Patricia Stoltey

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Prepping for a Four-Day Writing Retreat at Home

December 16, 2009 By: Patricia

I have cleared almost everything from my schedule for the next four days (Thursday through Sunday) so I can work on my novel. Since I hope to finish the first draft by December 31st, I need to focus. Setting up a couple of “home retreats” seems like a smart move, especially since we are not having company nor are we traveling over the holidays.

The four days will not be totally web-free, but I will be taking shortcuts. My blog posts will be introspective and relatively short, so I won’t need links or photos. I will visit a few blog posts but will not leave many comments. E-mails will be answered next Monday. The one thing I won’t give up is my reading time for the ReBooWee Challenge, but I’ve chosen to finish reading a book on writing by agent Donald Maass, The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great.

Preparations:

1. Purchase one bar of Lindt 70% cocoa intense dark chocolate. (Priority — Done)

2. Finish the four things left on my To Do List that I consider urgent. (In process)

3. Scheduled for this afternoon: A relaxing massage to take away all distracting muscle aches and that annoying computer ache in neck and shoulders. (Note to self: schedule an extra massage this month. It will count as my Christmas present from Santa Stoltey).

4. Make certain I have all the ingredients for a giant pot of vegetable soup that will, hopefully, last at least three days.

5. Warn husband that my office door will be shut for extended periods of time and that I must not be disturbed when the door is shut unless there is an emergency. Prepare a list of “emergencies” versus “non-emergencies” and post the list on my door.

Can you think of anything else?

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Comments

  1. Patricia Stoltey says

    December 17, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Thanks, everyone. There was a small hitch this morning when the workers arrive to roof a neighbor’s house. Pounding, pounding, pounding… But I was able to tune it out.

    Then daughter and baby granddaughter Skyped in, and there was no way I was going to miss that. All in all, however, the writing day has gone well. I’m in the zone.

  2. Galen Kindley--Author says

    December 17, 2009 at 2:51 pm

    Looking forward to your report of progress made. Here’s hoping it will be considerable.

    Best Wishes, Galen.

  3. Karen Walker says

    December 17, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Sending you good wishes and good luck, Patricia. You make me laugh!
    Karen

  4. Terry Odell says

    December 17, 2009 at 10:46 am

    Good luck! Back from Colorado, and I’ll be ‘locked up’ as I try to catch up on everything. It’s going to take a while to get back to my regular blog crawls.

  5. Mason Canyon says

    December 16, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    Sounds great except for #1. Only one bar. You’re talking about a 4-day retreat, got to have at least 2 bars.

    I’d highly recommend 4 bars that way you can reward yourself each day for all the progress you’ve made.

    Good luck.

  6. Jemi Fraser says

    December 16, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    I love #4 ๐Ÿ™‚

    If it were me, I’d have to make sure I had enough tea and music available.

  7. Kay Theodoratus says

    December 16, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    Good luck in writing lots of words. Make that pertinent words … and maybe, impertinent ones too … for laughs.

  8. Patricia Stoltey says

    December 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm

    Carolyn, it depends. If it’s, “I can’t find the peanut butter,” I don’t want to hear about it.

    However, I definitely want to be informed if the question is, “Where’s the fire extinguisher?”

  9. carolynyalin says

    December 16, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    I had to laugh at, prepare a list of “emergencies” versus “non-emergencies” and post the list on my door.

    Where does “I can’t find blah, blah” or “Have you seen …” fall under? ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Carol Kilgore says

    December 16, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    I’m thinking I can’t imagine doing this in my house, much less during the holidays. Kudos to you.

  11. Elizabeth Bradley says

    December 16, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    I’m envious. Sounds great, wish I could copy you. Right down to #1!!!

  12. Elizabeth Spann Craig says

    December 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    Turn off the phone? That’s what always seems to mess me up when I’m on a writing roll.

    Good luck!

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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