My Experience at a Writers Retreat
This past week I had the privilege of being one of 15 writers invited to attend the GoodLit Writers Retreat in the charming small town of Stanford, KY. For six-plus days I was spoiled rotten with gorgeous accommodations complete with high quality bath products (https://kentuckysoapsandsuch.com), delicious food and drink, and insightful teaching and mentorship from Bret Lott, an accomplished author, and Becky Nesbitt, an experienced editor from Random House. If that wasn’t enough, the genuine and generous hospitality at every turn was unlike anything I have ever experienced. For real, ya’ll—it was amazing!
This all-expense-paid retreat is put on each year by Wedgwoodcircle (http://www.wedgwoodcircle.com/wedgwood-home) under their literature sector, GoodLit. It exists to support “up-and-coming, faith-driven writers with mentorship, resources, and creative writing retreats to help them flourish as future published authors in the mainstream media.” How awesome is that?
Their tagline drew me in from the get-go: Investing in the Good, True, and Beautiful for the Common Good. What a perfect expression of the desire of my heart! How I long to produce work that encompasses all three of those qualities.
The tagline expresses the desire of my fellow retreat attendees’ hearts as well, but it can mean something different to each of us. We are all wonderfully and uniquely made, and we bring to our projects individual talents, bents, perspectives, and experiences. One writer’s (and reader’s) “beautiful” may be another person’s “not my cup of tea.” And that’s ok.
Though the venue and program were darn near perfect, I still experienced some rocky moments during my first couple of days at the retreat. At our first morning session, for example, I had thoughts like, My work is insignificant and unprovacative! I don’t know how to write! And, How the heck can I call myself a writer without having read Flannery O’Connor? I’m an imposter! Though I was truly learning a great deal (including the ills of using the word “truly”), and I felt inspired and challenged, negative thoughts continued to assault me over the course of several days. This left me, at times, feeling discouraged, self-critical, and weary.
Finally, I did what I should have done from day one: I retreated to my room, popped two ibuprofen, and dropped to my knees. I poured out my laments to the Lover of my Soul, telling Him what had been filling my mind, though He already knew. I asked for encouragement. What was impressed upon my heart at that moment was to focus on the right things–namely Him–and receive whatever He had for me at the retreat, regarding my writing and more. I then thanked the Lord for His unconditional love and grace and for the people at the retreat who blessed me with their friendship and vulnerability. (I learned I wasn’t the only one questioning my abilities as a writer. Creatives are a sensitive bunch, to put it mildly.) From then on, I felt lighter and freed up to be and do without conditions or comparisons.
And that, in brief, was my experience while at my first writers retreat. I am grateful, and I know my experience will continue to unfold. Some of the friendships I made at GoodLit will continue. And, in the hours, days, and years to come, I will draw on what I learned in the writing and publishing sessions and casual and instructive conversations I enjoyed as I move forward in my writing life–a life I feel called to though I will never master. Still, like all of my life, I aspire to live it out in ways that are Good, True and Beautiful for the Common Good. (I can’t thank you enough for investing in me, GoodLit.)
Have you ever attended a retreat or conference specific to your craft or profession? If so, what was your experience? What thoughts or insecurities would you be wise to confront and release? (Think on it. For real, ya’ll.)