It can be hard to find the time and motivation to write. One way to jump start the process is to find a writers retreat where you can spend a weekend or a week seeing a new location, thinking about your project and maybe doing some writing. Often these events will include time with experts to give you insight and guidance.

The easiest way is to find one near you, but they are held all over the world. For instance,  there’s a retreat in Iceland coming up in April. I’ve only been briefly to the country , but it impressed me as a place that could certainly spark your imagination. The organizers of the Iceland Writers Retreat  have arranged a full schedule of workshops, panels and trips around the area.

A few things to think about when you are considering a retreat:

What do you want to accomplish? Look for retreats that are targeted toward your goals. Do you want some help getting started? Are you in the middle and want to stay motivated? Or, are you nearly done and looking to wrap things up?

What will you learn? Take a look at the agenda to get a sense of what to expect. Some retreats are focused on a specific project while others are about improving your writing generally.

Who do you want to meet? Some retreats are centered on featured experts while others are more about bringing writers together. Both are good options, it just depends on what you want.

Will you be working or recreating? There are retreats at secluded farms, on cruise ship and in castles. Take a close look at the schedule to see if it fits your needs. Do you want to get a lot of work done and do a little bit of touring? Or, are you looking to do a lot of touring and get a little bit of inspiration?