Blog 72: Get Out!

Another week of feeling like I live on a tropical island, but I'm pleased to say that on the absolute hottest day, we went to see my eldest daughter, and while my youngest wanted to sleep over, the hubs and I got to stay in a lovely, air-conditioned hotel room.

Spending time with family, seeing new places and talking to different people seems to switch me on and make me feel refreshed. Listening to my eldest and her boyfriend's funny stories and quizzing the hotel staff about the haunted goings on has given my brain fresh avenues to travel along and ideas for fiction. As my current project is a supernatural story, I am quite eager to see a ghost, hear something, feel that it’s gone chilly. Anything really!  I'm not sure whether I can entice one, like you would a mouse. Perhaps with a piece of cheese or a white sheet with holes cut in it, but I kept my eyes optimistically peeled.

The hotel where we stayed was built in the 1800s, and so I decided to ask one of the bar staff if he had encountered anything. I was dying to know, but as he came over to our table looking quite professional and taking his job very seriously, I wondered if he would think me odd and half expected him to smile politely and say he had nothing to tell me. However, upon me blurting out, "Have you seen any ghosts?" as he was about to walk away, his whole demeanour changed. His body language relaxed, his eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly. The guy took pleasure in telling us that there were peculiar things going on in the basement (creepy, right?) lights going on and off and glimpses of people walking past when he was the only one in there. 

It was fun to see this other side of him, which I didn't expect. Watching people's reactions and finding out how they see the world is like opening a book and exploring what's inside. You find connections and similarities but also learn new things and see them from different angles. What you see isn’t always what you get once you get chatting to someone.

It is great to keep up your writing every day, and practice is definitely useful to improve and develop your skills, but you can't write with any empty pen. Ideas come from experiences and inspiration. 

The popular series Fawlty Towers was inspired by an actual hotel where the manager was grumpy and obnoxious. John Cleese thought this was hilarious. And whilst his other friends decided enough was enough and took themselves off to a different hotel, he stuck around to absorb this character’s behaviour. What followed was a very amusing and popular sitcom. 

You may find a place or building that would be perfect for your setting, like an old castle, derelict house, or maybe a house in the middle of a sleepy village. You may hear a conversation that sparks an idea or, like John Cleese, come across some colourful characters.

Always carry around something to jot notes down. I use my phone, but you could carry a notebook. Write down what you notice and take pictures to remind you.  Do a bit of research about the area or ask the locals questions about the history, to help develop your ideas. You may not use this information initially, but if you find a safe place to store it, it is something you can return to that may just fit what you are writing at that time. It may even be the missing thing that you have been looking for. You have to get out there; the world is a colourful place, and all you need is your paintbrush!

In terms of supernatural sightings, I was tempted to look around the basement in the early hours of the morning to see if I found what the barman had discovered, but thought that perhaps wandering around in the middle of the night and going into restricted areas may be interpreted as bat sh*t crazy and get us thrown out. And although it was very warm to sleep outside, I decided against it. So unfortunately, I didn’t see any ghosts this time. However, do please let me know if you have had any ghost encounters. I would love to hear about them! I am hopefully going to go on a ghost hunt at some point this year with a friend of mine, so fingers crossed. Knowing me, if something does happen, I will probably be looking the wrong way or sleep through it. But we shall see! Or not, as the case may be.

Of course, if you have the cash, you can always pop off on a writing retreat. These can cost anywhere between £45 and £1,150 depending on whether you stay for one day, a weekend, five or twelve days, and the location. There are four types of retreats you can generally choose from: -

1.      Tutored courses

A blend of deep, uninterrupted focus and professional mentorship. Set in peaceful, inspiring locations, they typically combine structured daily workshops and one-to-one feedback with plenty of quiet time to write. You also get to share meals and ideas with a community of fellow writers.

2.      Solo self-catered cabins

Deeply immersive, distraction-free experiences tailored for creative work. They combine rustic solitude with modern conveniences, usually featuring dedicated writing desks, natural views, fully equipped kitchenettes, and nearby access to nature.

3.      Mindfulness/wellness getaways

Intimate, nature-immersed sanctuaries designed to help you digitally detox, de-stress, and focus. They blend secluded, luxury timber accommodations with wellness activities like meditation, wild swimming, and 1-on-1 author coaching, offering the perfect balance of restorative calm and creative momentum.

4.      Academic residencies

Highly structured, distraction-free environments designed to boost scholarly output. They typically focus on daily goal setting, designated silent writing blocks, and communal dining. Many are inspired by the research-backed techniques of Professor Rowena Murray, emphasising accountability and peer support.

Most retreats provide peaceful environments away from daily distractions to help you focus on completing a novel, memoir, or research project. Popular places in the UK for such retreats are the picturesque, rural areas of Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland, Devon, Norwich, and Windsor. However, if you are not from the UK, you can look up ones in other countries or combine a holiday abroad with your writing project.

A new environment, meeting other writers, new people, and having some time away from the usual day-to-day distractions can be a proactive way of getting out of a writing funk, finding inspiration, and giving you time to relax and focus on your project. You can also research bursaries to assist you in getting there.

Chatting to different people, visiting new places and trying new things can also be a successful way to give your brain a creativity boost, and let’s face it, get you out of that mundane daily routine for a while.

If you have been on such a retreat or are planning to, please let me know as I would love to hear about it and perhaps write about it in another blog.

Until next time, stay cool, find time to relax, and don’t forget to edit your work.