Writer Retreat

I am currently at a writer retreat. My wife has been busy while I'm gone. Meet our new dog, Penny! 

 

I'm back!

My Writer Retreat 5.0 was a success!

I finished the first draft of a novel, working title: Hell to Pay.

Now back to work on Blood Sky Dreams.

Spring Writer Retreat

I will be heading out later today for my Spring Writer Retreat. For this retreat, I will be house-sitting a fellow author who is going on a two-week vacation. 

The plan is to write the entire 1st draft of a new novel in 14 days. These are the key components to success:

• Already have a verbose outline (16 pages)
• Detailed character sheets, including actor photos that would play each primary and secondary part.
• Food and drink for all 14 days.
• No Distractions.(email, FB, X, news, TV, nothin)
• Take my own comfy office chair.
• Write 8 to 10 hours each day.
• Morning and Afternoon walks.
• Average 6,000 to 10,000 words a day.
• Hammer through the entire 1st draft with no self-editing.
• Document my daily word count.
• Share that word count daily with people who will keep me accountable.
• No excuses, no distractions, no escape...

This will be my 5th solo Writer Retreat. Wish me luck!!

Soon: Spring Writer Retreat

I will be heading out for a twelve-day Writer Retreat later this month. In those twelve days, I will write the first draft of an entire novel. I will average 5,000 to 10,000 words a day. But to do that, I will need to do some prep work:

• Write a detailed outline. 20-30 pages. Scene-by-scene bullets.
• Character sheets for all the main characters.
• Plot location planning with maps.
• A playlist that sets the tone.
• No distractions. No internet except my phone.
• Great food and drink for all 12 days, so I need not go anywhere.
• Lots of DVDs to watch in the evenings.
• Put the Outline into Scrivener before you go.

For this retreat, I will be in a mountain cabin in West Virginia. I go places by myself to remove the distractions of my daily life. Mostly because I LOVE my favorite distractions. My wife, my pets, my ultra high-speed Internet, and every streaming service available. I love all of that. 

Plus, it doesn't hurt that this cabin has a hot tub...

Prepping for my next Writer's Retreat

During my last Writer's Retreat, I made a post mortem list of things to do the next time. One of the biggest items on the list was a full-size keyboard for my Surface Pro. 

I settled on the Arteck Universal Bluetooth Keyboard.

Here are the features that helped me decide

• Full-size and good key action
• Bluetooth and wireless
  
• Works with my Surface Pro, iPhone, and PC
• Lightweight and durable
• Rechargeable via USB, even a car charger
• Long battery life
• Great Price!  $29.99

The other thing I will be taking to the Writer's Retreat will be the chair from my office. Gotta keep my butt from falling asleep!

--Getting excited!

Tueday Tips: A writers Retreat

 Get your laptop and go, unplug, no internet, or news media. Write.