Solo Writer’s Retreat? – Why It’s A Great Idea (How I Spent Two Days in York)

Hi, this post is a combination of York travel guide and solo writing retreat recommendation.

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I hope you’ll spend a few minutes as I take you on my tour. However I know how busy you are so if you want a quick dip in and out I’ve titled each section so you can easily skip to those that interest you.

York Minster

I got a really early train so I had two full days, around the one night in the hotel. It’s surprising how much you can fit into a few hours if you put your mind to it! Now I’ve visited York loads of times but never gone around the Minster. I know crazy right?

I decided to be a tourist and take my camera and as I arrived was told there was a tour starting shortly, for free.

While I waited I looked around the museum beneath the minster, great to see just how old the whole place is, and how it nearly fell into a hole! I won’t spoil it by telling you why. Wow, so pleased I took the tour.

The guide was really knowledgable and fun. He pointed out so many details and fun facts that I’d never have noticed or known by walking on my own. Monkeys, and bottle fed babies, who knew! Definitely worth the money, real history in a working church.

If you feel spirits they’re certainly there in the crypt! I felt obliged to light a candle there. It’s something I do in every temple or church I visit and it seemed that area in particular called to me this time.

Let me know if you spotted the huge heart built into the stone frame surrounding just a few of the many ancient stained glass windows.

Oh, and don’t forget to go out front and see the only Roman Emperor to be put in charge without having to go back to Rome to do it!

 

Betty’s Tearoom

This is a tourist hot spot and in the day will have queues. I arrived at breakfast time and got in no problem. This beautiful old tea room is wonderful, and totally worth the wait, if that’s what it takes. A MUST SEE.

I was one of the few tourists as mostly it was Japanese business meetings. Oh and one loud Englishman on his mobile phone, despite notices saying not to use them! Grrr.

The staff were helpful, attentive and couldn’t have done more for me, EXCELLENT traditional service. They even explained every tea to me, it is a tea room after all so I had to venture outside my comfort zone.

The food was awesome, best breakfast I’ve had in quite a while and well worth the unexpectedly low price.

OK so it’s not cheap but it wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as I’d expected considering how gorgeous and fresh and tasty the food was.

The Shambles and York City Centre

History buffs and tourists love York, it’s world famous images often miss out the huge number of people on the streets, but as cars are banned few and far between it’s still an area you can wander around and soak up the atmosphere.

It’s very ‘Harry Potter,’ or Dickensian depending on your point of reference, old, quaint, and full of lovely little lanes with tiny shop windows.

Or rather full of expensive shops where you can buy handmade fudge, bespoke jewellery or designer clothes, gorgeous often unique things, and to be honest you can find a bargain if you look.

York is the place to find quirky souvenirs, don’t miss the brilliant Yorkshire Soap store and the next door Imaginarium.

If you walk here you’ll no doubt be in someone’s camera around the world as it’s very photogenic.

Don’t worry if every day is shopping is more your thing, you’ll find most of the high street brands around the next corner if you want to wander, it’s all central within ancient city walls.

Pret a Manger for lunch

By noon I’d walked miles, up and down alleyways, around churches, not just the Minster and bought a few souvenirs so I called for a quick lunch, knowing what I could get and that I could rely on the brand. Pret didn’t let me down.

The seating upstairs is snug and cozy but busy, if you like space for private chats maybe it’s not for you, but I’m happy with snug and could’ve easily stayed to work as others did. Spot on!

Love this brand, although the plastic use is still high, even if you eat in, they do provide steel trays but plastic cutlery.

The hotel, still only just past lunchtime!

The hotel was one central to York and seems to be aimed at business people (see my later remark about men.)

It was immaculate, a great combination of old and new, and in my room the wifi and desk / plugs etc all worked well, and were placed in the right places. You’d be amazed at how many hotels don’t put enough plugs close to desk areas.

My wifi was free, and luckily very reliable, I don’t need to think about this from now as I’ve just invested in one of those wifi hotspots devices. I was getting ripped off by massive charges on my phone contract!

Writing!

I logged into Scrivener, my writing app of choice, and did thousands of words. It was brilliant.

I didn’t allow myself to get distracted onto social media, I got into a work mindset and I’m sure that was due to the desk, the remoteness from home and the lone working space.

As I’ve mentioned I love a brew, at least one an hour. I use the tea making as my hourly reak from the keyboar to refresh my brain, eyes and have a stretch. I’d recommend it! Tea making was ideal, but sadly no Earl Grey and not one little tiny cookie!

Tip – take your own favourite tea bags! Knew I should’ve bought some at Betty’s!

I wanted to stay in the room and focus on writing so I treated myself to room service which was gorgeous, and made up for the missing cookies! I even avoided the tempting chef specials and bought superfoods, brain work needs feeding properly after all.

I wrote until late but still made sure I had time for an hours chill out. Instead of reading, and getting someone else’s story in my head I chose TV and settled in to a US detective show, as ever. I find when I write if I read similar fiction I get distracted. Sometimes it knocks my confidence. I find that I compare the work I’m reading with my own and it can throw up too many things making my brain fry.

