In February 2022, long-time friends James Barker (writer/director) and Richard Ormsby (producer), planned a week-long screenwriting retreat in the quiet mountains of North Carolina, accompanied by their friend, Aleigha K. Spinks. That week spurred on Richard and James' newfound gumption to get back into their creative flow. Thus, 'Remnants of Nova' was born. This post outlines the key steps to planning a successful screenwriting retreat.
The main aim of a screenwriting retreat is to write (obviously).
Getting a bunch of friends together for a full week always leads to long conversations. But it can also lead to distractions. In order to have a successful writer's retreat, start the week by talking about personal and group writing goals. Going in with the proper mindset will help you maintain your focus.
Sticking to the goal of writing and writing alone can be tricky, so here's how you can encourage each other to stay on track and have a successful screenwriting retreat:
Pick an Inspiring Location for Your Screenwriting Retreat
This one is easy. During a screenwriting retreat, it's important to get away from your normal home routine. We chose to go to a mountainous region because it was a free place to stay (thank you Davis family). Despite having to drive 12 hours from New York to get there, the location was perfect. It was quiet and isolated. No internet. No cell service. Just a landline phone for local calls.
Even if you don't have a family friend willing to lend you their backcountry cottage for the week, you can look for a quaint Airbnb, a ski resort, or even a small beach house to rent out. Anywhere that will give you the ability to just "be" will allow everyone to focus on their writing.
Make a Schedule (And Stick To It!)
This one is a no-brainer. You'll want to create a daily schedule (a spreadsheet or calendar or something in between) with daily tasks, group activities, and even meal planning. This will ultimately give you more time to focus on your writing and less time on life's necessary tasks (like eating).
Making a schedule is the easy part, but sticking to it is where things can get tricky.
During our screenwriting retreat in February 2022, we scheduled multiple writing sessions for each day with breaks in between. We used the morning for personal journaling and reflection, with the rest of the day focused on our specific screenplay.
For dinners, we took turns cooking and cleaning on our own. This meant the workload was shared between the three of us and created a balanced work environment for everyone. Sticking to this schedule optimized our writing time while leaving enough leeway for organic collaboration and nature exploration.
Organize Feedback
After a long day of writing, share your work with the group and get honest, constructive feedback. This isn't the time to be nice and pandering. While being kind, give constructive feedback on each other's work. This is a time to get the critique you need in order to grow your story and expand on your characters.
When listening to notes about your own script, remember that everyone involved is there to help you build the best possible version of your screenplay. Write down all of the notes and discern what you agree and disagree with. Getting the thoughts of fellow screenwriters will only make your script better by forcing you to analyze each plot point, character decision, and overall ethos.
Invite People That Share the Same Passions
Whether your retreat is a weekend or an entire week, make sure you like the people you're traveling with and that they share the same mindset of what the week should be focused on. It's also as equally important to invite people whose writing style and ideals differ from your own. This will help prompt script debates and friendly discussions. It's a fine balance.
Have Fun!
Lastly, don't forget to schedule some time for relaxation, play, and exploration.
During our screenwriting retreat, we made sure to go for a hike every day. After our end-of-day feedback, we would make a fire, bring out some drinks and play board games, kick around a soccer ball indoors (be careful), and hold fireside chats. The main purpose was to keep off the internet and be present with one another.
Pictured above: Moments of fun from James Barker, Richard Ormsby, and Aleigha K. Spinks' screenwriting retreat in February of 2022 in the mountains of Dobson, North Carolina.
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