Writing Struggles—How a DIY Retreat Helped

By Lina Lau and Jennifer Robinson

Lina Lau

Two decades ago, we met in grad school, where we sat across from each other in libraries and coffee shops and struggled to write term papers. Two years ago, we reunited as writing buddies working on more lyrical prose, bonding over shitty first drafts and sharing acceptance successes.

We know that writing can be exhilarating, but also maddening. Our writing struggles fall along a continuum: from the practical (word choice! submission strategy!) ...