Behind the scenes at a writing retreat: interview with Write & Walk
Emma Christie
I’m so excited for today’s chat! Emma Christie and I go way back - we share an agent and I also built her author website - and I’ve always admired her energy (and fitness too, this is the woman who walked all the way from Scotland to the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival?!).
When I heard she was launching creative writing retreats in Spain that combined writing with hiking and meditation too, I was intrigued!
So I pinned her down to find out more about it all…
What inspired you to create a retreat that blends walking and writing?
It’s something I’ve been thinking and dreaming about for years, but until now I’ve never made the time to properly sit down and plan it. My fourth book has just been published and I’m now out of contract for the first time in years – so it’s the perfect opportunity. Basically the retreats recreate my lifestyle in many ways: physical activity with creativity, and a place for meditation and sharing as well. Those are the things that work for me and have helped me get through some challenging times – and I hope the writers who come on retreat will feel the same benefits I do.
How do the daily walks enhance the writing process for attendees?
For me, the process of writing books is a bit like making music. The most important part of any song is the pause between the notes. Otherwise it’s just noisy chaos. For me the walks (and the optional meditation sessions) provide those pauses. And it’s there, in my experience, that we often find the answers. And on a purely energetic level, moving your body and getting the blood pumping wakes you up, clears your head and gently draws your eyes and mind away from the screen for a while, so you’ll feel more refreshed when you sit down again. Plus nature is an endless source of inspiration and calm – so doing these walks in spectacular corners of Spain is an added bonus!
What kind of writers benefit most from this retreat?
The retreats are open to all writers, but at the moment I don’t offer any kind of coaching for unpublished writers. It’s definitely something I’ll consider for the future, perhaps inviting published authors to offer workshops and insights. For the moment what I’m offering is six hours of focused writing time every day, in a quiet and beautiful place, with all other the logistics of life taken care of – and with the promise of a beautiful walk either before or after your writing session. Plus you’ll be in the company of other writers who know exactly how it feels to be you! On the trial retreat I had writers at many different stages of their projects – some were starting a new MS, others were editing, one was writing a short story. I don’t think it matters – but if all you want is a desk to endlessly hammer out words from dusk until dawn with moving or interacting with others, then maybe this isn’t the right retreat for you.
Can you describe a typical day on the retreat, from waking up to lights-out?
It’s very simple. We start with an optional meditation session around 7.30am and then it’s time for breakfast with the group. You can have a quick bite and go or a long leisurely breakfast, whatever you prefer. From that point onwards we have two different schedules. Some days we’ll write in the morning and walk in the afternoon, and on other days it’s the other way round, to accommodate different writing schedules.
But for example it might be writing time from 830am to 13.30, then lunch with the group before heading out for a walk (plus a coffee or drink) from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Back to the retreat house and then you’ve got 2.5 more hours free until dinner at 8pm. Most people will write some more then maybe meet for a drink before dinner.
What’s your favourite writing or walking spot from one of the retreat locations, and why?
Impossible to choose as they’re all amazing. I’m planning retreats in three very distinct parts of Spain but they have a few key elements in common: they’re incredibly beautiful, they’re off the beaten track and I have a very personal connection to each of them.
The Alpujarras area -where I’ll hold the first retreat in March - is the first place I ever went hiking in Spain, about twenty years ago. And why did I chose to go there? Because it’s also home to a writer whose books I read as a teenager – and that’s partly what made me want to move to Spain! So that area is really special to me.
I’m hoping to offer another one in the Cabo de Gata natural park where I lived for three years at the very start of my writing career. The books I write there never got published but it was such an inspiring place to live. And it’s there that I first started meditating, fifteen years ago, and that’s been an important part of my writing journey as well.
I’m also hoping to offer a retreat in Catalonia, where I now live. I’ve explored the region endlessly in the past ten years, and regularly lead walking groups along the coast. It’s my home now – and I’m excited about sharing it with other writers.
How does walking together change the group dynamic compared to a traditional, sit-down writing retreat?
