First the Playlist: Tips for Planning Your Own DIY Writing Retreat

By Nina Gaby

Lake Cottage

I offer some gentle thoughts as you bravely forge ahead with your DIY Retreat, refusing to get dragged off-project by partners, kids, pets, leaking dishwashers, MSNBC.

Me? I rented a lake cottage because my biggest excuse for not writing is that I don’t have a view of a large body of water. Having that, I did feel guilty about leaving the partner and the pet behind.

So:

• First the playlist. Weeks before my retreat I planted seeds, not with words but with ...