DIY Writing Retreat: How to Create One
Sometimes, the best way to make meaningful progress on your writing is to step away from the noise of everyday life. You don’t need to wait for the perfect time, a big budget, or a formal invitation to a writing residency. You can create your own DIY writing retreat, tailored exactly to your needs.
Whether you're working on a first draft, deep in revisions, or simply craving space to reconnect with your voice, a solo writing retreat can be the reset button you didn’t know you needed. Here’s how to create one that supports your creative flow.
Step 1: Set Your Intention
Before you pick a location or start packing notebooks, get clear on your “why.” Are you hoping to generate new material, finish a lingering chapter, or reconnect with the joy of writing? Setting a clear intention will help you shape the structure and flow of your retreat—and keep you focused when distractions arise.
Ask yourself:
What project or phase of writing am I focusing on?
How do I want to feel during and after the retreat?
What would make this time feel successful or nourishing?
Step 2: Choose Your Location
You don’t need a mountain cabin or seaside cottage to make this work. While a change of scenery is helpful, the most important thing is that your space supports focus and minimizes interruptions.
Options to consider:
A weekend at an Airbnb or friend’s cabin
House-sitting for someone out of town
A hotel room in your own city
A tent or tiny camper (yes, even unplugged retreats count!)
Turning your own home into a retreat space (more on that below)
If travel isn’t an option, claim a weekend at home by communicating your needs clearly to family or roommates, setting boundaries with work/social obligations, and transforming your space with cozy lighting, snacks, and a fresh notebook.
Step 3: Design Your Daily Rhythm
This is your retreat, so you get to decide what structure feels supportive. Some writers like full immersion with long blocks of focused time, while others work best with a balance of writing, movement, and rest.
A sample day might look like:
8:00 AM: Morning pages or journaling
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Deep writing session
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch + short walk
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Revisions or research
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Reading or inspiration break
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Final writing session or planning for tomorrow
Whatever schedule you choose, include time for reflection and rest. Creativity thrives when it’s nourished.
Step 4: Pack Your Retreat Bag
Whether you're heading across town or staying home, a few essentials can help you stay grounded and inspired:
Your laptop and/or notebooks
Favorite pens, post-its, highlighters
A printed outline, manuscript, or prompts
Comfort items: blanket, candles, tea
Books that inspire or support your current project
Healthy snacks + meals you don’t have to think about
Pro tip: Minimize distractions by logging out of email, muting notifications, and keeping your phone in another room or on Do Not Disturb.
Step 5: Protect the Time
Once you’ve carved out your retreat time, honor it. This is easier said than done, especially when life tugs at your attention. Here are some ways to protect the container:
Set an autoresponder on your email
Let loved ones know you’re unavailable (and that it’s important to you!)
Avoid social media unless it directly fuels your writing
Treat the retreat like a commitment—to your creative self
Step 6: Reflect + Integrate
At the end of your retreat, take a few minutes to reflect on what you created, how you felt, and what you want to carry forward. You might journal on:
What surprised me about this experience?
What did I learn about my writing process?
What’s one way I can carry the retreat mindset into daily life?
A retreat, no matter how short, is a powerful act of devotion to your writing. You don’t need permission—just intention, space, and the willingness to show up for yourself and the story you’re telling.
Ready to plan your own retreat? Let me know! And if you're craving a space to deepen your writing practice with support, accountability, and structure, the Her Narrative Collective is here to help.
