I'm back in northern Japan at another five-day writing retreat, a pretty similar event to what I organised in May last year. We have ten writers, including myself, four of us were here in May last year, but six weren't. It's exciting to have new people coming along. Last year it was pretty "in-house"—just OMF-related people. This time we've got attendees from a variety of organisations and locations in Japan, though everyone except me are from north America (Canada or US).
It's again such a joy to be able to facilitate such a gathering. We're in a beautiful location in Aomori Prefecture, about 20 minutes drive south of Aomori City. Two months ago we came back to Tokyo from Australia and I haven't been out of the city in that time, it's so delightful to get away.
I've shared with various people about coming to this and they have been curious and asked clarifying questions. It is not a "workshop" where lots of stuff gets formally taught. It's not a conference where we have many meetings. Nor is it a place where everyone has come to work on a single project. It is simply an event organised for people to get away from their usual day-to-day lives to do writing. The schedule includes significant amounts of time to work on things that are on their hearts or that they need to. Some people here are working on newsletters or sermons. Some are working on writing stories, or on book projects. Others aren't sure why they are here except that they feel compelled to write and are able to take some time away to see what they can achieve.
One of the keys to this event is that we're doing it together with others. According to my records, this is the eighth time I've organised a writing retreat in Japan. Each time I've come away feeling more encouraged and excited about writing than before I went. Writing is largely a solitary activity, but thinking that you can grow as a writer without engaging with other people is dangerous. Getting together with others who are also writers can be very stimulating and helpful.
This event therefore includes times of solitary writing as well as sharing and helping each other. But don't be fooled by the word "retreat". Yes, it's time away from our regular responsibilities, but it is by no means a holiday. We're working here! Publishing these days is easier than it's ever been: I'm going to his "Publish" on this blog post when I'm finished it. But getting full books published, or even short stories published, is much more complicated than it used to be. So while writing can be a joy, it also can be like wrestling an elephant up a hill, it also can be like guiding an elephant through a wilderness where there is no map, but many possible paths. (For anyone who is interested, a colleague shared this helpful website about publishing paths with me.)
So, in addition to silent writing times, we're talking with each other, sharing stories and challenges. We're asking each other for advice, for clarity; asking others for a different perspective on the forest of words that we have created and are too close to to have any clear vision.
I've just spent some time with a friend mulling over a very short (true) story that she felt compelled to write, but wasn't sure why. In some ways I feel similarly about these curious "writers retreat gigs" that God has me organising. I don't know why, but somehow I'm able to do it and I just have to trust that these events are helpful to the people who come along on the journey.
