Writing retreat abroad

[fluffythecat1]

I’m a mature PhD student. I’ve had quite a tough year health wise and I’m not hugely looking forward to another winter of largely isolated work in one room with a laptop during the winter months. I was therefore thinking of booking a ‘writing retreat’ in Spain for a week for myself in January as a nice break to look forward to. I know that it won’t be baking at that time of year, however it will certainly be warmer than here and going solo means that I can get a better deal and cheaper flights by travelling in term time. Have other academic researchers booked a winter writing retreat and what are your thoughts?

My friend and I have just had a conversation about quitting our jobs and running writing retreats in Greece!!

I was a mature PHd student and would
have loved to have done this. It’s so hard juggling all the pressures and responsibilities of life whilst trying to get the headspace to write. I think it would be great, and a good time to go as well. Give your PhD writing a boost as well.

I am an academic from a Southern European country living in the north of the UK. I tend to go back a few days in mid-December to see family. Even though I am not from the Med coast itself but from a colder, rainier region, I find the contrast just so energizing and frankly almost necessary for me to get through the rest of the winter, it's like my body gets a boost of vitamin C before going back to dark, cold, miserable UK. So I would say - if you can afford it, why not? The last few years I've come across various places in Southern Europe marketing themselves as "writing retreats" mostly for UK academics and writers, and my only thought would be, these seem a bit overpriced and if I was doing a retreat myself I would just book a nice apartment or house without the word "writing retreat" attached to it. Obviously it might be different for you if you value things like having a 'cohort' of other residents around you or having your meals cooked for you or any other service a writing retreat provides.

Thankyou, really valuable perspective! I’m not after a structured retreat, since yes, I agree that they are mostly overpriced and I’m not bothered about a cohort of people or any workshops, just want some sun, a change of scene and a bit of a treat for myself to break up the dark days of winter. I’m only 15 mins from a regional airport and return flights to Spain with luggage are coming up at £150 and a studio apartment at £600, so think it would be a lovely thing to do.