Retreat into Writing

I just returned from a two-day retreat at Stillpoint House of Prayer. Imagine a place where you have a bedroom suite all to yourself, complete with handknit afghan. Delicious food prepared three times a day, and meals taken in silence. Hours stretching out in front of you with only the ticking clock for company. Bliss.

I started doing writing retreats several years ago. I scoped out various retreat centres in the Ottawa area, and visited for a day or a weekend. I staged a homemade retreat while housesitting for my parents, and once I stayed at the university residence during the summer. When I was working full time, I tried to do a retreat once a month. Now once every three months seems a better schedule.

I find these mini-vacations from my life really productive and rejuvenating. I journal, read, and work on manuscripts. I plan my work for the coming weeks or months. Being away from home frees me from other thoughts and helps me focus on the work at hand. In fact, I find retreats so good for me that they sometimes feel like cheating. I'm short-cutting all of my usual obstacles. Shouldn't I instead learn to write in the midst of my daily distractions and demands? Sure, but I prefer to have both/and. I'll continue to take my writing retreats while integrating that focus into my routines at home.