Writing, Renewal & Retreats

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers.

Writing is how I make sense of the world...how I make sense of my world. I've worked hard to meaningfully incorporate writing into my daily life again and I've seen the difference.

I've returned to the practice of morning pages and I couldn't be happier. I wake at about 4:00 or 4:30 in  the morning and walk down the hall to my writing room. I light a candle, turn on the twinkle lights and write. The first page is always slow...ten minutes...as my brain is waking up. The next couple of pages come more smoothly. After that, I work on my writing or a blog post or I write out a card. I allow myself to work on what I want to work on to begin my day. It's lovely. I've missed one day so far and I felt the lack in the rest of my day. Morning pages center me and allow me to be open.

Writing retreats! This past weekend I spent Saturday with my NVWP peeps at a writing renewal day long retreat. We spent the day at the beautiful Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal, VA. I can't imagine a better place to write and meet with my writing friends. We spent the morning discussing how to write conference proposals...I'm working on mine!! We enjoyed a delicious lunch and spent the afternoon writing. Just look at my view...

This brought me back to my week at Highlights for my Unworkshop Retreat this past summer.

I need to find CREATE more of these opportunities. This devoted time to write is invaluable. I've always wanted to plan writing retreats. I'm starting! No idea how to do this, but I'm jumping in!! I'm going to plan days and weekend writing retreats for myself and for my writing friends.

I'd love to hear suggestions in the comments! What would you want in a retreat? Where would you like to go? What would you like to do? I'm doing this. Blogging about it makes it real and makes me accountable. I've already started some research. I'm starting with a day retreat each month where we simply gather to write. Locations are being scouted. Near northern Virginia? Interested? Join me!

Writing is important to me. Time spent writing always leaves me feeling better. Creating more opportunities for me and others to write and share our writing...priceless.