Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds

This week's prompt: Describe the perfect writing retreat, real or imagined

I have a folder full of links to writing retreats saved on my computer. When I'm feeling low, bored, depressed, or have itchy feet, I open it up, and go to each link, reading about the venue, the writers in residence, and any blogs that I can find which describe the experience of being at the retreat. Photographs are a bonus. It always lifts my spirits.

I did spend three months at one absolutely wonderful fellowship in Berl...

This week’s question asks us to describe the perfect writing retreat, real or imagined. 

Last night I dreamt I went to Wandsworth again. 

Wandsworth House is a writers retreat. Never mind that I’ve never been on a writers retreat or to any place called Wandsworth, I just wanted to use that great opening line, which I came up with all by myself. Really!

In my dream, the retreat was to be a creative weekend spent in drafty old mansion on a desolate island off the Cornwall Coast. The house was accessi...

Describe the perfect writing retreat, real or imagined.

b y Dietrich

My perfect writing retreat is a place where creativity can thrive, distractions are forgotten and stories can come alive. It is a sanctuary—whether real or imagined—away from notifications, obligations, and, most importantly, self-doubt. 

I picture a cozy cabin tucked into a forest, where sunlight filters through ancient trees to dapple a weathered desk. Or a cliffside cottage, where the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore sy...

 

Terry here with our question of the week: Describe the perfect writing retreat, real or imagined. 
My perfect writing retreat has to be imagined because it doesn’t exist. Or rather, maybe it exists for some male writers, but very few women writers. 
First of all, the ideal retreat is one that I don’t have to do anything to make happen. I just show up with my computer and a bag packed with essential clothing and toiletries. It can be the mountains or the seashore. An island. A cabin in the woods. ...

Describe the perfect writing retreat, real or imagined.
"Perfect" is such a tricky word. And I happen to have the unenviable habit of letting the "perfect" be the enemy of the "good." So, of course, when I read this prompt, I started imagining exotic getaways with ideal creative circumstances. A trip on the Orient Express, perhaps. Or a private island with no cell reception and ample snacks.
But then I remembered last weekend.
As it happens, I've just gotten back from a little DIY writer's retreat...

 My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of librarybooks with a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru AnnLove's record of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infesteddaily blog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep arecord, write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

I like writing reviews of books and I like posting them on Instagram,with a beautiful photo of the book. As I hit ‘post’, it feels like I’m throwinga...

My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of library books with a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru Ann Love's record of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infested daily blog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep a record, write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

Dru's Book Musings, by the way. 

I keep a record of what I read, here on my blog. I have no memory of why I started except that it was a round-up of m...

My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of library books with a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru Ann Love's record of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infested daily blog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep a record, write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

Dru's Book Musings, by the way. 

I keep a record of what I read, here on my blog. I have no memory of why I started except that it was a round-up of m...

 My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of library books with a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru Ann Love's record of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infested daily blog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep a record, write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

I have, in the past, kept a running record of books I read that year. I don't know why I stopped, because it is actually a very helpful tool to have arou...

In the Margins: Notes on the Art of Active Reading

My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of library bookswith a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru Ann Love’srecord of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infested dailyblog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep a record,write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

 

I’ve abandoned the idea of keeping a list of the books I’veread. But I do leave...