In February, Elwood Writers went away on a retreat – our first as a group. We rented a cottage in Victoria’s spa country, on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. Our honorary canine member and muse, Ruby, joined us, enjoying the run of a huge backyard – the leafy haunt of kangaroos, possums and other bush creatures. A ten-minute walk from the cottage lay sleepy Hepburn Springs; forty minutes the other way, the gentle streets and beautiful lake of Daylesford.

We’d loaded the cars with supplies, so had everything we needed on arrival. We took turns cooking the evening meal, and on the fourth night we enjoyed feasting on all the leftovers. After dinner each night, over coffee and tea, we read our work aloud and discussed it, accompanied by Ruby’s contented snores. There were always nibbles on the table — a square of vegan chocolate, a morsel of fruit, a handful of nuts. Not quite dessert or afters, and certainly not pudding — more like mignardises, perhaps. Just enough to linger over as the evening unspooled.

From Helen: 

“For me to leave behind the myriad distractions of daily living and immerse myself in all things writerly was a gift. This was my first writers retreat and I set myself a list of goals before I left home, my main plan being to finally complete a long-term project: a draft of my first collection of poems. With this total focus on the job at hand, along with evening readings and daily check-ins with my fellow Elwood Writers, I found my focus. It was with a sense of achievement that I entered the last poem into my manuscript at the end of the week. 

“There was time and opportunity also to develop those poems and jottings I considered to have ‘legs’ and read those aloud after supper. There are, of course, other ambitions I wish to pursue, and I can’t wait for our next writers retreat in July to knuckle down, ears closed to all but the crackle of firewood.”

From Barry:

“I set an intention from the start: to read out around 1,500 words from my manuscript each evening. I managed to meet that goal, and one night read closer to 2,500 words. Helen and Margaret are generous, patient listeners, and always provide constructive and insightful responses. In all, during the week away, I presented close to 10,000 words of the novel. More of a writing intensive than a retreat!

“I enjoy crunching numbers, and that 10,000 words represents a fifth of the entire manuscript. Keeping figures like this in mind gives me a sense of where I am, and how the work is progressing. That it’s progressing at all is very satisfying.”

From Margaret:

“No sooner was I there … than I went on an excursion into town. On the day of our arrival, I’d spied a small, cosy café in the main street, which looked perfect for writing. Sure enough, it turned out to be a lovely, muted space with excellent hot chocolate to boot. I’d become one of those people who dreams of travelling to Paris, but once there immediately plans on where to go next.

“On the first day in my regional café, I asked the barista why it was named The Himalayan. He explained that it had something to do with the area’s geographical ‘ley lines’ and their connection to the powerful energy of Nepal. If this was so, then I’d found my spot. On the following day, the cafe’s electricity went out, forcing the other patrons to vacate. Only writers might say to themselves, oh good, now that it’s gone dark I have time to write and think. My piece was about Remembrance Day for soldiers (and their daughters), and in that instant I’d found my peace.”

And finally, some scenes from our time away: