The magic of Varuna and Writing Retreats

I've said it before and I'll say it again... there is something magical about Varuna http://www.varuna.com.au/.

I originally came to Varuna after winning a Publisher Introduction Program Fellowship and I have come every year since.

So, what's so great about it?

• You are away from home and all the associated responsibilities (work, kids, washing, cooking, cleaning, pick-ups and drop-offs etc).
• You are given your own room and writing desk.
• You meet like-minded people at dinner each night and have wonderful discussions about your creative endeavours.
• The house was built by the Australian writer Eleanor Dark and husband Dr Eric Dark in the late 1930s and is now recognised as a site of cultural significance. There are also beautiful gardens and surrounds.
• When you need a break you can walk into the nearby town of Katoomba.
• You can write morning, noon or night without distraction or disruption. I swear a week here is equivalent to months at home.
• The dinner every night is amazing thanks to Sheila.
• You leave feeling energised and ready to take on the writing world.
• Most importantly when you are here you feel like a 'real' writer even if you are as yet unpublished.

Other Writing Retreats on Offer

There are many other writing retreats on offer around Australia.

Romance Writers' of Australia Retreat in Bawley Point, NSW
https://romanceaustralia.com/writers-retreats-program/

Fiona McIntosh's masterclasses in South Australia
https://fionamcintoshmasterclasses.com/masterclasses/writer-retreat/

Sunshine Writers' Retreat in Queensland
http://www.greenleafpress.net/sunshine-writers-retreat.html

Society of Women Writers' Retreat in Wilton NSW
http://womenwritersnsw.org/events/writers-retreat

Tasmanian Writers' Retreat with author Maggie MacKellar
http://metimeexperiences.com.au/event/tasmanian-writers-retreat-with-best-selling-author-maggie-mackellar/

Two day workshops (with nearby accommodation) at Gondor Writers' Centre, Queensland
http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

Winter Writers' Retreat (South Coast of NSW)
http://www.writersfsc.org.au/

Here's a list of 2017 writing retreats all over the world. Check out the comments section for even more suggestions.
https://thewritelife.com/writing-retreats/

Do it Yourself

If an organised group writing retreat doesn't appeal to you why not create your own? Lots of accommodation on Airbnb and Facebook advertise themselves as Writing Retreats. Or you could just hire a cabin the bush somewhere for some peace and quiet.

However, I have met some wonderful writers through my years of coming to Varuna and I think that definitely adds to the experience. I've kept in touch with a few and we workshop ideas or complain about rejections and celebrate wins together - that kind of connection in the writing industry is priceless.

Good luck. Happy writing.

Great posts about writing & meeting Rachael Johns

On Good Friday we went to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was crazy, with so many people that you ended up just going where the flow of the crowd took you because it was too much effort to navigate away. We had fun but it was hard work!

The highlight for the kids was, of course, the show bags full of lollies. For me however, it was meeting Rachael Johns, author of many rural romance books including The Patterson Girls and recently released Outback Sisters. I really enjoy Rachael's writing because there is always a strong story line or action element to her books so that the romance factor almost becomes secondary to the drama unfolding.
 
Rachael was friendly, approachable and seemed genuinely happy to meet people at her stand. She even gave me some tips for my own writing including joining the Romance Writers of Australia who have helped her enormously over the years.  
(http://www.romanceaustralia.com/p/1/Home)
 
I heard about Rachael's visit to the Easter Show via her facebook posts https://www.facebook.com/RachaelJohnsRomance?ref=ts&sk=wall so it pays to like authors you admire on facebook and keep up to date with their appearances.
 
http://www.rachaeljohns.com/
 
Lately, I've seen a heap of posts with writing tips and so I thought I'd share in case you missed them:
 
Ten things that editors don't like
http://www.elawreads.com/blog/2014/7/15/finishing-the-hat-ten-things-that-make-an-editor-stop-reading-your-manuscript
 
Alisdair Daws reviews writing software packages
http://www.agdaws.com/2016/03/software-writers-part-1-scrivener/
 
Alison Tait's top ten posts about writing
http://allisontait.com/2015/11/my-top-10-posts-about-writing-as-voted-by-you/?utm_content=buffer02426&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 
How to stick with your writing by Natasha Lester
http://www.natashalester.com.au/2016/03/16/3484/
 
To plot or not from Kate Forsyth
http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/kates-blog/writing-to-plot-or-not?utm_content=buffer9d250&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 
Wildcare Tasmania Nature writing competition ($5000 first prize)
http://www.taswriters.org/natureprize/?utm_content=bufferbdbbd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 
Happy writing!
Sally