Back from Retreat!

This past weekend I went on a writing retreat with some YA and MG writer friends to Dublin, Ohio. I highly advise the occasional writing retreat as a way to get away from it all and get a lot of work done. Though the nightly calls to my kids and their crying was a heart-tugger. My writing pals remind me that the kids do this EVERY time we go on a retreat. Yet they're always just fine and enjoy their Daddy time and all the treats and movies and fun that come with that.

I got a lot of writing done over the weekend-- the first two chapter of a new middle grade and some editing on my new YA coming out at the end of October. There will be a cover reveal for that book in the coming days so stay tuned. And I also listened to two audio books on the drive- John Green's Fault in Our Stars and Gayle Forman's If I Stay. Both were really good though I think I'd advise not driving while listening to the John Green one since my eyes kept tearing up at all the sad bits.

Now that I'm back I'm realizing that summer is winding down and I have to get all the fun last minute swims and walks and day trips with the kids in before school starts up again in three weeks and the madness of four kids in activities hits us again. I'll miss our lazy days. I am happy we're all settled in our new house though and that they'll all be together in one school this year- hurrah for that! And with a return of the school year comes the return of my writing schedule. :-)

Writing Retreat Time!

It's that time of year again, when my writer pals and I drive out from our various locations to one central spot and spend the weekend writing (and laughing and talking shop too of course). I always look forward to these retreats. They motivate me to hit a project hard (and motivation is so hard in the summer when the kids want 24/7 entertainment and there's the lure of swimming and relaxing.). This retreat I'm starting a new middle grade book. I've been taking notes and prepping for a few weeks while also finishing up edits on a young adult book coming later this fall (more info on that soon). I'm hoping this retreat is just the kick start I need to get this book off the ground.

What about you? Do you go on writing retreats?