The Cheap Retreat Workbook: What I learned creating and attending my own Cheap Retreat

Do you long for a writing retreat? Do you read about renewal retreats, exotic retreats, artistic retreats, silent retreats and think - if only I could attend this spa/famous writer retreat in Taos/Bahamas/Thailand, I would be able to really write my novel/screenplay/ poetry collection/thank you notes for the gifts from my most recent wedding? Does the idea of a luxury writing retreat shine for you like a mirage, the kind of road shimmer you would experience on an hourly basis if you finally did sign up for the Taos retreat but had to drive there from Vancouver to save money? I have those same feelings. I longed to go on a retreat, to indulge in a get-away, I wanted to discover THE place that would engender effortless creativity and production; the perfect location where I could finally write! I saved announcements for fabulous retreats led by writers and coaches I admired. I unearthed books on women’s retreats, I sent away for instructions on how to have the perfect retreat. Much of the literature and advice involved a trip to the beach or to the mountains. However, I know myself well enough to understand that a book (Okay, like this one) about retreats or a brochure filled with photos and promises would end up as another excuse to spend precious time planning, strategizing and making lists of what to wear. What I really needed was to spend all that precious planning time working on writing and saving my money for frivolous stuff like groceries. This is how I did it.