A writing retreat

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I’ve taken time away from my usual places and spaces to dedicate and focus my mind and energy on writing. Now that the research proposal is in the hands of my committee members and I await their feedback, I can shift my attention to other writing projects I’ve made commitments to do – there are two chapter proposals that have been approved, both due in the coming months, one short paper that is coming due in a few weeks, and one chapter that is in the final stages of editing, hopefully ready for publication once I complete the necessary revisions. I’d also like to work on writing up the research ethics application since I can make revisions to that document more easily with feedback from my committee.

So the writing plan is simple. Five days to start and end with writing. I plan to blog once each day (hence this post). Two days and two blog posts so far. Yesterday I wrote Wiki Wondering about my Wiki Scholars experience as well as completing a Wiki Scholars profile questionnaire. I will read one or two research papers relevant to upcoming chapters to be written, then write about what I’ve read so I have notes for reference. Yesterday I read Wikipedia as OER: The “Learning with Wikipedia” Project (Petrucco & Frranti, 2020). I will continue reading chapters from one of the two books I am currently reading – The Creative PhD and Metaphors We Live By. I will tackle one other writing task each afternoon – probably the editing of completed chapter first, then the short paper since it’s already in draft form. If there is time left in the week, I’ll work on framing the other two chapters so I can keep on track toward completion when I return to my ‘real life’.

The challenge I have, when doing any writing, is maintaining a balance. As a result of this tendency, I have worked out a strict schedule for the day. For this writing retreat, I have regularly scheduled breaks of more than 30 minutes, along with a stretch and walk breaks of 5 minutes or more each hour. I have planned my meals and snacks so these are worked into these breaks. I have cued up several videos for a daily yoga workout, also part of those regular breaks.

So, that’s the plan so far. This was inspired by one of the instructors at UBC with whom I worked, designing a writing course that ended in a two day writing retreat. It was further influenced by this blog post [The morality of writing well] by Katherine Firth. Within this blog full of no-nonsense advice on writing is the paragraph that caught my attention:

Writing is a thing in the universe, like naps and hugs and bicycles. They are just things that people choose to do sometimes, and in themselves are neither good nor bad. In the right circumstances they can be delightful, and in other circumstances they might be unpleasant. You can use them for good, or for ill. (Hugs, from someone you love, are awesome. Hugs from your creepy boss are sexual harassment.) They can be a treat, or a punishment, or a threat, or something that needs to get done.

Katherine Firth, July 8, 2021.

So this is my writing retreat plan – not good or bad, it just is – with a goal to focus on the words and deeds of writing.

References

Petrucco, C., & Ferranti, C. (2020). Wikipedia as OER: the “Learning with Wikipedia” project. Journal of E-Learning and Knowledge Society, 16(4), 38-45.  https://doi.org/10.20368/1971-8829/1135322