Writing is a solitary thing. You sit at your desk and scribble with a pen/pencil or you type on your computer. It’s just you and the page. Personally, I love to brainstorm. I find it ‘feeds’ my mind, gets my creative juices going. So when the vice president of NYRWA suggested a writer’s retreat I jumped at the chance.
Friday, eleven of us traipsed to Ocean Grove, New Jersey just the other side of Asbury Park on the Jersey shore and are at the Ocean Grove Inn. The weather is temperate, bright, and sunny. There are no plans for a speaker or presentations. Our plan is to write and share.
I’m getting a head start on this post. It’s Saturday morning and we’re all scattered around. Some have gone for a walk at the beach to catch some inspiration (and walk off breakfast). Some of us are in the comfortable living room, heads how and writing. Others are out on the deck doing pretty much the same thing, writing. We’ve decided to all meet back here to walk over to another inn noted for their wonderful tea and catch up on our day of writing. Later we’ll take a peek at another great sunset and, apropos, we’ll tour the paranormal museum after dinner.
Then it’s back to the inn to fill up more pages. Writing may be singular, but it doesn’t have to be solitary. Do you like to write alone or with company? Do you need inspiration?
What a wonderful retreat! Tea at The Lillagaard was delicious. The ghost walk around Asbury Park at night was spooky. The hot chocolate at Rafferty's afterwards was yummy. We wrote, helped each other through some blocks, and discussed the state of the publishing business. We just have to do this again.
I would so love to do something like that. Every writer I know who has been to a writing retreat got so much out of it. Sigh!
Our chapter did one at a cabin tucked about a ski resort in the summer. It was wonderful and definitely inspirational. Away from "life" for a little while in the company of those who understand, is the perfect way to charge your creative battery. Sounds wonderful, Ruth.
What a wonderful experience and opportunity to pick great minds. Awesome!
Sounds wonderful! Only other writers understand and can give us the encouragement and support that we need.
How wonderful, Ruth. I keep trying to make my local chapter's annual retreat but it falls the week of several family birthdays. I'll keep trying. I prefer to write alone, but when there are others who understand, and I can stop chatting, it's nice to write with someone who 'gets' me. Thanks for sharing your lovely weekend.
You lucky duck! It is amazing how much work CAN get done in a different and spectacular environment. Have fun.
It was a wonderful retreat.
It was a wonderful retreat.