The words ‘writing retreat’ might summon up images of a week in a lakeside cabin with a posh notebook, a pot of coffee, and birdsong for company. But for many of us, work, family and budgets such images are pure fantasy.

But there are ways to create your own retreat even if you have next to no money to spare and can’t leave home. It’s just a matter of setting boundaries and working with what’s possible.

Decide you’re worth it – and set your goals

If you’re serious about making money from writing, then there will be times when you need to take a break from routine and give yourself space to nourish your creativity and refresh yourself for future writing. Accept that you deserve this!

Don’t set loads of big goals for this time, like finishing that novel draft or planning a whole year’s blog content. Maybe your mind is so full of other stuff you just need to think about nothing for a while. Maybe you want a break from your manuscript.

Set boundaries

Figure out what you can realistically manage. Maybe you can book a few days off work, maybe just an afternoon. Whatever you do, this is your time. Ringfence it, plan for it, let others know you’re not available.

Arrange for someone else to do school pick-ups, agree with your partner how to manage your time out, switch to out of office. Close the door and put your phone in a drawer.

Set aside your space

Even if it’s not a mountain lodge, changing your surroundings helps reset you creatively. It might be as simple as switching to a different room, borrowing a friend’s flat for a day, or basing yourself in a public library or museum café.

My sister who lives on the coast sometimes lends me her flat for a couple of days. I sit in a café by the sea and dream. I sometimes like to take my laptop and spend a day riding buses round London. I get inspiration from things I overhear or see out the window. I once wrote a whole short story sitting on a train going up and down a local line – two hours each way.

If you have a bit of cash, Airbnb stays in unglamorous or out-of-season locations can be reasonable, especially midweek. Also take a look at the growing trend for digital detox cabins and off-grid stays with device-lock options.

When I used to travel a lot for work, I’d sometimes tack on an extra night’s stay wherever I was. The travel would be paid for at least. A friend saves up Avios points to put towards creative city breaks in cities a couple of hours’ flight away.

Find your rhythm

Plan around how you’re wired. Mornings might be best for reading and journalling, while afternoons are reserved for deep writing or outlining. Don’t forget to build in creative ‘white space’, too. A lazy walk or a bubble bath might feel too indulgent, but that’s often when the best ideas pop up.

Nourish yourself

Too much alcohol or junk food is probably not a great idea for a writing retreat. Eat healthy and include some exercise. You’ll want to nourish yourself creatively, too, perhaps by watching a documentary that sparks new story possibilities, or doing a creative exercise like morning pages.

Reflect and take forward

When your retreat ends, don’t let that focus and freedom vanish. Review what you created or explored and identify an action or two to keep up momentum – send a pitch, revise a chapter, continue your journal. Sometimes the benefit comes after the retreat. I often find I may not have written much at the time, but I read and journalled loads and feel renewed with energy and belief to get back to a manuscript.

And don’t forget to schedule your next retreat, however modest. We all need things to look forward to.

BIO – Dan Brotzel’s latest novels are Thank You For The Days and The Wolf in the Woods. He also writes widely on Medium