Invest in your writing skills and journey.
- Nurses can write about various topics, including evidence-based practice, patient engagement and education, quality improvement, new care approach effectiveness, clinical interests, and more.
- Writing retreats have become increasingly popular, and they’re associated with positive outcomes.
- Whether engaged in individually or collectively, writing retreats offer a creative outlet for disseminating the art and science of nursing.
Have you ever considered taking time away from your normal life to focus on learning or accomplishing a goal? Think about what you could gain from a purposeful time investment focused on writing. As a busy professional in the current healthcare climate, departing from your day-to-day responsibilities to write may seem impossible.
However, the science and process of writing retreats (a time of withdrawal focused on writing), as presented through two personal experiences, may stimulate your interest in this potentially restorative and productive experience. Whether engaged in individually or collectively, writing retreats offer a creative outlet for disseminating the art and science of nursing.
Why should nurses write?
Positioned across the healthcare continuum, we’re keepers of science and stories that can benefit others. Nurses can write about various topics, including evidence-based practice, patient engagement and education, quality improvement, new care approach effectiveness, clinical interests, and more. As we practice writing and communicate through the written word, we become better communicators. Writing provides an opportunity for us to harness and amplify our voice as nurses.
Writing retreats
If you’re like me when I started my writing journey, you may wonder how you can devote focused time to write. A writing retreat may offer a solution. These planned events, which take place in space-bound gatherings, allow you to journey away from your normal routine, typically to an inspiring location (near or far from your home base), to make progress on or complete a writing project. You can venture out on your own or join a group with similar goals. Some writing retreats include professional writing support.
Writing retreats have become increasingly popular, and they’re associated with positive outcomes. As the beneficiary of two writing retreats, one formal and one informal, I can attest to their ability to aid writing success. (See Writing retreat recommendations.)
Writing retreat recommendations
With the emphasis on collaboration in all aspects of healthcare, including research, you’ll likely write with others as part of a team. I intend to make regular writing retreats a professional staple based on my experience. Whether you’re an aspiring or seasoned writer, consider these best practices when planning a writing retreat:
- Identify your target audience (early career, experienced, broad/general audience) and your dissemination plan (book, chapter, journal article, presentation).
- Create an outline to guide your structured writing time.
- Set an achievable writing goal (2,000 words, four pages, five sections, 20 slides).
- Choose an inspiring, quiet, and comfortable writing location.
- Prepare to limit distractions as much as possible (silence mobile devices).
- Seek spaces that allow for some level of physical activity (access to walking trails, a small area to practice yoga) according to your individual needs.
- Plan to eat a healthy variety of wholesome, nutritious foods according to your dietary preferences.
When you attend a writing retreat, keep the following suggestions in mind:
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- Craft your primary message specifically for your target audience.
- Start with what you know or the part of the manuscript you’re most familiar with.
- Build in breaks from writing to allow for deep reflection.
- Pause to read your work aloud periodically.
- Celebrate writing milestones. When you finish a section, reward yourself. This could be as simple as taking a walk or getting a treat.
- Be honest; good writing is about telling the truth.
- Notice what decisions and practices lead to success and continue them.
- Accommodate for changes in your plan or circumstances.
- Pursue writing progress rather than perfection.
As you think about writing retreats, consider starting small. I now think about my time on airplanes (or even in airports) as mini writing retreats: no option to address email or household chores while being served a drink and a snack. In fact, the article you’re reading now I wrote while on a flight. When I arrived home, I sent it to one of my mentors for review and she suggested sharing the idea of using regular travel as abbreviated writing retreats, knowing both of us use our time in planes and airports to write. We’ll have a working outline and references ready before the plane pushes back from the gate.
Experience #1
Last year, a writing facilitator from my organization invited me to attend a funded writing retreat. I quickly looked up some information about writing retreats and wondered how I had never known about them before. I eagerly completed the retreat application and a couple of months later drove a few hours to the place I hoped would help me complete two writing projects I couldn’t seem to finish. As a wife and mother of active young children, I wanted to make this time away matter.
Rather than follow most of the group to the houses where we’d be staying, I jumped back into my car and drove around until I heard the sound of flowing water. I pulled up to the edge of a river and set up my writing supplies on the bank. I walked out into the cool spring water barefoot, snapped a photo, checked in with my family, and then placed my phone on airplane mode. Several productive hours elapsed before I realized it was time for dinner.
Over our first meal together, the other participants and I shared our experiences, successes, and obstacles from the day. We then split up and wrote some more and met up again to play board games, which involved a great deal of laughter, before going to bed early to ensure we were rested for the next day of writing.
As we repeated this pattern for the next 2 days, I always returned to my fresh air writing station surrounded by water. I rarely spend time alone. Sitting in nature without any distractions rejuvenated me—it didn’t feel like work. When I emerged back at the houses around mealtime, I noticed that several of the nurses had set up their writing areas close to each other where a writing coach provided consultative expertise.
I continued to be amazed at how no distractions could make several hours of writing feel like only one. I’d never experienced anything like it before. Although I worked alone, I enjoyed connecting with the other nurses as part of a group. We shared delicious meals and took walks together on the second afternoon, pointing out natural elements that inspired us while encouraging and holding each other accountable for the writing goals we’d set during our initial meeting.
After some structured writing time, we came together to provide peer feedback. We used our collective experience as authors in a collegial environment. Because we were all writing articles for peer-reviewed journals, we spent time exploring vetted nursing journals (nursingeditors.com/journals-directory) related to our chosen topics.
Although I drove away from the retreat with two submitted manuscripts, I felt like I’d had a vacation with new friends. Several of those friends also enjoyed the experience and submitted completed manuscripts eventually accepted for publication.
