Yes, I did say El Cheapo.

Writers, think you can’t afford a writing retreat? Think again.

Today I’m going to introduce you to the benefits of an El Cheapo writing retreat. In Part Two, we’ll discuss tips to help you make your own El Cheapo a successful event.

First off, what or who is an El Cheapo?

Answer: El Cheapo is a DIY writing experience. It is not a conference (which are also good) where you rush from lecture to workshop to speed dating with agents. El Cheapo is a quiet writing retreat, providing place and space in which to write and develop.

I wish I had created this, but I have to give credit to my writing buddy Cynthia James. She came up with the El Cheapo concept and the great name. Essentially, several times a year Cynthia and I spend two days and two nights together writing and critiquing.

The schedule is simple. We sit ourselves down in comfy chairs. We set a time–usually two or three hours–and write. Then we take turns reading for 10-15 minutes followed by a critique. The critiques explore what works, what is confusing, what needs more expansion, etc.

We break for meals and gossip and wine. (After all, in vino veritas. Yes?)

Should you consider holding an El Cheapo retreat? Here are three reasons (aside from the obvious financial) you should.

1. Accountability

I really liked what Corinne O’Flynn wrote about the benefits of accountability partners. You can check out her post here. And as Mary Heaton Vorse once said, “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” In an El Cheapo retreat, you can look up from your work at any time and see your compatriot, which both keeps her in her chair and you in yours. Blocking out the time for writing is the biggest factor for me in producing work. If I’m alone, I hear the siren calls of the laundry, the dog, and, worst of all, the internet. All (or most, anyhow) distractions are silenced when I’m attending El Cheapo.

2. Validation

Have you ever had a writing idea, maybe something a little outrageous or something that veers wildly from your outline, and said to yourself, “Does this make any sense? Should I scrap this or continue in this new vein?”

At a writing conference I attended in Squaw Valley, Alice Sebold (I had the amazing good fortune to be in her workshop group) talked about this crazy idea she had for a novel with a teen ghost narrating her murder. Sebold read some pages to a friend who told her to continue. That was the beginning of the bestseller The Lovely Bones.

At an El Cheapo retreat you can say to your accomplice, “Hey, what do you think of this idea?” Then you will be the recipient of instant feedback. Your writing buddy will tell you if your crazy idea is a good crazy or a bad crazy. She can also ask probing questions to help you flesh out your concept.

3. Community

Writing is a lonely business. A homegrown retreat allows you to pursue your art with company. At El Cheapo, Cynthia and I work and critique, all the while knowing the rewards of a meal and unwinding are a few hours away. Lunches and dinners provide time to socialize and gossip as well as encourage each other. We eat good food and drink smooth wine and share invigorating laughter.

I LOVE my El Cheapo writing retreats. I am the most productive I can ever be, and I cherish every minute.

How about you? Have you participated in a homegrown writing retreat? What worked or didn’t work for you?