Focus, Create, Connect: A New Writing Retreat
To get work done, sometimes you have to get away. But getting away can be isolating. The Focus Retreat gives you both the time and space to concentrate and the support of like-minded writers.
In the winter of 2009, I was way past deadline on a book—a short biography of Saint Patrick—and I wasn’t making much progress. Friends were kind enough to let me stay in their lake cabin to get away and work, away from my daily responsibilities. There was no television, no Internet, and there was cell phone reception only when the stars were aligned in a certain way and you held your jaw just right. I packed up two dozen eggs, a bag of grapefruits, a couple of loaves of homemade bread, a laptop, and whatever library books I thought I might need for research, and I went into the wilderness alone. My wife said she would eagerly await my return home…but also, she told me not to return home until the book was finished.
After two weeks or so at the cabin, I finished the book. So in that sense, the experiment was a success. But it was a harrowing experience I don’t ever want to repeat. I need people, and I get a little crazy when I don’t have them. I’ll spare you the details, but there were auditory hallucinations.
The whole episode taught me something vitally important about the writing process: you’ve got to get alone, you’ve got to have dedicated time and space to get big chunks of writing done. And yet, as I know from talking to the writers of The Habit Membership, isolation is as unhealthy for a writer as it is for anybody else. I sometimes put it this way: I know I have to go into the cave, but I can’t go into the cave unless I know that there are people just outside the cave who are cheering me on, people who need what I have to give.
With all that in mind, I am putting together a different kind of writing retreat: The Focus Retreat will convene at the beautiful Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee, March 16-20, 2025 (that’s Sunday afternoon through Thursday afternoon).
The idea of this retreat is simple: you’ll have four days dedicated to focused work on your current work-in-progress, whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Designed by writers for writers, this retreat will give you the time and space you need to make meaningful progress on your project, supported by other writers even as you support them.
Four days away from your day-to-day responsibilities. Your only responsibility is to write.
We’ll provide:
A comfortable, modest single room with a bed and desk (you’ll share a bathroom with the writer next door).
Three meals a day in Scarritt-Bennett’s paneled dining room (except for two special dinners out.)
Evening events with Nashville writers and songwriters to spark your creativity.
Daily group activities to inspire and energize you.
A supportive community of writers sharing this creative journey.
Daily Schedule
Morning: Inspiration and Preparation
7:30 AM – Breakfast Together: Start the day with coffee, conversation, and camaraderie in the dining hall.
8:30 AM – Morning Group Check-In: After a few words of challenge and encouragement from me, you’ll share your writing goals for the day with your small group and draw inspiration from your fellow writers.
9:00 AM – Focused Writing Time: Settle into your dorm room or one of the beautiful Scarritt-Bennett campus spaces to dive deep into your work.
Afternoon: Quiet Progress
12:30 PM – Lunch Together: Take a break to recharge with a shared meal.
1:30 PM – Writing Workshops (Optional): Attend a brief teaching session or writing exercise led by me.
2:30 PM – Continued Writing Time: Spend the rest of the afternoon making progress on your project.
Evening: Connection and Reflection
6:00 PM – Dinner Together: Enjoy a delicious meal and connect with your fellow writers over the day’s progress, discussing the day’s challenges and victories.
7:30 PM – Evening Group Activity: Our evening activities will be designed to spur your creativity by connecting you to Nashville’s unique creative culture.
I’ll bring in local writer friends for conversation and a workshop or two (Katy Hutson Bowser, for instance, has already agreed to come share insights from a book she’s writing about play and creativity).
One night we’ll attend an in-the-round performance by Nashville songwriters.
Our last night together will be devoted to a read-aloud in which you’ll have the opportunity to share an excerpt from the piece you’ve been working on all week. (This is completely voluntary, of course; nobody will be required to read their work aloud!)
Special Highlights
An evening at North Wind Manor: One of our evenings will be spent by the fire(s) at beautiful North Wind Manor, the hub of in-person community for the Rabbit Room.
Optional One-on-One Meetings: Throughout the retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to meet privately with me to discuss struggles, brainstorm ideas, or get some direction for your work.
The Community
You won’t be alone on this journey. You’ll be part of a supportive small group of like-minded writers who will check in with you throughout the day, offering accountability and encouragement.
This retreat is perfect for writers looking to:
Escape distractions and immerse themselves in their craft.
Find a balance between solitude and meaningful connection with other writers.
Reignite their passion for writing in a serene, supportive setting.
The price of the Focus Retreat is $1650, but if you register by December 9, the price is $1499. Half the payment is due at registration, and the remainder is due by February 1.
If you have questions about whether the Focus Retreat is a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to send me an email. If it’s helpful, I’d be glad to set up a short Zoom call to discuss.
Registration for the Focus Retreat is limited to 20 writers, so register early to secure your spot!
Yeah, I’m with Andy. This sounds ideal!
Well, this sounds amazing.