What would you do if we said you could sit and write all day, with no distractions whatsoever? Well, with a writers' retreat it's possible - and here’s your chance
You want to write, you really do but you never seem to be able to sit down and, well, do it. What you need is to get away from it all, yes? Well, you’re in luck because the Urban Writers’ Retreat can provide exactly that. And we have a three-day escape for one lucky reader, absolutely free. Enter our writing retreat competition and this could be you. You’d be hard-pushed to find somewhere more conducive to creativity. Nestled near Newton Abbot in the idyllic Devon countryside, the retreat is held in a lovely, comfortable farmhouse where you’ll get your own room. There are no classes or awkward sessions ‘sharing’ work, but there will be hours of time for you to do exactly what you want – focus on your work, read, daydream, go for walks, say hello to the farmyard animals. Charlie, who runs the retreats, provides everything you need – the home-cooked food is plentiful and the cakes somewhat famous. There’s no clearing up, washing or cooking – you simply turn up and you’re left to your own devices. Writers usually come together for meals but you really can be as sociable or not, as you feel.
Studies have shown that stepping away from your usual routine and spending time somewhere peaceful helps stimulate creativity. Being in a different environment, with people you don’t know, can lead to changes in your brain by triggering the formation of new neural pathways between brain cells. And getting away from it all gives you the mental space you need for ideas to flow, say researchers from the University of Utah, US. So what you waiting for? Time to kick procrastination’s butt. Prices for three-night retreats start at £255; for six nights, they start at £460. If you can’t spare the time and are within easy reach of London, try a one-day retreat for £45, including lunch (and cake!).
To enter: Send your full name, contact number and email address to marieclaireideas@timeinc.com with Writing Retreat Competition in the subject heading. The competition opens on 31st December 2015 and entries close on Thursday 28th January 2016, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified.
Terms and conditions: The prize is for one person, for three nights, staying in a double room by themselves with a shared bathroom, to be taken in 2016 subject to availability. All meals are included. There is no cash alternative and the winner will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the retreat. No correspondence will be entered into.
Learn more about Urban Writers' Retreat here