Just like I'll have to plan a trip to Ireland the old fashioned way, I decided a few months ago to organise my own writing retreat.
Of course, I can apply for a variety of residencies, pay my entry/submission fee and play the waiting game, and there is every chance I will do that, at least with a select few opportunities, but I am not always a fan of 'the unknown' that comes with that territory. The idea of planning my own time away to write seems so much more efficient And definite.
So one day I spent an hour or so in what I thought might be 'just dreaming', as I scoured accommodation opportunities within a couple of hours' drive. By the end of the hour, having realised that with such an abundance of accommodation on the Sunshine Coast that at least some places have excellent deals, I decided to make the dream a reality. I tried to be sensible though, and hold off a few days before making a booking, just in case. And to consider dates properly.
And tweet about it. Which turned out to make it an even sweeter deal, as one of my friends is coming along to spend the week writing her own stuff. It will be super cool to share the experience: to talk through writing issues with another writer as they come up, to share the excitement of getting so much writing done, to share the space, the costs as well as to have someone that makes sure I don't sit in front of my screen for too many hours at a time. All this sharing is going to make it the coolest writing retreat ever, and by the end of the week, I may even have learned how to share my chocolate.
We're heading off on Sunday: 7 glorious days and nights on King's Beach. Can't wait!
Of course, I can apply for a variety of residencies, pay my entry/submission fee and play the waiting game, and there is every chance I will do that, at least with a select few opportunities, but I am not always a fan of 'the unknown' that comes with that territory. The idea of planning my own time away to write seems so much more efficient And definite.
So one day I spent an hour or so in what I thought might be 'just dreaming', as I scoured accommodation opportunities within a couple of hours' drive. By the end of the hour, having realised that with such an abundance of accommodation on the Sunshine Coast that at least some places have excellent deals, I decided to make the dream a reality. I tried to be sensible though, and hold off a few days before making a booking, just in case. And to consider dates properly.
And tweet about it. Which turned out to make it an even sweeter deal, as one of my friends is coming along to spend the week writing her own stuff. It will be super cool to share the experience: to talk through writing issues with another writer as they come up, to share the excitement of getting so much writing done, to share the space, the costs as well as to have someone that makes sure I don't sit in front of my screen for too many hours at a time. All this sharing is going to make it the coolest writing retreat ever, and by the end of the week, I may even have learned how to share my chocolate.
We're heading off on Sunday: 7 glorious days and nights on King's Beach. Can't wait!
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