Well, the title makes the description rather unnecessary, so I’ll mostly go over different characteristics. That said, writer retreats are about going somewhere and…writing.
A weekend, a week, however many days you can squeeze in and with as much or little structure as there may be. There are groups that organize them on their own. (Disclosure: I’m part of Happy Writing! in Munich and we’ve had a few great writing retreats.) There are also places that are open for writers to either sign up for or apply to get a spot.
But to start with writing retreats, a house may be rented (or hotel rooms booked or something to that end) depending on budget, location, and amenities sought.
Then there are writing residences. These are houses (or buildings or whatever) dedicated to hosting writers (usually during low tourism seasons), but you’re there to fend for yourself, as they’re usually meant to just offer housing (some may include voluntary activities).
It’s worth noting that some retreats (and writing residences) have application processes and aren’t just about singing up and paying. Because some include workshops, reviews, and the like, you may have to submit previous productions or a sample of what you’re working on, so depending on your goal, you may also need some time to write an application essay. Plus, check application dates and deadlines.
Sometimes, whether in writer retreats or during a writing residence, there may also be an overlap with sharing what you’ve written and doing rounds of feedback. Or you can just share as much or as little as you want.
Schedule-wise, besides set times for meals (which may be the main socializing time), there could be specific beginning and ending hours, or it may just be a “write all day” kind of idea.
And writer retreats aren’t just for individual authors—academic and professional retreats are also a thing.
Academic ones offer the opportunity to focus on research or writing papers or thesis, without having to worry about interruptions, roommates crunching on chips (or whatever noises set you off), or just being away from chores for a minute.
Professional retreats, for example, may be oriented to specific-grade teachers and may focus on writing material for classes, or they may center around workshops to help improve communication both within a company and for external correspondence. And keeping your PowerPoint slides brief and to the point.
So, writer retreats are meant to offer time away from your life to increase productivity. Sure, you could just go to a hotel for a weekend and write—but if you’re alone and the bed’s too comfortable and there’s a marathon of Star Wars, Breaking Bad, The Hunger Games, or whatever gets you hooked, will you hold yourself accountable?
