I was the women’s retreat leader for the weekend my church sponsored. Before we left, we worried the weather would be rainy. We stewed about the two-hour driving time. We were concerned about drawing a big enough crowd. And some of us worried about having NO BARS for our cell phones and iPads. The weather was gorgeous, we got there safely, there were plenty of us and (most of us) forgot about our cells. We hiked, talked, acted and crafted our way to renewal.
Writing Tip for Today: Our little group had never put on the retreat at the location we chose, so there were a lot of unknowns. I was supposed to write a program that would top last year. No pressure, right? I learned there are times I just need to recharge and refresh–even when I’m the leader. How about you? A writer can refresh by:

• Get Moving. Taking a walk, gardening, cooking, cleaning. Our brains and creativity can push past blocks as we move our bodies. I get some of my best ideas while vacuuming.
• Get Away. Running away for the weekend–to the beach, mountains or even by renting a hotel room for a night. Especially when home has distractions or you have a tight deadline.
• Reconnect Spiritually. If you have a spiritual practice, get in touch with your spiritual self. Meditate, walk a labyrinth, do deep breathing or spend time centering yourself. Allow all your worries (will I finish my manuscript in time? Will it be published? Will I be good enough?) to melt away as you reconnect to faith, hope and dreams.