finding the time or making the time + an exclusive offer

Solitude is creativity's best friend, and solitude is refreshment for our souls.
- Naomi Judd ​

​Below you'll find an exclusive offer I've arranged with Gartmore House for writers. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all.

For now though, let's think about how to establish writing time and space for yourself. 

find and make those hidden pockets of time

eg. when travelling on the train, or turn up early to appointments or meetings

decrease distractions

put your mobile phone away, find a place where you won't be disturbed, ring-fence that time and let everyone in the house know that's a time when you are NOT to be disturbed - and be firm in maintaining that boundary

routine

I love a "when and then chain" to help embed your writing into your routines. Know your own rhythms. If you're a night owl, place it into your chain of bedtime routines. If you're a morning person, write as soon as you wake up, maybe in bed or get up a little earlier and write before the day gets busy, setting it before anything else begins. 

decrease the friction/ get a jump on it

Make it as smooth and easy as possible for yourself to write. Give yourself no reasons to excuse yourself from writing.

• Prepare your surface: if you write first thing in the morning with your cup of tea, set up your notepad or computer next to the kettle and a prompt ready to go.
• If you find it intimidating or scary to sit down to the page then sneak up on it - tell yourself it's just for a few minutes, or it's just a couple of hundred words. Then, if you want to do more, then you can keep going. Every tiny word is another step on your writing journey.
• If you find the blank page (or new chapter or even a new sentence) intimidating then leave your last sentence of the day unfinished then pick up it up again the next day.

want it

when you're struggling with motivation, focus on the positives: remind yourself how you feel when you experience flow, when you solve a plotting tangle or an exciting idea appears from out of nowhere!

There's nothing else like it. 

Happy writing all, and read on for an exclusive offer...

Exclusive Offer

Novel and memoir writing

• starting 25th June (overnight stays, 26th June for day retreats)
• starting 11th September (overnight stays, 12th Sep for day retreats)

Bring a project that’s already in progress, or come ready to begin afresh. Topics we will cover include (but are not limited to) idea generation, process,  character, conflict, narration, editing and routes to publication. You’ll overcome procrastination and writing blocks and head home having embarked on a new chapter in your writing life: with a clarified vision of your novel or memoir and a confident route forward.
 
If you can stretch to it, I’d of course advise you to invest in the full residential experience: it’s a whole week to yourself with all your needs met. Liberated from your usual day-to-day life, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in your stories and kickstart the progress you’ve been craving. Bliss!

But you’re also warmly welcome to come each day without staying overnight. I’ve arranged with Gartmore House to offer day-retreat packages:

• Monday to Thursday
• 10am – 5pm
• morning masterclasses,
• a one-to-one mentoring session,
• lunch
• writing time in beautiful surroundings
• £400

or

all the above plus

• breakfast
• dinner
• evening activities
  • £650

Book by contacting the wonderful Gartmore House team here: 

• 01877 382991 
• [email protected]
• Gartmore House, Stirling | Art, Craft & Activity Holidays in Scotland

About Gartmore

Gartmore is a special place, and not just because of its gorgeous location. Its pub, the Black Bull, is owned and run by the local community. Gartmore House is a not-for-profit charitable trust. All of their profits are channelled back into the upkeep, maintenance, and renovation of the house. The director, Peter Sunderland is incredibly passionate about the House's history and has been instrumental in establishing the community-run Gartmore Shop and the Black Bull; safe-guarding them for the village. Community spirit is certainly alive and well in Gartmore. I can tell you from personal experience that the warm atmosphere at Gartmore House reflects this. It's truly inspiring.