Sounding the retreat

Well, folks, it’s nearly here: Writing Retreat 2019 starts on Monday.  Here’s an extract from my packing list:

• Macbook
• laptop (in case Macbook gives up the ghost, as it did on Writing Retreat 2016)
• USB stick on which to back up work every day
• back-up USB stick on which to back up work every day, just in case
• external keyboard and mouse
• spare batteries for external keyboard
• red pen for making corrections
• spare red pen

Can you see a theme?  I think I’m worrying too much, but it’s been that sort of summer so far: everything that can go wrong (technologically speaking) has gone wrong.  I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to hiding away up that mountain.

I will admit that I am not as far advanced with “Plank 6” as I had hoped, but I seem to remember that I always feel that way.  It’s amazing how much writing I can get done once there is nothing to distract me.  At the moment we’re at about 49,000 words.  I have seventeen clear days on retreat – discounting the day at each end for travelling – and if I aim for 2,000 words a day that’s an additional 34,000, which takes me near my comfortable zone for publication.  And 2,000 a day is quite modest, once I get my groove on.

I’ll try to keep you posted but – in some ways – no news will be good news.  And don’t forget: if you haven’t already had your say, please do cast your vote for the title of “Plank 6” before the end of July.