WriteForTheStage

Do you get easily distracted while writing? Do you have a piece you’re desperate to write but can’t find the time? Are you struggling to get to the heart of the matter?

These are all common problems for writers of all experience, which is why writing retreats are so popular. But, they’re super-expensive, setting you back at least £400, and that’s before you’ve countered in travel.

This article explores what happens at a digital writing retreat. You get the same support and encouraging environment—but from the comfort of your own home. Oh, and the price is MUCH lower than a residential writing retreat.

What is a writing retreat?

A writing retreat is a deliberate interruption of habit designed to help you focus, finish, and finally get to the heart of what you’re trying to say.

Writers sign up for retreats when they’re stuck, distracted, or circling something important without quite landing it. The retreat doesn’t solve the problem for you, but it does create the conditions where progress becomes possible: time blocked out, distractions removed, and a group of people who take the work seriously.

A writing retreat provides:

• A sacred block of time to start or continue a piece of writing
• Focus and support when you most need it
• Workshops that help refine your ideas

A typical writers retreat typically costs around £400+. And that’s before you’ve travelled to the remote location.

Sure, you enjoy a change of surroundings and the promise of fresh air. But you pay for it.

What is a Digital Writing Retreat?

Digital retreats offer all of that without the cost or logistics of travel.

You get the accountability, the momentum, and the sense that your writing matters—but you do it from home, in your own space, with your own kettle.

And rather than £400+, our introductory writing retreats are just £80 for the weekend. You get support from professional playwright and tutor Mike Heath, and you’ll have a new piece of work or have found the light through the darkness of an existing piece.

To get the most out of a digital writing retreat, there are some things to prepare.

How to Prepare for a Digital Writing Retreat

You’re going to be working from home. And that might put you off, initially because—let’s face it—you’re probably working from home anyway.

But, with some preparation, you can optimise your environment for writing.

Create an altar to writing

Writing at your kitchen table isn’t ideal—you probably know this already. Sure, it gives you a place to rest your laptop or tablet, but the kitchen is the heart of the home. And if your share your home with friends or a family, you’ll know all about the interruptions.

So, if you can, find a place in the home where you can be alone. Have a door that you can close, and close it. Let everyone else in the house know that you’re only to be disturbed if the house is on fire.

Have a desk

You might not have a desk in your writing room yet. It might be a tiny cupboard under the stairs—but, hey, Harry Potter survived it!

Avoid, if possible, writing on your lap on the sofa. It feels too informal, too relaxed. Move a small desk into your writing room for the weekend—you’ll enjoy the benefit.

Avoiding noise interruptions

You might need perfect silence to concentrate or perhaps you find that music helps release the creative juices.

Either way, the sounds you choose can be another distraction.

Personally, I cannot write with music if it contains vocals: I find myself listening to the words. That, for me, is my ultimate distraction.

If I’m working in a noisy environment, like a cafe or the kitchen at home, I use my noise-cancelling headphones.

However, they don’t block everything out.

Find a playlist

I choose a Focus playlist from Apple Music (the other streamers have similar), which offers an endless supply of ambient, slightly beat-driven music to help block out the distractions. The music’s lively enough to avoid being soporific, but—for me—it encourages clear thought.

Alternatively, I’ll choose a “sounds of nature” style above my stream of sound. Apple has included these little buttons on the xxx screen, offering the sound of the sea or gentle rain, etc. I find these perfect when music is too much.

Play BBC Radio 3

Alternatively, if I’m in an already quiet environment, I listen to Radio 3.

I play it at a just-about-audible level, which fills in the silence, but it isn’t in any way distracting. There is chat between the music, but I can let it wash over me if it’s quiet enough.

If you’ve got a smart speaker like Alexa, ask it to play Radio 3 Unwind, which has less chat and a constant stream of easy-listening classical music.

Have everything you need for writing to hand

We’re setting up our work space for optimal focus here, so have everything nearby that you’re going to need.

Some items you might need:

• A pen—sure, you’ll probably use your computer/tablet to write, but writing exercises are often better done by hand. Writing by hand slows down the brain a little, so it can be an effective tool. Make sure it has plenty of ink.
• A writing pad—ditto for the last point, but you might want to hand-write your notes.
• Post-its and wall space—these are super-handy for visualising your ideas and reminding yourself of your theme.
• An open mind—be prepared to challenge yourself to think and work differently.

