PEACE

This is the time of year when we reflect on the past twelve months and muse about the future, when we gather with our loved ones to express our gratitude and share our faith . . . Or is it? Is this the time of year when kids scream for more presents and the lines you have to stand in to buy stuff no one needs take up precious hours of your life?

And in either vision, what happens to your writing? Your creative spirit? Does that have room in the fray?

Whether you can make time for the special one-day online writing retreat I’m hosting this Sunday or not, I encourage you to give yourself and your writing small, carefully wrapped gifts: fifteen minutes alone with the page; a book you have been waiting to give yourself, a luscious plan for the new year . . . And best of all, join a round-the-world group of writers and really dive into your book before the holidays catch you up . . . or run you down.

Last month, we had folks from Bali to the Bay Area. Everyone did beautiful work and had fun. I personally wrote 4000 words I actually liked. The one-day, online writing retreat is a little miracle. Do you need a miracle?

Yes! Happy Holidays to MY Writing. I want a space in the retreat.

A REMINDER OF HOW IT WORKS:

An online writing retreat? Kind of a weird idea, I know, but think about it. It combines the best of both worlds, for a writer. You are at your desk, in the solitude of your own work space, but surrounded by other writers, cheering you on. E.M. Forster asks us to imagine all writers, across time, sitting together in one room, and this is a great image for the online retreat. We will begin the day–this Sunday, Dec. 19–at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. We will check in, wake up together (while preserving the open-minded storyteller who paints our dreams each night), and do some warm-up writing exercises. Dare I say it? We will even have fun writing.

Then we will set goals to write a scene, and we will each write our own work, with some gentle guidelines and encouragement, and come back, share some, get any coaching necessary, and then plunge in again. We will have a lunch break and commit to taking some inspirational action–a walk, a nap, reading a poem–before we meet again and write some more. We will end at 3 p.m. with a LOT more words on pages than we had when we began. And a feeling of community. And peaceful solitude. Both! Join us.

How much do you pay for an hour of therapy? $85? $120? How much do you pay for private coaching or school or a day-long course? Thousands? Hundred? The online writing retreat costs $27. Yup. No excuses. Just say yes to a day of supported, inspired writing.

Pay here to reserve your space. Be sure to check the email address you use to pay for directions about joining the online video conference via your computer. Or you can telephone in.

Questions? Just ask in the comments below. I’m happy to help. Otherwise, see you this weekend.

CLICK HERE: Save my place; I’m going to write up a storm!