Good wood
On writing retreats, thirst traps, and questioning one's life
I recently returned from a writing retreat in Mendocino with smart, fun bosses1
and (and, for a hot second, ).While TCF and I go way back, Sarah and Amanda’s work was new to me. (Go read their ‘Stacks if you’re into nuanced, accessible takes on topics like motherhood, identity, pop culture, and more.)
This was the first writing retreat I’d ever done with people. I don’t have the patience (or the cash) to apply to fancy retreats like Yaddo or MacDowell, as beneficial as they’d likely be for the networking/career hype.
My preferred retreat is to book an affordable hotel somewhere pretty and eat entire pizzas by myself until I finish whatever I’m working on.
So far this has worked out fine! But also my big goal for the year is to foment/build community and, unlike mouth-banging vast quantities of melted cheese, this requires human interaction.
(Currently I’m revising a poly con thriller.)
(Tangentially: If you’ve read any excellent books that feature a triad PLEASE SEND ME YOUR RECS. I read