The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression (Paperback)

by Judy Reeves (Author) "Getting away: the wish and dream and fantasy of every writer I have ever known and, I expect, of nearly every writer I will ever..." (more)
Key Phrases: themed retreats, writing retreat, expanded writing, Los Angeles, San Diego, Gifts of the Night (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Writer's Retreat Kit is a portable book-and-card package with practical prompts for writers. Artfully designed, the kit offers 20 "retreats," each with a theme and suggested activities aimed at maximizing creativity. Based on the author's experiences as a writing teacher and workshop leader, The Writer's Retreat Kit encourages creativity in a wide range of environments - from writing during business travel to sojourns in Walden Pond-like wilderness to adventures in the backyard, and from observation at international airports to international coffee at the local café.

Each retreat contains exercises and tips to get writers and artists started and keep them going. And since writing isn't the only activity that occurs during a retreat, each theme offers other "Provisions, Practices, and Creative Nourishment" ideas that stimulate both the writer and the writing: books that echo the theme, art projects to fulfill other creative urges, music suggestions, and even recipes. With inspiring artwork and quotes, this kit is a veritable muse for individuals as well as writing groups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; illustrated edition edition (April 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577315006
• ISBN-13: 978-1577315001
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #168,097 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, April 1, 2005

By	TheCafeWriter (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This kit is very interesting. I've seen other "writer's retreat" books attempted before (one involved setting aside 3 days!) but this one is more flexible. It offers 20 themed 'retreats' and within each one, suggests 4 variations depending on how much time you have to spare, from a weekend to just a few minutes.

The cards are actually larger than "pocket" size. A few list suggestions for getting into the mood for your retreat, making a gradual entrance into it and a graceful exit out of it. The remainder of the cards are each tied to one of the 20 themes and list plenty of writing prompts. (I'm more of a fiction writer and while there were some suitable prompts, most were more approachable by poets and those who journal.) I don't know why the cards, since they'd do just fine as part of the book, and cards can be lost, damaged, or - given their size - a little unwieldly.

For me personally, I like this kit and would recommend it highly for those days when you're just itching to write *something* and you just don't know *what*.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Box of Inspiration, January 1, 2006

By	Jenna Glatzer "www.jennaglatzer.com" (NY, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I do love New World Library's books. They're always beautifully produced-- and this one's no exception. It's delightfully written and designed.

Author Judy Reeves surveyed about 100 writers about writing retreats during the making of this kit. One of the things she discovered was that writers nearly always believed that a retreat had to involve traveling away from home at least overnight. To this, she answers, "Consider that a writing retreat is not necessarily a place, but a concept. Consider the word retreat not as a noun but as a verb." In other words, retreats surely can involve travel-- but they can also be just as "real" if they occur in your bedroom, backyard, or at a local park or café. What matters more than location is intention.

In that spirit, Judy offers 20 "themed" retreats. Each theme has its own mini-chapter, and the chapters have four sections of ideas: Time Away, Day Retreats, Mini-Retreats, and Retreats at Home. Time away is the "luxury" option, involving at least a few days of travel. A day retreat is 24 hours or less, a mini-retreat is a brief (a couple of hours or less) respite, and a retreat at home is... well, a retreat at home!

In addition to ideas for where to go and what prompts and exercises to try, there are also ideas for what to bring, what to read, what to do when you're not writing, and even a couple of recipes. It's an amazing wellspring of ideas.

There's a slight "New Age" bent to the book, which I enjoyed, but some religious folk may take umbrage to the "Oracles" theme and a few of the more "otherworldly" suggestions. Of course, they can just skip those parts if they choose.

The writing advice is firmly rooted in the Natalie Goldberg/Julia Cameron school of letting the pen guide you and turning off your internal censors. But the craft advice is minimal in this book; its primary focus is on direct suggestions for sparking creativity and getting "in flow."

If you're feeling blocked, or stagnant, or just need to remember why it is you write in the first place, this book may become your best friend. It can help you reconnect with yourself and your love of writing, as well as provide you with inspiration for hundreds of stories. It's also a thoughtful gift for just about any writer in your life.

--Jenna Glatzer, editor in chief of AbsoluteWrite.com and author of The Street-Smart Writer

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Travel Kit" Helps Writers Discover Alternative Retreats, April 28, 2005

By	Ark Lady (Diana L Guerrero) "arkabc" (Big Bear, California) - See all my reviews

As a writer I have been blessed. I live in paradise and, at anytime, can sit on my deck and gaze out over the lake, listen to wind whistling through the trees, or admire the millions of stars overhead. I can walk through the woods, sit and watch birds and animals, admire the trout attempting to climb up the creek to spawn, and glean inspiration and rejuvenation from my environment on a daily basis. However not everyone has the options I do. Judy Reeves has found a way to assist any writer, living anywhere. This kit helps you to connect with your muse while teaching how to create a retreat right where you are.

"The Writer's Retreat Kit" by Judy Reeves is a gem. The attractive kit includes a book and a deck of cards. The prose in the book takes you on a gentle and innovative cruise. Your passage through a variety of expeditions teaches you alternatives to "traditional" retreats. Each theme offers four options and suggestions for additional nourishment. The work also provides exercises along with ideas for starting and ending ceremonies. The cards can be pulled for inspiration or direction, too. The combinations are endless.

Judy Reeves is a talented author who is a muse to writers all over the globe. In addition to contributing great and innovative programs for the writing community in San Diego, Judy was one of the first guest speakers and authors hosted by my Alliance of Writers. She blessed me by writing about the group in her, "Writing Along, Writing Together."

If you need a gift for a writer--or are a writer looking for something innovative and fresh--this is a winner!