Writing Retreats are Not Bougie: Why Writing Retreats Should be a Part of Your Regular Writing Practice

Reed, Write, and Create

On episode 19 of the podcast, I’m giving a pep-talk on the importance of writing retreats for your regular writing practice. Yes, I just ran my first writing retreat, so I’m still glowing from that amazing experience, but this pep talk isn’t about me. It’s about you and all the benefits you will gain from adding writing retreats to your writing life.

Some of the benefits of attending writing retreats include:

• Increased productivity in your writing
• Improved self-confidence as a writer
• Access to a wider writing network
• Increased creativity energy

Even our literary ancestors knew how beneficial it was to run away and write, so of course I’ll be bringing their perspective to my pep talk as well.

By the way, I’m making a big announcement at the end of the episode, so be sure to listen all the way to the end!

Links You Need from the Show

Learn more about The Renaissance House and their residence for BIPOC writers.

If you want to read Zora Neale Hurston’s autobiography/memoir that she wrote while on “retreat” consider buying your copy of Dust Tracks on the Road at Bookshop.org so you can support this podcast and independent booksellers everywhere.

If you want to start planning which retreat you’d like to attend in 2024, check out this list of retreats for BIPOC writers I created. It will be updated for 2024 soon.

If you need ideas on how to plan your own writing retreat, check out this post I wrote about the DIY writing retreat.

If you’d like more information about The Sanctuary, the new membership community exclusively for BIPOC women writers who want to get their work into the world, please use this link to join the I Want to Know More List.

For more resources, recommendations and inspiration to help you optimize your writing life, visit ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the RWC newsletter because I send out a monthly list of opportunities for BIPOC writers that include jobs, open submissions, residencies, grants, fellowships and more. You know you want some of that good stuff, don't you?