Writer's Retreats - A Creative Get-Away

Naughty Words's picture

In my last post, I mentioned how I’m cutting back on conventions and other public appearances. However, I did not mention writer’s retreats. I love writer’s retreats and I try to go to one or two every year. Right now, I’m in central Massachusetts at a retreat hosted by Broad Universe. Broad Universe is a networking group for women who write speculative fiction. This glorious retreat is in a beautiful house in the middle of the woods. There is lots of snow on the ground. I saw squirrels and birds. This place is bucolic. I love it. I could live in a place like this, which actually isn’t too far off from where I live. I just have the ocean instead of the mountains.

I’m working on my young adult dark fiction novel “Hell Time”, some blog posts, and a short story. This is the ideal location to refresh my batteries and get ahead of the fiction work. I’m surrounded by other women who write and I welcome the company. I already know everyone here except for two people who are new to me. But that won’t last long.

If you are a writer and are in the market for a writer’s retreat, here are a few to apply for that I’ve read are worthwhile:

Wellspring House Retreat – Located in Ashfield, Massachusetts, Wellspring is open year round. Rates per week are reasonable and vary depending on season and if you are coming along as an individual or a couple.

Yaddo – This one is an artist’s retreat that welcomes writers. You must apply to be accepted. According to Wikipedia, collectively, artists who have worked at Yaddo have won 66 Pulitzer Prizes, 27 MacArthur Fellowships, 61 National Book Awards, 24 National Book Critics Circle Awards, 108 Rome Prizes, one Nobel Prize, and more. The name “Yaddo” rhymes with “shadow”.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Retreat – Can you imagine your muse inspiring you in the Rocky Mountains? Then, you’d like this retreat. This retreat spans three nights and often includes agent and author guests. Prices vary up to $399 for a private bedroom for the duration of the retreat. You may also stay for one day for $65 including meals.

Retreats located outside the U. S. that may appeal include the Himalayan Writers Retreat, Luova Retreats in Provence, France, and the women-only A Writer Within in Tuscany.

The only bad thing is I miss my husband. We spend every waking moment together when neither of us is working. It’s unusual for me to be away from him, but I’m so productive now it’s not so bad. I attended this retreat last year and I intend to make it a yearly occurrence.

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Elizabeth Black writes in a wide variety of genres including erotica, erotic romance, horror, and dark fiction. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and her two cats.

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