Since all my usual writing retreat spots closed over the pandemic (sad face), I decided to DIY my own solo writing retreat this fall by booking this Airbnb cabin for myself in the woods of Warwick, MA. The cozy cabin had no WiFi and spotty cell reception and was in the secluded backyard of the Airbnb hosts, who were very nice.
I got a bit of writing and plotting done, and reading and crocheting and befriending squirrels and mushroom hunting. And sleeping, to be honest. Unplugging after a year and a half of being online all the time for work/school/life was quite a shock to my system. Turns out I was more exhausted than I thought.
One day, just to stretch my legs, I decided to drive to Erving State Forest down the road and explore a bit. It was eerie how almost no one was around. The park gate was unattended and the parking lot was empty. The little beach at Laurel Lake, the bathrooms, and all the picnic tables were all vacant on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I thought about hiking a little loop trail but then thought better of it—with zero cell reception and nobody around, I was just asking to become an unsolved mystery.
I was glad I got to unplug in nature and get some writing done, but a solo retreat just isn’t the same as being at a retreat with other writers. Oh how I miss people!