the writing retreat

starting tomorrow, i’m going on a writing retreat.

it’s actually a housesitting gig for some friends, but i plan on using it as an opportunity to be out of my own environment and to see what i might be able to create if i sit myself down for a dedicated period of time each day to just write.

the house itself is gorgeous, with its own in-ground pool in a lush, landscaped yard. there’s an enormous deck with chairs and views of the downtown skyline, ideal for morning ponderings over breakfast, or evening musings as the sun sets, or just afternoon introspection beneath the canopy of tall, tall trees.

the neighbourhood is fantastic, and i’ll be within easy strolling distance of lake ontario, the boardwalk and myriad shops, parks and libraries... not to mention some of the best ice cream in the city.

i’ve already picked my key writing spot: a section of blissfully empty desk in front of wall-to-wall windows that look out on the idyllic pool area and backyard from on the ground-floor level. it’s in an area tucked under the deck, so it’s perfectly secluded and shaded, and is the kind of sublime, creative nook that’s a writer’s dream come true. i am really looking forward to working there.

i’m not yet sure what i hope to write while on this “retreat,” whether it’ll be one long piece stretched out over 11 days or 11 singular pieces, or a hundred limericks, or something else altogether. (if you have any suggestions or requests, please post them in the comments section!) it’s the habit of daily writing i plan to practice most, though, because i tumbled from that wagon a while back. to that end, i will be blogging every day, and i’ll have my camera with me to take what i suspect will be a ton of photos as i explore, meander and reflect.

what i wish for most is 11 days to reboot, recalibrate and get myself into a new, productive routine – writing and otherwise – that i can then pack up and take back home with me when i leave.