Many activities fill our schedules, even writerly ones. Sometimes you need to create space in your brain and schedule to write.
These past months I’ve been cutting back, creating space, and saying ‘no’, so I can write a psychological thriller. Recently, a one-week writing retreat at Casa Mismac gave me this space. Cheryl MacLean Misurska’s spacious, mountaintop home sits on thirty-seven acres of gardens and fields with both ocean and mountain views. I shared her home in Grifo Alto, Puriscal, Costa Rica with two other writing guests and my nurturing host, herself a gifted writer.
Cheryl cared for us by creating a welcoming space and providing nutritious and tasty meals, with fruit bowls, homemade soups and banana bread. Soursop, freshly picked from her tree, made a yummy smoothie. Our morning coffee was grown on Cheryl’s plantation. She harvested and roasted the bursting beans to give us the best start to the day.
PHOTO CREDIT TO SUZANNE WIILIAMS
We wrote on our works-in-progress, walked the property with Cheryl’s dogs, Queen Kina, Duque, and Lord Bruce, swam and exercised in the pool, and took a small road trip to the beach where we saw Scarlet Macaws. One startled me when it flew from the treetops in front of my windshield as I was driving.
Although many of my responsibilities relate, to writing, I set aside being aretreat host, and a writing and critiquing facilitator. I read. I wrote. I explored. As I created space for my story to develop, new ideas popped into my brain. I added in specific details, my characters’ emotional reactions, plot twists and layers.
PHOTO CREDIT TO CLAIRE MATZE
In the evenings, we chatted about reading, writing, and life over our evening meals. And as the sun set, painting gorgeous colors across the sky, we shared our words.
I connect naturally through my art and nature. As soon as I read this affirmative idea in Your Creative Path Workbook: An Author’s Guide to Goal Setting Career Planning and Creating Intentional Art, by Libby Copa, the statement resonated with me.
I came away from the productive time I spent at Casa Mismac affirmed in my belief that we naturally connect through art and nature. This is a big part of how I grow as a person and as a writer.
If you’re looking for a quiet, natural space to write and to connect with other writers, consider Casa Mismac, and allow nature and others to inspire your writing.
