Several months ago I began Project Immerse-Myself-in-Writing with the goal of publication in mind. I had been toying for some months with the idea of staying at a writing retreat house in order to reawaken my muse. So when I found myself jobless after Christmas, I made the call to the Wellspring House in Ashfield, MA, and by January 7 I was standing at the door.
My Stay at Wellspring…
The Aura
Wellspri
ng House is located in quaint Ashfield, MA, population 1,750. The house itself engenders a desire to write—so many paintings, books, the fireplace, high ceilings. The moment I step in, my mind is flooded with words, as if the walls of the house are communicating with me, encouraging me to create.
It is silent as Night here. The house creaks every so often, but you cannot tell if it is a housemate or simply the house groaning. I am with myself the entire day, away from society and just…writing. And writing. And writing some more. It is so peaceful, but there is also determination in the air; you can feel that this is a house where work gets done, where ideas come to life.
The Writing
At first I was confused and nervous. Where would I begin? But by day two there was a fire lit in me; I brought forth brain power and passion, and by the end of the week I had written over 40,000 words.
In this retreat house the writing owns you, not the other way around.
The People
Though I treasured the intimacy with my writing, I might have gone insane without human interaction for the week I was there. Unusual for winter, Wellspring was full to capacity with six writers, plus Preston (the man in charge), the week I was there. We spanned sixty years and covered nearly every decade in between.
While we spent most of the day working behind closed doors, we crossed in the kitchen during breaks and held riveting conversation. We connected deeply on a creative level, empathized with the frustration of Writer’s Block, and celebrated creation; conversation spanned from genocide to cheesy quiche.
Six writers from completely different worlds, under one roof, for a week of writing.
…Inspiring.
Returning to the Real World
Returning to reality was a bit of a shock. I was confused, angry, had loss of appetite. I suppose that is to be expected after a week of complete immersion in writing.
For me, Wellspring was also a transition from working (my extended substitute-teaching job ended at Christmas) into an intense writing mode.
I sat confused for several days. On day four I sat to refigure my life, by day six I bought a plane ticket, and by day nine I was on a plane flying across the country to another artists' retreat house. (More on that in a future post!)
So, now What?
My friends and family ask me, “Why a writing retreat? Why not just a library or coffee shop, or rent a room in a motel?”
Well, a couple of things I learned at Wellspring:
1. Staying at a retreat house is complete immersion. No excuses. Or cell service.
2. Being with other writers is tremendously helpful and inspiring.
3. A writing retreat gives you [seemingly endless] time for focus and self-introspection.
4. How can you not be inspired in a house where the walls are filled with the visions of 800 (!) writers before you?!
So, if you feel that you have been away from your writing too long, or that you have loftier goals than are being met at your current location, why don't you give a retreat a go? Just a thought. You don't have to.
** If you intend on staying at a retreat house, an important lesson I learned: BRING SLIPPERS. And don’t bother packing real clothes. You won’t wear them. **
Staying at a retreat house is an out of body experience. And, yes, it gets emotional and difficult at times. But such is the nature of passion.