5 Focus Tips for Writers

Writers are infamous procrastinators. And while that can be handy for a tidier home when you have a deadline (it’s amazing how willing you’ll be to clean the oven), that doesn’t get the work done.

So, these are my top focus tips for writers:

1. Silence your Notifications

Every ping, buzz, or banner pulls your attention sideways, fracturing your focus and inviting you to abandon the sentence mid-thought.

So, silence your notifications—on your phone, your laptop, your smartwatch if you’ve got one.

Better yet, put your devices on Do Not Disturb and leave them in another room.

Writing requires complete immersion, and immersion requires boundaries. You’re not being rude; you’re protecting the conditions that let the work happen.

2. Use a Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro method is a simple but effective way for writers to stay focused and make steady progress.

You set a timer for 25 minutes and commit to writing without interruption—no emails, no scrolling, no tinkering with fonts.

And when the timer goes off, you take a short break (five minutes to stretch, breathe, or stare out the window), then repeat.

After four rounds, you take a longer break.

It’s not about intensity; it’s about rhythm. The structure helps you resist distraction, build momentum, and stay connected to the work without burning out.

3. Write First, Edit Later

Editing is a form of control, and control kills momentum.

When you write first and edit later, you give yourself permission to be messy, fast, and emotionally honest. You’re not polishing; you’re building.

The first draft is scaffolding—it’s where you find the shape, the rhythm, the pulse of what you’re trying to say. If you stop to fix every sentence, you lose the thread.

It’s better to get it all down, then come back with a clearer head and sharper tools.

Writing is discovery. Editing is refinement. Don’t confuse the two.

4. Keep a Distractions List

Your brain will try anything to avoid the hard bit. Mid-sentence, it’ll suddenly remember that email you forgot to send, the laundry you meant to fold, or the obscure fact you simply must Google.

Instead of chasing every impulse, keep a distractions list beside you. When something pops up, jot it down and return to the work.

You’re not ignoring it—you’re deferring it. This simple move protects your focus while reassuring your brain that nothing important will be lost.

5. Tell people you’re writing

Writing thrives on boundaries, and one of the simplest is telling people you’re doing it. Say it out loud, post it in a group, text a friend—whatever makes it real.

When others know you’re writing, they’re less likely to interrupt, and you’re less likely to abandon the session when it gets hard.

It’s not about accountability in the punitive sense; it’s about declaring your intent. You’re showing up for the work, and you’re letting others know that—for the next hour or two—it comes first.

What happens on a WFTS Digital Writing Retreat?

To get the most out of your home-based writing retreat, block the entire weekend out from other events or chores.

Give yourself a little holiday from the demands of everyday life, and make sure you’ve got the time to dedicate to your practice.

Our first digital writing retreat is over Halloween weekend, so we’re going to be focusing on the art of writing thriller for the stage.

The timetable

We’re kicking things off on Halloween night, Friday 31st Oct. All sessions will run on Zoom, and times are UK times.

Friday 31st Oct, 8-9pm

We’ll meet a 8pm for a one-hour meet-and-greet and workshop. We’ll mine for ideas, discuss the essential elements of thriller, and find an appropriate starting point (or assess the starting point you already have.

Saturday 1st Nov, 10-11am

Our first morning workshop will explore how to build the tension. We’ll consider how the audience becomes an active participant in the action, and how to drip-feed plot points for maximum drama.

Saturday 1st Nov, 5-7pm

This will be our first sharing session, exploring the work you’ve developed during the day. Expect feedback, discussion, and lots of useful guidance in a super-supportive environment.

Sunday 2nd Nov, 10am

We’ll explore the stagecraft of thriller, examining how to best use the theatrical space for maximum terror! We’ll consider how a single line of dialogue can change everything, and examine how a prop can add threat without ever being mentioned.

Sunday 2nd Nov, 8-10pm

Our second sharing session is later in the evening to give you plenty of writing time on Sunday. We’ll assess what we’ve learned, and explore our plans going forward. And, of course, we’ll read and discuss and offer constructive feedback and discussion.

Ready to commit to a writing retreat?

We pride ourselves at offering world-class writing support for super-affordable prices.

We’ve been running playwriting courses for over a decade, and have been operating purely online since before the pandemic. We’re experts at making every session interactive and accessible for everyone.

We’ve welcomed participants from the globe. The only obstacle for international participants is the time difference, so make sure you do your sums beforehand to make sure it’s practical for your time zone.