Writing challenge weekend

What exactly is a writing challenge?

It’s pretty simple. Want to get stuff done? Then you gather together more than one writer (that’s us) and we each set our intentions about what we want to work on or maybe how much we want to get done. You decide your plan for the weekend, one that makes sense to you. Next, we write. We sit together, in one space. We all assume the position – fingers on keyboards or pens in hand. We free our minds of distractions and vow not to interrupt each other. Then we start a timed writing burst, in silence, with no phones buzzing, no checking socials or email, no looking up research notes or even a thesaurus. Just you working on your project, but in the company of other writers. After the burst, we stretch, chat a bit or check in, and then do another burst.

At this retreat, we’ll be doing two-hour focused writing sessions, so each one will include three or four bursts. And then we’ll repeat the process over a couple of days, with fab food, great company, informal learning, cosy fires, kangaroos, and probably pudding. (What do you mean, probably? OK, definitely pudding.)

Can’t I just write by myself?

Of course, anyone can write by themselves, any time. That’s what we do, after all. That’s what I do most of the time. But sometimes, we need a motivation boost, to step away from our normal busy lives, or a feeling of being less alone, or maybe a gossip and laugh with mates, or the magic sensation of being really focused in your own mind, on your own words, but with someone supportive right there with you, doing the same, while you in turn support them.

Without distraction, with a set task and time limit, and with other people around you doing exactly the same, you get into a state of flow, or pure creative focus.

So this retreat is about capturing and embracing those elements: intention, concentration, and community.

It’s not about productivity hacks – it’s about making space for our creative practice.

What will the retreat be like?

The weekend retreat is fully residential at Continental House, a newly-renovated heritage guesthouse in beautiful Hepburn Springs, Victoria.

Apart from the shared writing sessions, there’ll also be free writing time set aside each day, without bursts, where we can spread out across the property, writing in silence wherever we like – on the deck or the garden, together at shared tables, lounging on a bed or sofa, or while walking in the bush.

Each afternoon, there’ll be a pop-up class or conversation, where you decide the topics and I teach or answer questions about writing, or we discuss issues and challenges people face.

You’ll have the chance to read your new work aloud at our evening salon around the fire pit, if you wish.

When we’re not writing or eating, you can walk in the bush, spot wildlife, book a massage, have a nap, chat with your new writer friends, jump into the jacuzzi or sauna, or write/read/relax in the garden, on the deck, or in the lounge areas.

How does it work?

The approach for this weekend writing challenge is simple but effective. It’s not a race. It’s a gathering of independent, working writers.

First, you need to prepare. If you have to do some research to inform your writing, or draft an outline or beat breakdown, do it before the retreat weekend (or bring resources with you so you can check them after the sprint sessions).

Then during our weekend, there are four key steps:

1. Plan, set and share your intentions – we’ll do that at the start of the retreat. Then if we need to, we can adjust and adapt as we go, and check-in regularly. This will involve defining your challenge for our writing weekend – I’ll guide you through that on the first night. You set your goal or intention for the weekend. My job is to support you through it.

2. We’ll work for a set amount of time on the task we’ve each decided – normally we’ll set aside two hour blocks for distraction-free writing, divided into 25-minute writing bursts. But at other times we will work for longer, to allow us the possibility of Flow state, another acclaimed approach. Research indicates planned writing sprints and breaks are much more fruitful than sitting down to work with no particular system.

3. Break for a set period of time to reduce mental and physical fatigue. This is so important. We’ll check-in, stretch, drink water, make tea, or stare out the window at the sky.

Repeat. And again. And again.

4. Then we take a longer break to relax and regroup – in our case, for a delicious lunch or morning tea.

Acknowledgement: This weekend is inspired by a few proven techniques designed to help us write: Hugh Kearns’ “snack writing” and Two Golden Hours; the Flow state identified by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi; and the Pomodoro technique developed by Francesco Cirillo, designed around an optimal concentration span time. It’s also influenced by one of the most common writing community gatherings, Shut Up & Write!, which began in San Francisco in 2007, founded by author Rennie Saunders. I’ve used all of these methods over the years, I know they work, and I’ll be introducing and modelling each one transparently, so you know how they function. If any of these strategies work well for you, you can use them for any task or set of tasks in the future, but sprints work beautifully for drafting, revising, editing and proof-reading.

Reserve your place