• What I learned by going on three solo writing retreats

• Why we discussed Ian Fleming

• How I kept inspired and motivated

• A few words about my current work in progress.

About my three solo writing retreats

In 2021, I ventured on my first solo writing trip to carve out time to focus on my writing projects. The oppressiveness of lockdown and staying inside weighed me down, and I felt stuck.

In 2019, we purchased a timeshare, and fast forward to May 2021, and I’m losing my mind and about to lose points.

So, I found an isolated resort in Northwestern Arkansas and planned a week away. On the way, I spent a night in Hot Springs and visited a local artist who calls herself The Fairy Gourdmother. She is talented at making fun and whimsical pieces from gourds. When I got to Fairfield Bay, I went on nature walks daily, visited artist shops, bought horse hair pottery, and made time to explore to keep me motivated.

On one of my hikes at a nature center, I passed by a cave entrance.

The Mona Lisa Cafe in Shirley, Arkansas, promised online that lattes were available. I hopped in the car for an adventure, and after a twenty-minute drive around curves and down steep hills, local business owners told me that Mona Lisa was in the hospital. So, another shopkeeper offered me some of their coffee.

My next destination was San Antonio in September 2021. I stayed in a lovely place close to the River Walk and Farm-to-Table restaurants, and on this trip, I found good lattes. Each day I was there, I walked five miles or more. When I’m on a writing retreat, it has to be more than about writing. I talk about this in the podcast.

Delicious farm-to-table meal, about a 20-minute walk from where I stayed.

The Riverwalk paths offered shade in hot September.

Finishing the first draft

I eventually reached the point where I wanted to go away to finish the first draft. In March 2023, I applied to The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs. Arkansas and was accepted for a residency in May 2023. Heading to Eureka Springs, a historic, haunted, and magical place, motivated me to go the distance. Staying in a place like The Writer’s Colony, dedicated to writers and offering space, meals, and camaraderie for writing, was nurturing and supportive.

The Colony is a short walk from the historic downtown area. After the first retreat, I decided I wanted to have restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance when on a writing retreat.

This is one of my favorite art stores ever, and I found it on the walk from The Writer’s Colony to town. They make some of their watercolors from ground minerals found from around the world. They sell every watercolor supply you can imagine.

Beautiful flowers lined the walk and brightened rainy days.

While walking to town for coffee each day, one house had a big dog up on the porch that would bark at me when I walked by. Maybe she was a greeter for the bed and breakfast in the house. She was curious about me because I would talk to her from the street.

I have more stories and photos, but I want to send this out before it gets too long. It’s been a wild week for me. I hope it has been calm for you.

Solo writing retreats are an essential part of reaching my writing goals. It may not be for you, but it could be a very productive trip if you are adventurous and have a writing goal in mind. Feel free to let me know if you want to plan one and have questions.

Until next week!

May you be creative

May you be free

May you be peaceful.