Jul 26 2009
Time to Get Away
When you think of a writer’s life, what images appear in your mind? For me, I’ve always pictured Chevy Chase in Funny Farm, sitting at his desk, in front of the window, overlooking the beautiful lake, typing away on his good old manual typewriter. (Of course, the only problem with that is Chevy’s character, Andy, didn’t actually write anything while there.) Then, I look around and I realize that I basically have the same thing Andy had, right here where I sit. No, I don’t have a beautiful lake to look out onto, but I do have gorgeous mountain vistas to gaze upon right outside the window of my office. Like Andy, however, I go through periods, where I just can’t get my laptop keys to produce anything worth reading. I don’t think it is writer’s block. The ideas are there, I just can’t seem to get them translated into the written word. Andy’s problem stemmed from a crazy mailman and quirky town folk that drove him to distraction. I think my distractions come from the problems of everyday life: trying to figure out how I’m going to get all my bills paid; the storage that I’m trying to go through slowly, but involves projects that once started, must be finished; coordinating trips to town, so all of my family members can get their tasks accomplished without multiple trips; and daydreaming of a time when I don’t have to try and write around my work schedule because I can make enough from my writing that I don’t need my other jobs anymore. (Unfortunately, that day seems to be a long way away).
The number of authors that go on retreats, and the amount of retreats offered indicate that a change in setting can be conducive to stirring up the imagination and making magic on the written page. Just as writer’s differ as to what type of atmosphere they require to get the creative juices flowing, retreats differ in what the type of atmosphere offered. Colorado retreats offer many options available to the writer that needs time away from the stresses of everyday life, to concentrate and get some serious writing done, from retreats that just offer a quiet place to get away from it all to those that include structured classes or workshops to help focus your energies. I just published a Writing Retreats 101 article on my Southern Colorado Literature Examiner site, which goes into more depth about the retreats that are available. There seems to be something for everyone, whether pampering and day spas are what your creativity requires, or just the crisp, clean mountain air will do the trick. The price ranges vary greatly, so there is a chance to find one that will fit even the most frugal of pocketbooks, (except maybe for mine, which seems to always be totally empty lately).
First, there is Spring Time Writers , at Rocky Mountain Retreats , located in Lyons, Colorado, which offers a vacation balanced with learning experience, with a variety of themed workshops available, all surrounded by the beautiful Colorado Rockies. Most are four day workshop retreats that run Friday thru Monday, for a long, relaxing weekend. There are workshops on journaling for self discovery that includes memoirs and biographies, poetry, creative writing, and a wellness retreat that takes a holistic approach that includes journaling.
If your looking for a little less structure, but still want to stimulate your brain, Write Away Retreats offers mountain retreats twice a year, that feature half day workshops, and manuscript consultation with professional authors, agents and/or editors and relaxation in the fresh mountain air or the on site hot tub. This retreat boasts pampering of its guests in addition to first rate professionals on staff. For an additional charge, shuttle service from Denver International Airport right to the door of the gorgeous Breckenridge chalet is available and accommodations can be made for both singles and couples.
Rocky Mountain Contemplative Writing Retreats offers more of a group experience, with group members required to bring enough food with them to provide for the group for one meal each. The cost is $75.00 per day plus food and lodging expenses, with 1, 3 and 4 to 5 retreats available. The retreats include music and film prompts to spark creativity, writing instruction from someone named David, group discussions, and time to meditate, contemplate and write in the Rocky Mountain atmosphere, although locations do vary. They are done for this year, but it will be time to register for 2010 very soon.
For a totally relaxed atmosphere, where you can rely on nothing more than the mountain air to stimulate your creativity, Bloomsbury West Retreat brings you to the small mountain town of Silvercliffe, Colorado and the breath taking 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Here you can get back to basics in a one bedroom cabin with no television or Internet to distract, offering time away to just think and create. Amenities are within walking distance if you just can’t bring yourself to cut off the outside world completely. Peace and quiet is what this retreat has to offer.
As I researched these retreats and delved into what they have to offer, I find that the one thing they all have in common is the open spaces and mountain air that Colorado. I look around me and realize once again, that I am blessed everyday with what other writers pay good money for. It makes me appreciate what I have available to me right in my front yard. Except now, I don’t know what I should do when I need time to get away. I don’t think going to the city would be much of a retreat. I guess I would have to go to someplace really exotic. I know of a retreat down in Baja California , lead by Salida author Susan J. Tweit . Maybe that’s where I’ll go. (Yeah, right.) I think for now, I’d better content myself to just sit back, close my eyes and listen to the rain.
Rain
Drop, drop, drop
A sprinkle here and there
Warns of more to come
Threatening to grow
Into something bigger
Down, down, down
It pours and pours
Until the ground is saturated
And the water just puddles
And runs off
Drip, drip, drip
Gone but not
No longer falling from the sky
Just rolling off the roof
Adding to the existing puddles
Cheep, chirp, tweep
As the sun emerges
To warm the earth
The birds return to
Fill the air with their songs.
Copyright ©2009 Kaye Lynne Booth
