Come, Dream with Me...

What are the top three things you'd do more of if time and money were no object?  For me the answers are easy:
  •  Immerse in my favorite pretty places
  • Spend more time writing
  • Exercise more hours in a day & eat healthier
A few weeks ago I dreamed up this idea of a Writer's Retreat. Not a thing where we attend a bunch of seminars that may or may not be helpful, but an inspiring place to go where we are given the blessing of time to do the things we want to do.

Here's how I see it working.  First, we go some place serene and beyond beautiful.  Let's say...Sedona, Arizona.


 Then we follow a daily schedule something like:

7:30am: Gather for a 60 minute Cardio Workout
8:30am: Healthy breakfast that someone else prepares for us

9am - 6pm
Free time to schedule as you wish, including:
Up to 6 hours of writing time
60 minutes with personal trainer
At least 30 minutes walking
Eat healthy sack lunch provided at breakfast
Please bathe at some point
 
6:00pm: Healthy dinner that someone else prepares for us
6:30pm: Writing time and/or Crit Group meeting
9:00pm Gather for 45 minutes of Yoga
9:45pm Wine & Cheese on the terrace

Can you imagine?  If we did this for two weeks straight we'd have our books written/revised/whatever your goals are AND we'd look & feel amazing!  And you know we're going to love it so much, we'll want to do it again, so here are a couple ideas for the next destination:

The Cinque Terra, Italy
(which made a heroic recovery after devastating floods last fall)

   
or Varenna, Italy on Lake Como.  I can't decide...you pick.

 
 
And tell me, if it were your dream retreat, what would you add/subtract from the list above? 
 

 
 


Comments

Suze said…
Dude, WHERE can I sign up?
Money's no object? I'm there. My husband built a hunting shack on a part of our property that's actually quite lovely. If I ever get the ambition to fumigate it, put in a desk and a comfortable chair, and buy a laptop whose battery actually works, I could do a couple hours at a time there. Hey, it's not Sedona and a personal trainer, but you've gotta start somewhere, right? ;)
erica
Johanna Garth said…
My vote is for Cinque Terre. When should I pack my bags? :)
I like the idea of exercise mixed together with writing, and I like the idea of wine mixed together with cheese. I'd go to Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales. I've been camping there since I was a kid and it brings me peace.
I could do that! Because if money is no object, I wouldn't be working. Wherever I went, it would need a castle.
DL Hammons said…
I've actually thought of this before too. My writers retreat would be on an Alaskan Cruise! *sigh*
Arlee Bird said…
This sounds pretty good. Does the healthy breakfast include things like biscuits and gravy and bacon? Maybe we shouldn't get too healthy. Oh, and I love the walking part, but I'll skip the exercise unless my personal trainer comes up with something really cool suited for me--some juggling maybe?


Lee
Wrote By Rote
Heather Murphy said…
How PERFECT would that be?!?!?! I'd settle for a few hours a day
Janie Junebug said…
I like the way you think. Your schedule is perfect except I can't balance so I'll opt out of the yoga.
Can we also go to Yorkshire and wander the moors like the Bronte sisters?

Love,
Janie
Unknown said…
It's lovely that you've got it so well thought out -- like world-building, you've got all the details organized.
I'm kind of a homebody, and anything with the word "healthy" in it scares me! lol
Anne Gallagher said…
I used to be the manager at a hotel that did conferences and I've been trying to figure out a way to hold a writer's retreat for quite some time. Not at a hotel mind you, but somewhere wicked cool and cheap. Just a bunch of us in the mountains maybe discussing writing. No seminars, maybe a guru like Anne R. Allen who could talk and we could discuss. Then we could write and share in the afternoons. Walks on hiking trails. Lazing around discussing great authors. Easy stuff like that. Just have to find a place.
Tara Tyler said…
those are beautiful!

would definitely have a personal maid an chef and trainer, then cleaning, cooking and working out would be easy.
and those locations are gorgeous!

sigh!
F. Stone said…
Loved your post and everyone's comments. My favorite place is in Jasper, at a rustic cabin but fully equipped. When I'm there I no longer desire all the nasty food that's unhealthy. I automatically want to go for walks and hike the many trails along the rivers and mountain slopes. Thing is, though, I get so relaxed that writing might slow down to a snail's pace. It would be good to be among other writers to help me focus on writing.
I would LOVE to do a writer's retreat. Wish I could afford it. I'd have to do it somewhere that was pretty, but far from anyplace to go. Don't need distractions! Maine on the water would be nice.
But it's a dream to spend a summer in Paris, getting inspired.
Cherie Reich said…
Wow! Sounds awesome! The only thing I would suggest is not such an early start to the day. Hehe!
I've been wanting to go on a writer's retreat, and the one you described sounds great. Except I'd substitute healthy food for the occasional "guilty pleasure" meal, like some rich Italian food or ice cream. I'd also substitute Coca-Cola for the wine. :)
Stephanie said…
Sounds like a pretty good list to me. The chance to get away from the demands of work, and family, and write somewhere beautiful and inspirational is something I'd jump at. And none of the clutter of panels, craft talks or book signings. If you ever decide to take this somewhere, I'm all aboard.
Susan Oloier said…
That sounds absolutely divine, Nicki. I wouldn't change a thing.
M Pax said…
That sounds heavenly, Nicki. Really does.
Jennifer Lane said…
How'd I miss this post? Thank goodness for Goodreads emailing me with my fave authors' blog posts. I am totally up for something like this. Let's talk!

Popular posts from this blog

Bring on the Romance!

80s TV Shows: Turbulent Tranquility

In which I get rated R...eh, maybe NC 17...