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RTW: Dream Writing Retreat

June 14, 2012August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 6 comments

I had a post planned for tonight but I wrote it in a notebook and that notebook is currently in a different room.  I started a new workout series last night, and while I was sore this morning, I wasn’t as sore as I thought I’d be… until I spent the morning setting something up at work.  Now I don’t have plans to leave the couch until it’s time for bed.  That’s when I realized that it’s Wednesday and YA Highway is hosting their weekly Road Trip Wednesday.  I’ve been planning to start participating in this for awhile now and I am officially starting tonight.

From YA Highway:
Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This Week’s Topic: If you could go on a writing retreat anywhere, where would you go & who would you bring?
If time and money were no object, where would you shut yourself away to write the great American novel? And what friends, crit partners, or inspiring authors (living or dead!) would you bring along?

The answer came to me immediately: Norway.  Preferably a coastal town and at a time of year when the Northern Lights are bright in the sky.
For at least a year now I’ve had a strong desire to visit Norway and it’s high on my “to visit next” list.  I’d like to take a trip to Norway one day soon and stop in Iceland along the way.  My desire to visit Norway only increased when I saw picture of the Northern Lights.  In photographs it was jaw-dropping and as much as I love photography and the beauty of photographs, I do believe that they can only capture so much.  
Who would I bring?  My dog, of course, if I had one at that time (hopefully I would) because there’s nothing better than a dog curled up next to me asleep or playing with toys to inspire me.  Even though bringing a dog would require breaks from writing, it would also force me to take frequent time outs from staring at a computer screen–something that my eye doctor is so fond of recommending that it might be decent advice to take.  
If we’re talking about real people… well, I think the idea of going on a writing retreat by myself sounds absolutely perfect!  People can provide distractions.  However, I’ve also talked about the idea of going on a writing and art retreat with my friend Heather and we’ve also talked about traveling to Norway one day, so of course I’d bring her along.  The great thing about Heather is that she also understands that while talking is fun, there’s a time to talk and there’s a time to create.  She’s all for locking yourself in a room to write or make art so I’d definitely be able to get work done.  Other people that I would like to have at my writer’s retreat are my friends Iloye, Amber and Ari, who read what I write.
About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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RTW: Summer After Graduation

6 comments

  1. Sara Biren says:
    June 14, 2012 at 3:39 am

    Welcome to RTW! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm also in Minnesota – in the outer ring of the NW suburbs.

    I just watched a travel special on Norway – it looked really lovely (if a little gray) and intriguing. Hope you make it there someday!

    Reply
    1. Crystal says:
      June 21, 2012 at 4:07 am

      Thanks for the welcome! I was wondering if you were near Minneapolis as I saw that you're a member of The Loft Literary Center on your website. I recently spent a bunch of time there at their Children's and YA Lit and Poetry conferences. They're my first experiences with the Loft, but definitely not my last. I loved it there!

      Reply
  2. Optimistic Existentialist says:
    June 14, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Norway does sound like a wonderful retreat! I think my ideal retreat would be Bora Bora šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal says:
      June 21, 2012 at 4:08 am

      Bora Bora would be wonderful!!!

      Reply
  3. *tarazza says:
    June 14, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    I love this idea! May have to steal this prompt for my blog šŸ™‚

    Norway and the Northern Lights sound incredible.

    Reply
  4. Crystal says:
    June 21, 2012 at 4:11 am

    You should!

    I knew you would understand! šŸ™‚ A few friends have mentioned that they think I'm crazy because I want to go to Norway during cold months but that's when the Northern Lights are at their most brilliant (according to what I've read online). But I was thinking, "If anyone understands my desire to go to Norway to see the Northern Lights, it would be Tara."

    By the way, I totally owe you an email. Keep an eye out. šŸ™‚

    Reply

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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