Walking shakes things up and is brilliant for group dynamics. There’s no pressure for long conversations but at the same time, it’s a great ice-breaker as you’re all experiencing something new and beautiful at the same time. Walks can be a place for reflection, for laughter, for insights and problem-solving and for sharing a coffee along the way. There are no rules. And if you want to be on your own, pondering plot holes as you walk, of course that’s also an option!
What have you learned from leading these retreats that has surprised you?
I’ve been leading groups in Spain for more than twenty years and honestly, I learn something new every single time. The moment you think you know it all, you’re done for! What surprised me most on the trial retreat was how many people were interested in the meditation sessions. I didn’t expect that at all. And as ever with groups it’s a joy to see how friendships grow over the course of the trip.
What do past participants say is the biggest takeaway or shift they experience?
Many say they feel refreshed and reconnected after the retreat, in addition to getting lots of words down. Other say they were inspired by the beautiful landscapes we travel through – and all said how much they loved sharing the experience with a group of like-minded writers. All in all, they’ve all loved it so far.
For someone thinking about joining a retreat but unsure, what would you say to them?
Call me! Or pop me an email. I’ve had loads of emails from writers asking about the daily schedule and the difficulty of the walks so if you’re concerned about any aspect of the retreat I’m more than happy to advise. Or speak to others who’ve already taken part. Write and Walk is deliberately different to other writing retreats but I believe it’s got just the right balance - time to write, walk, reflect and connect. It’s accessible to anyone with a basic level of fitness, a desire to write and a little sense of adventure.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The website, haha. Visit us at writeandwalk.com or on insta @writeandwalkspain.
What’s your favourite writing or walking spot from one of the retreat locations, and why?
Impossible to choose as they’re all amazing. I’m planning retreats in three very distinct parts of Spain but they have a few key elements in common: they’re incredibly beautiful, they’re off the beaten track and I have a very personal connection to each of them.
The Alpujarras area -where I’ll hold the first retreat in March - is the first place I ever went hiking in Spain, about twenty years ago. And why did I chose to go there? Because it’s also home to a writer whose books I read as a teenager – and that’s partly what made me want to move to Spain! So that area is really special to me.
I’m hoping to offer another one in the Cabo de Gata natural park where I lived for three years at the very start of my writing career. The books I write there never got published but it was such an inspiring place to live. And it’s there that I first started meditating, fifteen years ago, and that’s been an important part of my writing journey as well.
I’m also hoping to offer a retreat in Catalonia, where I now live. I’ve explored the region endlessly in the past ten years, and regularly lead walking groups along the coast. It’s my home now – and I’m excited about sharing it with other writers.
How does walking together change the group dynamic compared to a traditional, sit-down writing retreat?
Walking shakes things up and is brilliant for group dynamics. There’s no pressure for long conversations but at the same time, it’s a great ice-breaker as you’re all experiencing something new and beautiful at the same time. Walks can be a place for reflection, for laughter, for insights and problem-solving and for sharing a coffee along the way. There are no rules. And if you want to be on your own, pondering plot holes as you walk, of course that’s also an option!
What have you learned from leading these retreats that has surprised you?
I’ve been leading groups in Spain for more than twenty years and honestly, I learn something new every single time. The moment you think you know it all, you’re done for! What surprised me most on the trial retreat was how many people were interested in the meditation sessions. I didn’t expect that at all. And as ever with groups it’s a joy to see how friendships grow over the course of the trip.
What do past participants say is the biggest takeaway or shift they experience?
Many say they feel refreshed and reconnected after the retreat, in addition to getting lots of words down. Other say they were inspired by the beautiful landscapes we travel through – and all said how much they loved sharing the experience with a group of like-minded writers. All in all, they’ve all loved it so far.
For someone thinking about joining a retreat but unsure, what would you say to them?
Call me! Or pop me an email. I’ve had loads of emails from writers asking about the daily schedule and the difficulty of the walks so if you’re concerned about any aspect of the retreat I’m more than happy to advise. Or speak to others who’ve already taken part. Write and Walk is deliberately different to other writing retreats but I believe it’s got just the right balance - time to write, walk, reflect and connect. It’s accessible to anyone with a basic level of fitness, a desire to write and a little sense of adventure.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The website, haha. www.writeandwalk.com or on insta @writeandwalkspain
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