Don’t apologise as a writer for doing something like watching trashy TV. We’re human, and need to do things that we find fun, even if that’s watching a serial killer like Dexter!

The wind down time worked, maybe I should’ve brought my gym gear but my bag was heavy with laptop and I didn’t want to have an excuse not to write. Anyway I slept like a log, and woke early ready to go. This was a work day, so bring it on!

Breakfast in the hotel – More writing

I headed to breakfast early and got a gorgeous table in the window and watched the rain fall on beautiful old York as I tucked into an omelette, massive fruit juice and yogurt with fruit and nuts, power brain food. I ‘stole’ a banana for later, I know right!

So no time to relax and loiter over a brew, I’m here to work!

So back to the room, computer on, word count here we come.

I did the Pomdoro method, but instead of 25 minutes working 5 off, I did an hour rota. I find 25 minutes is just about when I’m digging deep into my characters or plot and if I break too soon I never get deep and meaningful. ‘Horses for courses’ I guess.

I was thrilled that the previous day had set the standard and I wrote like a mad thing. Awesome! I made the commitment then to do this type of retreat on a regular basis. If I’m going to get more books out, which I must do to make this a profuitable career as well as a fulfilling one, I need to get into double figures and beyond.

The writer who makes a mint on their debut is almost a myth, it happens VERY rarely. The other myth is that you can’t earn a living writing.

You can, you just need to treat it as work, not just an art, and produce the goods.  Accept you probably won’t hit big numbers for a while, and you’ll maybe not make anything much until you have at least a trilogy. I’m not saying this to put you off, far from it.

I love writing and know you can make it your chosen career if you approach it the right way. Mind you, if you just write for fun, that’s a great idea too.  Words nourish the brain and the soul.

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Time to check out – back to being a tourist!

Treasurer’s House

This is a National Trust property so not the cheapest to enter unless you’re a member. It’s small and haunted, so I paid up and took the short, probably over priced, informative ghost trip in the cellar. Hard hat required!

If you’re passionate about art and history this house is worth the visit and the (I think free) gardens are a moment of peace and quiet. You should talk to the staff or you may not get much out of the trip, which to be honest can be done in 30 mins.

In the basement’s a tiny shop and cafe, I bought a cast iron mouse who now sits proudly next to one of my skirting boards at home.

Dean’s Park War Memorial

If you have a few minutes to spare, you can pay your respects to the fallen in Dean’s Park.

A restful spot to sit and get your breath back in a beautiful haven from the hustle and bustle of tourists and shoppers alike.

Lunch at Lucky Days

This cafe is lovely, the home-cooked style is authentic and a great combination of modern and cozy. With healthy and (I think) home made food it tempted me in. I didn’t want salad with my choice but she told me I’d pay for it whether I wanted it or not so may as well have it. OK, so I got salad, call me a cheap skate if you like.

The atmosphere was lovely, I’ve always wanted a coffee / art store with great local art and big sofas, this almost ticked those boxes. Windy stairs and small wooden tables, you get the idea. Not the cheapest but worth a bit extra for the surrounding and homemade food options.

Sadly the wifi didn’t work upstairs so despite best laid plans I couldn’t work online, and I hadn’t downloaded my document to my computer.

Tip – If you’re going away to work have a plan B, and/or download things to your computer to work on, or like me invest in a portable wifi device. I know I could’ve worked from my phone tether, call me lazy, I just sat and ate.

Theatre toilet stop

Public loos are a rarity now, so I nipped in to the theatre. It’s central to York and modern with a bustling cafe. I thought next time I’m a tourist at home I might just research ticket options and see a day time show.

I’ve never been to a theatre solo, so I really should try it.

St Wilfrid’s Church

On the way to the The Multangular Tower, I found the catholic church which sits just down the road from the Minster. I nipped in to look around, just me and a homeless person in there.

It’s a quiet spot if you need one, but isn’t one to go out of your way for if you’re looking for huge artworks or guided tours, very much a working church.

The Multangular Tower and Museum Gardens

Whilst listening to the tour guide in the Treasurer’s House I’d heard about the Multangular Tower. Sadly no one in York seemed to have heard of it. I asked numerous locals and tourists alike and eventually found someone who thought they might know where it is.

Yep – I found it as directed in the museum gardens. I don’t know why but it’s nothing like I imagined but as it’s positively ancient you should go look. Touch it and think about who’s been there in years gone by.

There was a jewel of a coffee cart next to it, so with millionaires shortbread (salted caramel so it would’ve been rude not to!) Loads of visitors were going into the museum but I just couldn’t spare the time, writing was the priority and every spare moment included note taking or character/plot planning.

I sat in the gardens, with the awesome ruins surrounding me. Another photo opportunity!

Mind you I felt very humble, and lazy and almost an unprofessional tourist as the Japanese group nearby spend at least an hour taking shots of each other. Posing, jumping, acting, wow. They’ll have some great pictures but I’m not sure I could spare that much energy! I’d need a second portion of caramel slice.

