If you love creative writing, you’ll know that carving out the time to write can be a challenge. We all lead busy lives, and our own interests often give way under the pressure of family, work, and daily obligations. It ‘s tough to find inspiration – and to stay inspired. When we encounter difficulties with our writing, we’re on our own and it’s easy to get discouraged.
What are the benefits of writing retreats?
On a creative writing retreat, these challenges fall away. You get to put reality on hold and be the writer you always wanted to be – not alone, but in the company of others who share your interests. What’s even more wonderful is that you do this in a gorgeous location, where everything about each day is inspiring.
For many of us, going on a writing retreat is a dream come true. Suddenly, we have all the time in the world to write. We’re part of a supportive community of writers who share our experiences. Daily workshops help us delve deeper into our craft, and a wealth of new experiences offer an endless stream of inspiration.
There’s no wonder so many successful books were written on creative writing retreats.
As our 2020 writing retreat concluded last February in Costa Rica, I asked our writers what they had gained most from the experience. One writer told me she had never travelled alone before. She said that finding the courage to join our retreat left her exhilarated – and this unexpected belief in herself filtered into every magical moment of her week. She wrote stories she had never imagined she could write. Built long-lasting friendships. Formulated dreams for the future – some to do with her writing, and others with her life. She said she had not expected so many ‘deep and meaningful’ conversations, so much laughter, so many memories packed into just a week. Her conclusion: “This experience has changed my life. It’s changed the way I see myself.”
Last week, a writer who attended one of our retreats three years ago wrote to tell me that her book was about to be published. “Your retreat gave me the space and skills to start writing,” she said. “I could not have done this otherwise.”
We have now opened our post-pandemic retreats to registration, and they are already three quarters full. To find out more, go to https://www.centauriarts.com/retreats/
