Writing Retreat 2024 is Here!

It’s here, it’s here! My 2024 writing retreat IS HERE!

Writing retreats with my best friend Stephanie are always something to look forward to. But this year? This year it’s especially special, because I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. I thought we’d have to postpone until spring 2025. I thought that between being wiped out by chemo and then undergoing surgery and radiation, that week we’d reserved at a VRBO long before I knew I had cancer was going to be yet another casualty of cancer. In fact, on my calendar I even had a date circled–September 3, the last date we could cancel our retreat and get a full refund on the rental.

We didn’t even attempt to make a decision about it until I was halfway through chemo, when we had a better idea of dates of surgeries and all the other fun stuff. And if you’ve been keeping up with my journey, you probably already know how happy I was when my oncologist, rather than saying, “Oh, you shouldn’t travel four weeks after your last chemo infusion” instead said, “Go, go! Please, go visit your friend! Have fun!”

Thank you, Dr. Safi!

I don’t think I can adequately explain how freeing that command felt–not just because it meant I can fly to Kansas City and spend a week with my best friend, doing what we love to do…but because it meant cancer doesn’t get to steal one more thing. Cancer doesn’t get to take this from me. Cancer doesn’t get to dictate this.

And so, today I’m waking up in our rented house in Kansas. I’m sitting with my laptop and my story. I’m laughing with my best friend. We’re planning when we’re going out to dinner and when we’ll stay in. We’re planning out the next week. And though I may not be able to keep the pace of previous years and write 10-12,000 words every day…I may. Who knows? Regardless, I am here and am enjoying myself and I am so, so grateful to be able to do this!

And I need it. Not just mentally and emotionally–which is absolutely true. I need it literally. I have a book that was originally due to Guideposts on September 1, but which they graciously told me I could turn in on October 1 instead. A book that I was far from having finished before I arrived here in Kansas. A book 100% relying on a successful writing retreat in order to be written. Of course, I’d already planned on that, hence why I wasn’t panicking ahead of time. Because the retreat has never failed to come through for me when it’s deadline-crunch-time, especially when it’s an out-of-town retreat.

There is something “magical” about focusing only on writing. On giving myself permission to tune out and turn off everything else. Something that allows creativity to flow and my will-power to focus, and even when I’m tired, my brain knows what it’s supposed to be doing and shows up to work. (Not always true on an average day, LOL.) And that is AMAZING.

I’m eager to see how this week goes. Will I have to take naps? Will I be able to hit my usual word counts? I don’t have the answers to these questions quite yet, but regardless of what they are, I’m excited to discover it! And while our usual exercise of jogging will have to be walking this year instead (yeah, um…reality), I know I’ll still get some movement in and enjoy my days here.

If you want to follow along how the week is going, I’ll be posting to social media with updates and fun pictures and word counts! Be sure to check in and see how the week is progressing! And hey, if you wanted to say a prayer that energy levels stay good, I would not object. October 1 is fast approaching, LOL. ;-)=

Thank you all, as always, for cheering me on!