{"id":17529,"date":"2017-09-01T01:00:48","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T08:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=17529"},"modified":"2017-09-01T10:04:35","modified_gmt":"2017-09-01T17:04:35","slug":"cheap-retreat-guide-writing-less-money-much-ice-cream-catharine-bramkamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/01\/cheap-retreat-guide-writing-less-money-much-ice-cream-catharine-bramkamp\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cheap Retreat Guide – More Writing, Less Money, Too Much Ice Cream By Catharine Bramkamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheLet\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist\u00a0Catharine Bramkamp<\/a>\u00a0as she shares with us about \u201cThe Cheap Retreat Guide – More Writing, Less Money, Too Much Ice Cream.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

I save flyers and emails touting not only the benefits but the transformative magic of this writing workshop or that retreat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many workshops and retreats seem to take place\u00a0in exotic locations either so you have an excuse to go, or because the workshop leader has always wanted to travel there, be it Taos or Paris. And who doesn\u2019t want to travel to Taos and Paris?<\/p>\n

Except when you can\u2019t.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finances aside, consider the time it takes to study the brochure. The time spent\u00a0planning, strategizing and making lists of what to wear. Packing. Shoes. The effort to create a bio or the right fiction\u00a0pieces to submit\u00a0in order to qualify for the free critique session. The anguish of flying, the anxiety of roommates. All that time could be spent writing. All that money could buy groceries including\u00a0seven pints of premium ice cream\u00a0and a gallon of liquor.<\/p>\n

Armed with no more than that, the vague idea that saving money was desirable and that writing was important,<\/strong> I created my own DIY retreat. Since every transformative retreat needs a brochure but\u00a0DIY didn\u2019t look good on the cover,\u00a0I called it the Cheap Retreat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m happy to report that the Cheap Retreat was completely successful. I was appropriately dressed. Lunch was included. There were no lines. I encountered no transportation challenges. I was never late to writing sessions. The critique went well. I did it, and I share\u00a0here how you can do it as well.<\/p>\n

Create your own Writing Retreat, on the Cheap<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Clear the house, now known as the \u201cRetreat Center.\u201d A clean house is a distraction-free house.<\/p>\n

Clear the house of family members. This is not about them. (Easier said than done, but critical for this whole effort to help your writing.)<\/p>\n

Turn off the phone and disable the wifi on the laptop.<\/strong> Many retreat centers are located either up, up, up in the mountains or down, down, down in a sketchy South American jungle –\u00a0no Internet.<\/p>\n

Plan the Meals.<\/strong> The best meal plan is to plan your meals. I have heard of writers who take this\u00a0opportunity to cleanse and eat healthy, but none of them are friends. Some writers prefer simple meals easily\u00a0microwaved. Some retreat participants prefer take-out, some order in. Me, I prefer Ben & Jerry\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Discover your\u00a0perfect\u00a0writing spot.<\/strong> Do you even have a room of your own?\u00a0 If not, why not?\u00a0 Write in any or all the rooms of your house. What feels best? What room offers the best light? Where do you feel creative and comfortable? Have you fantasized about working in the dining room so you can spread out all your creative, inspirational equipment? Would you like to take over the kitchen table for the same reason? Are you drawn to a corner of the master bedroom?\u00a0 Why does your husband find the garage so attractive?<\/p>\n

Create the brochure.<\/strong> We know the saying, we read it, so it must be true. A full-color brochure anoints this effort with gravitas. A brochure proves this event is real. You can create a web site that needs to be visited on a daily basis for retreat updates. Create a map to the retreat center. Get excited because photos of the view from the quaint porch are so lovely. If you like, you can write yourself a check for $1,400, not including meals.<\/p>\n

Consider a retreat goal.<\/strong> It\u2019s your retreat and your weekend. Lower the bar as close to the living room carpet as you can get. Need 5,000 words? Make the goal 2,000 and reach it early for a win. Eat another pint of Chunky Monkey. Start the next phase, which is another 2,000 words.<\/p>\n

Be positive, not punishing.<\/h2>\n

Please fill out the attached evaluation form.<\/strong><\/p>\n