I’ve been wondering if I should do some sort of writer’s retreat to get me back into writing fiction, and as it turns out, all unknowingly, I created my own retreat. Last weekend, beginning Thursday afternoon when my last dance class was over until Monday when the first class of the week began, I did nothing but indulge myself. I started the days with my old workout, the stretching routine and weight training that fell by the wayside when I started taking dance classes. And I worked on my book. Not the whole weekend, of course, because I am not one of those who can sit down and write for the entire day — I need to do a lot of thinking about where to go next — but I did a couple of sessions each day. Even better, I ate only the food I had in the house — good food, no junk. — so I never had to leave my retreat. Best of all, my next room housemate was gone, so I had nothing but quiet (and a bathroom to myself) the entire time. Ah, joy!
A couple of weeks ago, I had experienced a day where I felt blessed, and that feeling has been with me all this time. I have been magnifying the mood by paying attention to the moment because the power of our lives is in the moment. And I’ve been cultivating gratitude, though that particular discipline is not hard to do — t
here is so much in my life to be grateful for in any given moment.
During these blessed weeks, my internal conflict about where to go and what to do has faded because I have made commitments to continue with dance classes at least until the end of the year, to build up my strength, to refrain from worrying. (I worry more than I should about what is to become of me and how I will support myself in my soon-to-be old age.) And so I let the air out of all my conflicts (which is why I haven’t had much to blog about).
I joined an online writing group where the only requirement is to write 250 words a day. It’s a month-long commitment, but every month, I can recommit, which is what I plan to do at least until the end of the year. Even a writer who plods as slowly as I do can manage 250 words in a couple of hours. I usually spend the first hour reading the previous chapter to get in the spirit, to take into consideration past story actions, and to plan the next move. And I still have time to grab 250 words from the vortex of my mind, and sometimes a lot more!
I’ve never been one to write by word counts, so the count in itself is unimportant, but the commitment is. (Oh, who am I kidding. Having written 5,000 words in a week feels great!)
This weekend’s writing retreat will be different than last week’s because I will be performing with my class at a luau on Saturday, but that is still in the realm of creativity.
Dancing, writing, living. Ah, life is good in the moment.
***
(Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels Light Bringer, More Deaths Than One, A Spark of Heavenly Fire, and Daughter Am I. Bertram is also the author of Grief: The Great Yearning, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.”)
Bertram's Blog 
August 25, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Keep it up Pat! XD
August 25, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Congrats on getting back into writing, Pat. Tel me, what’s the book about?
August 25, 2016 at 6:45 pm
It’s the dance book. I just found out the death had been ruled accidental, and then I get a phone call . . .
August 26, 2016 at 3:46 am
Cue the dramatic music!
August 26, 2016 at 4:36 pm
Hurray – I’d been looking forward to learning more about that one! Write on!
August 25, 2016 at 7:04 pm
5.000 words if cool.
August 26, 2016 at 5:58 am
The cataract surgery on Wednesday apparently didn’t help me create fewer typos.
August 26, 2016 at 9:43 am
I hope the surgery went well.
August 26, 2016 at 9:50 am
So far, so good.
August 26, 2016 at 8:29 am
This sounds wonderful, Pat! I, too, am attempting to get back to writing and would love to join a writing group like that.
August 26, 2016 at 9:44 am
I just got a friend request from you on Facebook. Are you back or was it a hacking thing?
August 26, 2016 at 10:28 am
Actually, I came back on and am adding a few, select friends. 🙂
August 26, 2016 at 1:19 pm
I’m checking with the moderator to see if I can add you to the 250-word a day club. (It’s on Facebook.) I don’t think there will be a problem, but I thought I should ask.
August 26, 2016 at 1:47 pm
I’m way too erratic to commit to 250 words a day. Thanks for checking, though.
September 19, 2016 at 9:02 am
Pat, I’m really sorry but I had to leave FB again. For too many reasons to list, it just doesn’t work for me. But I really enjoyed the group while I was there. I’ll be cheering you on – you are on fire!
September 1, 2016 at 10:26 am
Nice to hear you are getting some momentum in this new writing project. Hope the words keep flowing.
September 2, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Thank you, Jame. I am truly enjoying being back in the writing game.
September 2, 2016 at 3:36 am
[…] occur, despite my prayers to all gods and demons within the vicinity. However, my friend Pat Bertram gave me an idea that’s been helpful: she recently joined a writer’s group where people […]
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