A writing retreat happens when you go away for a weekend of two to three nights, or three to four days to clear your mind and do some writing.
It could either be a weekend, mid-week, or a shoulder-week where you're partly in the weekend and partly in the main week, it doesn't really matter.
This summer with my friend, I'm planning a two-night three-day writing retreat for artists.
I'm going to share with you the best things to take and what to pack without overloading you bags and hauling unused or unwanted stuff around.
I will have more to say about our actual retreat experience later.
Ideas to Help You
In this issue of Artzlife, I'm sharing my favorite tips on what to pack in your pencil bag, yes, the writing tools you'll actually use, plus a few thoughtful extras to bring along for any kind of retreat, whether it's for writing, art, or a mix of both.
But I've got more to share (because let's be real, packing for a creative getaway means bringing more than just pens and notebooks).
Click through to read the full guide on how to pack for a writing retreat designed especially with artists in mind.
I cover everything from what kind of luggage works best, why having a handy city bag is a total game-changer, and what to tuck inside it.
I've also included comfy yet creative outfit ideas that can take you from daytime doodling to evening journaling, including jewelry, makeup and the toiletry bits you'll be glad you didn't forget.
Plus, I've added a few thoughts on tech and must-have accessories to keep your creativity flowing no matter where you are.
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What to Wear
Three Days
You'll need clothes for three days.
You'll be travelling up on the first day and travelling back on the third day, so you really want travel clothes for those two travel days.
Arrival Day
On arrival day, you'll want to wear your comfortable clothes and these you can also wear on your departure day on the way home.
Arrival Day Afternoon and Evening
Once I've arrived at my destination, I'm happy to remain in my travel clothes for the bulk of the day, through lunch and into the afternoon.
But in the evening, I do like to change into something better.
On our particular weekend away, we are having dinner in the restaurant, so I want to have a nice top to wear, even though the pants were kept simple.
Middle Day or Days
The middle day when you're at the hotel is more flexible.
In the morning and afternoon, you can wear your casual middle day outfit.
Then you could just swap out the top for dinner, add some extra jewelry, your pashmina and you're ready to go.
Social Media
If your weekend away is more rustic or in the woods and you don't feel like putting on clean clothes just for dinner then of course you don't have to, but I like to.
So that's why I like to take an extra top for the two evening dinners.
Typically photographs will be taken in the evenings, so it's nice to look your best.
If you don't mind being snapped in the same outfit for the whole weekend, that's fine.
In this social media age, it tends to be the case that pictures will be taken.
I don't like getting caught in the same top or, I don't like getting caught in the same clothes, so particularly it's the tops you need to change.
The bottoms don't really matter as much.
Departure Day
On departure day, you're going to wear the clothes you wore up on travel arrival day.
This is an A5 sketchbook which I will often layout ahead of time with my destination title page and other details like the date.
Typically, I will pencil sketch something each day that interests me.
This can be what I did, or where I went, or what I ate, but these are definitely sketches. they're not finished art pages.
I also like to add stickers or cards or images from flyers or brochures, perhaps from the hotel with their name and logo, or restaurant's business cards where I ate.
I use the glue stick and this is where my pencil bag and markers come in and you can see more on that below.
I will only finish my travel journal pages once I get home.
Sketchbook
As a hobby artist. I like to take my sketchbook everywhere with me and it really does depend what I'm doing when I'm traveling which size of sketchbook I would take.
For example, if I was doing a sketch weekend, I would take my big A3 sketchbook.
However, for our Writing for Artists Summer Weekend Retreat I will probably take my A5 sketchbook with multimedia paper from Strathmore.
None of the sketches which I will do when on my travels will be finished on the journey, I will generally finish them off when I get back to my home studio.
Writing Journal
On a writing retreat, I'm going to be taking my writing journal.
So, for this particular summer writing retreat I am working on a manuscript for a book.
I've probably been occupied with this project for the past two months and which I envisage it will be published sometime next year.
I use my writing journal exactly how I see the book unfolding.
I segment it out into sections and chapters and add tabs on the side so when I come across ideas or thoughts about certain areas of the book, I can insert them in the appropriate space.
My writing journal is a working document stuffed with images and ideas of what I want to put into my book.
I pack two paintbrushes, a fat brush size 10 and one thin brush size 4.
Watercolor Sketchbook
If I'm traveling somewhere and I think I'm going to be painting, I will take my Strathmore watercolor sketchbook which is slightly larger than an A4 (11 x 15 inches).
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