Breaking Solitary

Published by on April 12, 2017
Categories: Uncategorized

Breaking solitary is not easy for a writer. As writers, we need to be alone. I thrive on living in my head. Inventing worlds known only to me. Please do not interrupt when my characters are speaking, thinking, acting, planning, and plotting, thank you very much.

Sometimes, though, I need to step outside of myself to refresh, question, dig into, and refine. But I don’t want to do it if its a waste of time. Breaking my self-imposed solitary confinement is difficult for me. I’ve been to some bad writers events, so when I finally commit my time and money to one, then you can bet I’ve checked it out and I am certain my time shall not be wasted. Linda Sands’ Write by the Water retreat does all it promises and more. That I just came back from my second one should tell you plenty about the high esteem I hold for it.

Retreats come in many sizes and shapes. Too big, writers get lost in the shuffle. Six to eight in a small location is perfect. A small number allows the getting to know of the full scope of the challenges we each have to our writing. Yes! Blocks happen for all sorts of reasons. We can do deep dives into method and motive and psychological and psycho! The answer might not come at that time and rewrites might be incomplete, but that does not matter because what has happened is the meeting of minds that spurs solutions to the thorny plot point or character development.

Aggravate a reader because a main character is superficial or there is no real plot? Say it isn’t so.

I did not do much, if any, social media sharing during my five days at Write by the Water. I didn’t take many photos, either. Instead, I had a perfect spot to free my mind because, after all, when one frees the mind, why, the rest will naturally follow.

If you’re looking for this type of retreat, then I suggest you stay in touch with Linda Sands.

Full moon by the sea @WriteByTheWater.

Full moon by the sea @WriteByTheWater.

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

Public reading of our works @WriteByTheWater

By the water @WriteByTheWater

By the water @WriteByTheWater

2017-04-08 11.07.55

Yes, I took time to color…in the middle of the night. This allowed my mind to quietly cogitate on the previous day.

2017-04-09 19.43.42

Prepping for the retreat. Click this picture for a funny poem about making this list.