A few group members who didn’t complete their work shared that they’d spent a great deal of time trying to get set up in just the right location. Delaying the writing start had made some who didn’t progress feel behind and give up prematurely. This knowledge may serve as a cautionary note to first-time writing retreat participants—don’t deter your success. You can move locations and edit your writing later. Get situated and get started!
Experience #2
Recently, I led a large-scale initiative on an expedited timeline. I wondered how I could possibly complete the writing portion of the work, and I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I remembered my initial writing retreat experience and invited two prolific nursing writers from my team to join me on our own writing retreat. To my delight, these trusted and inspiring mentors immediately agreed to come. Positioned across three states, we organized our writing retreat over text messaging and rented a house on a beautiful lake in North Carolina at a reduced winter rate.
As our retreat approached, we held a virtual meeting to work on our manuscript outline together, each of us completing pre-retreat preparation tasks. When our retreat day arrived, we met at the airport and headed straight to a local office supply store for a large flip board and several office items to complement our portable printer. Next, we stopped at a grocery store for exciting and nutritious spreads of food to ensure hunger didn’t impede to our progress.
Upon arrival at our weekend oasis, we paused to take in the awe-inspiring views and then ate lunch outside. My two mentors shared invaluable advice about life and nursing. I’ll never forget their words and encouragement. We then went inside and set up at a long table next to large windows, which remained our writing space throughout the retreat.
We began by developing a writing plan, which included a mind’s eye rehearsal to visualize how we wanted the retreat to go. What would success look like for us? Next, we set a collective goal by deciding where we wanted to be by the end of the retreat and worked backward from there. After brainstorming on the flip chart, we conducted a free flow of referenced ideas and discussed our writing points and possibilities. For example, we wrote ideas for our paper in a mind mapping format and then assigned writing sections based on individual experience and interest to organize and strengthen the work.
Our main writing occurred with real-time work on sections within a shared Google document with periodic breaks to read each other’s work and receive feedback. Occasionally reading aloud reinforced the sense of our writing while receiving peer review. As the piles of printed pages grew, we would pause, trade stacks, and double-check our reviewing practices.
We knew the best likelihood of creative activity and attention to detail would occur when we focused on writing for an undistracted block of the day; we adhered to this, especially in the morning. We also followed the recommended strategy of writing first and revising later to avoid the dual pitfalls of procrastination and perfectionism. (See Stay in the flow.)
Stay in the flow
If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word – Margaret Atwood
Consider these tips to help keep your writing practice flowing:
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- Prioritize your health and wellness so that you’re prepared to start or continue writing.
- Look for opportunities to apply for or initiate writing experiences with trusted peers.
- Notice the writing experiences that work for you as an individual, and build on them.
- Journal about meaningful ideas you want to share as you become inspired. If applicable, take pictures and add quick captions.
- For encouragement, position a visible reminder or token of your memorable nursing experiences in a prominent place.
- Develop a writing timeline for your projects—idea generation to manuscript submission—with built-in soft and hard deadlines.
- Remember that writing (like nursing) requires practice. To get better at it, you must hone this skill regularly.
- Celebrate completing your writing project, and then begin planning your next one.
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Throughout the weekend, we alternated between writing, cooking, exercise, and taking breaks. I also continued to learn the writing approaches of my mentors through action. Although I had known them both for years, I felt privileged to closely witness how they organize their thoughts and even hear their positive personal pep talks while sitting beside them. For example, one would say, “We’ve got a great draft going here,” or “We’re almost there,” accompanied by fist pumps. Although our task at hand proved difficult, no one complained and we encountered only a few welcome distractions. We channeled our energy into accomplishing our shared goal.
We wrapped up our first full writing day by celebrating with s’mores and dancing to good music while gathered around a campfire. We lost power that night due to a severe winter storm. In the morning, I drove into town to get coffee for the group and saw one of my mentors running in freezing rain. She epitomized resilience. Her example transcended writing for me and reminded me that we can overcome setbacks and experience increased productivity and wellness through perseverance.
Although we never regained power, we left our cold, dark writing site replenished with warm spirits. When I opened our shared document at the airport, I was impressed with our progress. What would have likely taken me weeks or months to accomplish alone had been nearly completed within 2 days together. We finished the small amount of writing that remained remotely and submitted our work for publication ahead of our scheduled deadline.
I stashed away reminders and tokens of our writing time together so I would always remember this experience with two individuals I admire and hope to emulate.
Make the investment
During or after a writing retreat, ask a trusted friend or mentor who’s an experienced writer to review your work and provide constructive feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask. We all improve our writing when we’re open to learning and growing from peer feedback. I can’t overemphasize the importance of having someone critique your draft before submission for publication. Feedback before a formal peer review may increase your chances of eventual publication.
Consider seeking administrative support from your organizational leaders for a writing retreat by calculating and articulating the return on investment of your disseminated work. Successful publication can elevate your organization and increase your credibility as an expert in your field, which can lead to new professional opportunities.
Whether a novice or seasoned writer, you can choose to invest in your own writing journey through ongoing writing engagement. Find what works for you and go for it.
Jayne Jennings Dunlap is an associate clinical professor and interim DNP program director at Texas Woman’s University in Denton.
References
King S. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. New York City, NY: Scribner; 2000.
Lamott A. Bird by Bird. New York City, NY: Vintage<; 1995.
Lewis CS. On Writing (and Writers). New York City, NY: HarperOne; 2022.
Oermann MH, Hays JC. Writing for Publication in Nursing. 4th ed. New York City, NY: Springer; 2018
Saver C. Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses. 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2024
Sword H. Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 2017
Webb C. How to Have a Good Day. New York City, NY: Crown Currency; 2016
Key words: writing, writing skills, writing retreats