To get some house points, I did actually save half as it was so sickly sweet, it became a much deserved suppertime snack.

The River

From the museum gardens you can find your way down to the river and through the back of the station.

I’d got a train to catch but still managed to spend a few minutes taking in the surroundings. The river in York frequently floods, if you look carefully you’ll see many of the riverside properties now have heavy flood barriers built in to their boundaries. I’m not sure how effective they are, but if it’s not in flood it’s a great place to spend some time.

Make sure you walk along it and find your own boat trip, or riverside bar, or just a bench and enjoy the water, ducks and rowers as float on by.

York Train Station

I loved my time in York but have to admit by 5pm was getting weary, despite the frequent tea stops and caramel sugar rush. The station is a lovely old building. It’s worth taking your time there and looking up and around at the architecture. It’s taken for granted but there is so much history tied in to these places, it’d be a shame to miss out.

I found a quiet corner in the platform cafe and with an hour to spare decided to really make the most of my trip. The wifi was fab so I worked another hour and added yet more to the word count. I often work in cafes but this was the busiest with the most distractions, including all the indecipherable messages about my train which had been delayed.

An hour later than planned I finally sat down in my reserved seat and watched the fields whizz by the train window on my way home.

I felt tired, but in that good way when you know both body and brain are weary.

 

I’m definitely going to go to York again, either as a tourist or shopper, and no doubt as a writer on a solo retreat. However the next retreat may just be at the coast, I can imagine it would be a great place to get inspiration.

Mind you there are so many places in the UK that I haven’t been to yet, who knows. As long as they have a hotel, and I can get there by train I’ll add it to my list, so any suggestions are welcome!

Why I decided a solo writing retreat was a good idea.

I very rarely listen to the radio now. I make the most of every moment by listening to audio books and podcasts.

One of these podcasts has changed, totally, how I meet my writing goals. I’ll tell you which one, but first I’d like to tell you how!

One of the hardest things to avoid these days is distraction. There’s even evidence that a human can concentrate now for less time than a goldfish! Yep. Really!

There’s a constant battering of texts, email alerts, 24 hour news, let alone the chat in Facebook, Twitter, and gorgeous pictures in instagram and every other social media forum out there drawing us in. (Pinterest is an especially tempting search engine for me.) I admit I rarely watch a movie these days without googling (other search engines are available, ha, don’t you know) who the actors were married to, or what they’ve been in before!

I write on a computer so trying to avoid the assault of notifications, alerts and the shiny icons calling me in, is a hard task.

I know, I tell people to turn off wifi, and that does work, honestly it does. But then the house phone rings, yes I’m old school and still have a phone wired in. The doorbell goes, the washing shouts to me from the laundry bin. You know the real world that draws you away from the task of adding words to a page.

I’m not complaining. OMG I’m so lucky to work from home, but it’s sometimes difficult to set boundaries and not get pulled away from the desk discipline.

So to avoid the distractions I decided to go on a solo writing retreat. I’m sure you’ve all seen the retreats you can invest in for personal development or career building. A week in Bali doing yoga (YES, this is on my to do list too!) or maybe a week in Italy coaching training (I WON one last year, that’s whole other story of manifesting!!)

Luckily I’ve got loads of business and travel commitments in my schedule but I still wanted to do something solo. Something creative, to refill my creative well, something I could fit in between other important deadlines. I also knew this was a way of balancing budgets against value.

I’m starting to upscale my business and am working every day on my money mindset and manifesting. This one day solo writing retreat was going to be something I did, just for me BUT as an added bonus would also help me move towards some targets on my business plan too.

Win Win!

Things to think about when booking a solo retreat.

I looked up one of the hotel loyalty schemes I’m in, Hilton this time. It’s always a great saver if you travel a lot, so I booked one night.

I also treated myself to first class train tickets to York, book early and it’s a bargain and you get a free brew on board.  Now I’m a Yorkshire lass so a free brew is not to be sniffed at! York is just a hop and skip away but by getting the train I’d be able to relax from the start and work on the journey rather than sit in traffic.

A cozy B & B wouldn’t cut it on this trip.I made sure I booked hotel I would be able to relax in, feel safe and somewhere where I’d be able to isolate myself. I made sure it was close to the centre and train station. I would be carrying all my stuff around so didn’t want to trek in or have to rely buses or cabs. I guess central is more expensive, but when you add transport costs or energy levels it’s worth it.

I might think about a remote venue in the future, but I decided to combine both my travel blog research alongside my fiction writing.

I chose a ‘Room with a view’ so I looked out on York’s gorgeous historic tower, inspiring as I was there to write. I ordered (very expensive) bottled water but I didn’t really need to as because I was a member I got it free anyway, hmm, maybe they could’ve told me that but never mind.

Tip – check what’s included before buying extras.

And finally…

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Oh and just in case you thought I’d forgotten, the podcast that inspired me to write in a hotel, or cafe was The Creative Penn. Highly recommended for writers everywhere. Who knows it may just inspire you too.

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https://www.christieadamswriter.com/favourite-five-fiction-books-take-travelling/

 

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