On (some) Tuesdays I write about education and then post to the Two Writing Teacher blog. and then comment on at least three other blog posts. Every day in March I will blog and post for the Two Writing Teacher challenge.
Today I borrowed my format from Leigh Anne! Thank you to her for hosting this retreat this year!
Leigh always hosts a slicer party of some type every March challenge. In the past it has been a favorite things party which is always fun. This year, she is hosting a writing retreat. We are to share what we would bring to our own writer retreat.
So, I am imagining myself in close proximity to some other writers tucked away in our own cabins. Maybe there is a forest and beautiful flowers and perfect temperatures. It is always nice to get sit around and chat with other writers at some point in the day to talk about process, what ideas we are wrestling with, and works in progress.
Here’s what I would bring.
Writing tools – I always need my notebook and a variety of pens. I have been using one of three pens, whichever strikes my fancy that day, a purple extra fine precise V5 rt, an OBE WISEUS Retractable 0.38mm Ultra Fine Point Pen or a Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen with various colored inks. I also need to have my laptop for drafting and revising. There are some pieces that lend themselves to typing rather than handwriting.
Collage supplies – I have been dabbling with some collage lately and want to use some of the visuals to do some drafting. So I will bring my bag with all my magazine and paper supplies plus some adhesive. I have been creating the collages in an old cookbook so I don’t have to chase them down later. I like the texture and the feel of the pages from the glue and layers of paper.
Poems – Poems are incredibly inspiring to me so I would take several of my poetry books. When I was getting ready to pack I would just pull the ones off the shelves that love in that moment.
Food/beverage – To sustain my writing time I need coffee, coffee, and coffee. Did I mention coffee? I also need water and some wine for the evenings. Food has been fairly simple for me lately so some rice or simple sandwiches will do. I also tend to like some sort of crunchy snack with my evening beverage.
Fire – I love to write and read in front of a fire. It can be inside if the temperatures are cool [which they are today where I am…there is even some snow which I don’t mind at the moment.] I can be outside in a fire pit as well. There is something about fire that inspires me.
Animals – When I walk I love to visit the animals. At home, it is horses and red winged black birds. But at the retreat space a good literary cat is a welcome visitor!
Movement – I am inspired by walks if the weather cooperates! If it is rainy outside [also good for writing] then I am content to just get up every hour to refill my coffee or water for my movement break!
Natural Silence – I do not like to write with music. Being out in the woods would be lovely to just listen to the natural sounds and silence that comes with the area. I love the sound of a fire. At home, I use Youtube for the white noise of a fire. In real life, you get the smell too!
Quote – This is actually a hostess gift!
Neil Gaiman: “Whatever it takes to finish things, finish. You will learn more from a glorious failure than you ever will from something you never finished.”
Dr. Maya Angelou “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
also from her, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”
These are three quotes I come back to over and over.
Tammy L. Breitweiser 