What Do You Do with a Writers Retreat?

This past week was a little experiment: I blogged a free writers retreat on Wisdom Tree. I'll spend some time assessing what went well and what went not-so-well. But for now, I address those who participated, most of them silently.

What do you do with a writers retreat, anyway?

First of all, you participate. You participate just as you are, just as you walk in the door. You participate out of whatever emotional energy, intellectual curiosity you possess at the moment. You participate in the context of your very personal situation in time, space, relationships, and responsibilities. You just show up. That's a great start.

Second, you try to do the work. I presented a few writing assignments, knowing full well that not every person would click with every assignment. But something happens when you try: you engage, and your interior self starts moving and rumbling. Even if your initial response is, This is a lame exercise, you've hooked onto it, and something will probably happen.

Third, you reflect on how you interacted with the retreat. Pay attention to what you enjoyed and what you resisted, and try to figure out why you enjoyed or resisted. Journal about what the experience itself was like. What do you know about yourself that perhaps you didn't know, or see clearly, before the retreat?

Fourth, use the retreat as raw material for what will come next. Maybe one assignment resulted in a paragraph that really holds promise. So continue with that paragraph. Or, rewrite the assignements, using your own questions or creating new assignments that focus more on your interest or project.

Fifth, reward yourself for the effort, the time, and the energy you spent. Do something lovely or fun or lazy or crazy. Blow off the steam that built up while your creative process was churning. Give yourself a little gift. Practice gratitude for having participated. Tell someone something you've learned.

In awhile, I will plan more retreats--possibly one per quarter--and I will probably focus them more specifically. Thanks so much for your presence!

  

Comments

[deca durabolin]

Questo stato un bel articolo da leggere, grazie per la condivisione di essa.