This year’s retreat was in Westfield NY. This is the smallest small town right on the edge of Pennsylvania and New York. It is in the middle of wine country, so of course I was happy. And why I did not go for a full wine country experience, I definitely had my fill of unique wine experiences. I stayed at the Barcelona Lakeside Bed and Breakfast. And I was treated with kindness for the entirety of my trip. I have millions of mini takeaways from my experience, but since is it still National Novel Writing Month, and I am 10 toes down into completing Cherrywood Inn 2, I will keep it brief.
Top 5 Takeaways from Writing on the Water in New York
- Solitude gets results. I learned that it did not matter how noisy my area was, it was the idea of being removed from people that really helped me progress.
- Drinking wine while writing is all right. I used to have a hard line when writing. No alcohol. Somewhere at some point, someone else made me think it was too cliché. However, as I progress in my indie author career, I have learned wine in moderation keeps me engaged in the story. Especially when writing dialogue.
- Food and make or break the experience. I am going to be honest and share that my food experience was not the best on this trip. I missed seasonings and preparations that were soulful.
- Who I see does inspire me. I saw and met some fun people during the trip. The librarian, the one random older couple that talked my ear off at the hut-style restaurant, and even the inner keeper all inspired “writing sprints” I am thankful for that.
- WATER STILL WORKS MAGIC.- My bed and breakfast was along coast of the Lake Erie. There is something about seeing water move and flow that makes my story flow smoother. This element of my annual writer’s retreat will be a non-negotiable for the rest of my career.
I stayed on task most of the trip, but I allowed time for myself to be inspired and encouraged throughout the trip. Photos and a video mashup will complete my post today. Happy Writing to all those pushing through this November.