I'm heading on a writer's retreat. I've done two of these before. One in 2015 where I went away to Monterey for a week and a half to get work done on two scripts I was writing. That work led to me taking an office and having an extended writers retreat for five months. Then I went away earlier this year for four days in Vegas. I've done a few week long retreats to the Korean Spa every day. Every time I've done this, it has been productive. Something about getting away and having space to write. Something about indulging myself. Every time it feels more indulgent than necessary, even though it's really more necessary than indulgent. Sometimes I'll feel like other writer friends will say, "Oh, really. Must be nice." I'm sure fewer of them are saying that than I think. But that's part of my personal noise about taking time for myself to do something productive.
Sometimes being a writer feels indulgent. Like I get to put my thoughts down on paper and assume that they'll matter to someone. But in a political climate where words do matter and my words as a gay person of color add to the conversation, writing is more necessary than ever. So it's that spirit I will try to latch onto when I check into my hotel in Vegas tomorrow.
I always have that voice in my head - "I'm here to write. And nothing else." Of course, I always make time to relax and to hook up. That's part of the equation. That's part of the freedom. That's part of being on the clock 24 hours a day. I can write from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed. And I can wake up at 5 AM to write and I can take naps and I can go to bed at 2 AM. I can make room for all of it.
I know what I'm writing. I'm working on a pilot rewrite that I've been meaning to finish. I should also work on the pitches I had been preparing earlier this month and the pilot ideas I'm thinking about writing next year. I started a new play and that would be nice to do some work on. Also, there's a new play idea I'd like to do some exploratory work on - research, mostly. At the end of the retreat, I'd like to have a new play written and this pilot finished. The other stuff can be what I work on to procrastinate when I'm not engrossed in one of the other two projects.
This retreat is the only time I'll have to myself for awhile. I go on vacation for the holidays to see my brother and his family in Portland. And that will be family time and rejuvenating in its own way for its own reasons. That should be mainly relaxation time because that's the only time I'll have to get away to chill out until possibly some time in the Spring when maybe I'll plan a get away during Spring Break. I'll have a quick weekend in Vancouver in late February/early March for a postponed birthday trip. This will be some good me time because it's work time and also because I'll have a hotel room to myself for four days.
I'm bringing my favorite lounge outfit, which can double as a workout outfit. I'm bringing my favorite healthy snacks and some books. I'm bringing sea salt caramels from Trader Joe's. I'll end up going to the Whole Foods in Vegas for some meals. I'm a fan of the Wednesday salad bar at Whole Foods when it's discounted. I like having some bone broth from their bone broth bar. I'll try and work out while I'm there, maybe even grab some time at the pool if the weather is warm enough. I need this get away. I'm going to try avoiding shopping at the outlet mall, but my favorite store is there and I'm going to have to try and see if there's anything interesting on the sample rack.
Right now, I'm washing clothes to make sure I've got comfy stuff to wear that will make me feel very writerly. I've got note cards and note pads and pens. I've got music on my iPhone. I'm ready. I hope. I'll have two beds - one for working and one for sleeping. Or one for sleeping and one for sleeping around. One way or another. I'm excited to end the year this way. That's for sure.
My intention is openness.
My intention is stillness.
My intention is mindfulness.
I am grateful for a car to get me to my destination.
I am grateful for a hotel I like spending time in.
I am grateful for a whole world to get lost in.
I am grateful for work that keeps me interested.
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