So last week I was all: “I haven’t been able to write at all. School is keeping me busy, and there is just no time to fit it in right now.”

Well, it’s amazing what a difference a week can make!

As I was drowning in homework last week, I recalled that my friend Traci had mentioned throwing together a writing retreat sometime this summer. She has access to a campground where we could get away and write without it costing us a ton. So, as I was lamenting all the homework and the fact that I might never get to finish The Patternmage, I sent her a quick email, asking if we could maybe put something on the calendar. I thought, as long as I can schedule a day to look forward to, I’ll be okay not writing for the time being.

I sent the email.

She wrote back and said, “How about this weekend?”

This weekend? I looked at the calendar. Saturday was empty. Maybe I could sneak away. I checked with my husband who said, “Go! Write! Have fun with your little friend.” (This is a common saying for him when I want to go somewhere without him and the kids.)

So we went!

And I wrote 10,200 words. *Cheshire cat grin*

I am still not done with the first draft of this book. I probably need another 10,000 words to finish, but I am really close! So close! And I now know exactly what I have left to write. I worked out the last six chapters and wrote bits and pieces in each. Just when I thought there was no way I was going to get the chance to write any time soon, now I’m almost done. This mini adventure inspired me to give you a few tips in case you ever get to throw together an impromptu writing weekend.

1. Ask someone. Plan it. Put it on the calendar. Set aside the time. It will never happen if you don’t. I certainly wasn’t expecting my friend (who wrote 15,000 words this trip!!!) to say, “How about this weekend?” I just wanted to get something scheduled. I wanted it there on the calendar where I could look forward to it. So schedule it, and make it happen.

2. Plan a little time to prepare. I go to school on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays is a busy homework day. And I try to substitute teach on Thursdays and Fridays. This week I happened to have already scheduled a half day of subbing on Friday afternoon, which gave me the morning to pull out my book and refresh myself a little bit. That way, when we got to the campground, I’d be ready to sit down and write. And I was! So if it’s at all possible to take a few hours at least to read over some of the book and get your mind back into the story, it can really set you up for success. Also, pack your story notes, folders, maps–whatever you might need. You don’t want to get stuck if you don’t have to get stuck. Be prepared!

3. Go somewhere without WiFi. We did, and it was perfect. Without the internet, there wasn’t nearly as much to distract us from work.

4. Respect each other’s working habits and/or schedules. I’m a morning person. I like to wake up and write most of my words before lunchtime. My friend doesn’t get up as early as I do, and she tends to write in the afternoons. Once we knew this about each other, we tried to be respectful of that.

5. Take breaks to rest your brain. We were camping on a river, so we were able to work outside a bit, which was nice, but we also went on walks and enjoyed the fresh air.

6. Take time to help each other brainstorm. This can be a little odd since it’s difficult to explain your entire story to another person, but if you’re stuck, share why and you might get help! Sometimes just the act of talking out the scene with another person is enough for you to hear the problem and fix it, but other times it’s the questions your friend asks or random suggestions that help you get where you need to be. My friend and I both were able to help each other this way, and it’s SO FUN!

7. Do some word wars. We didn’t do too many. I think only two, thirty-minute ones, but such little competitions can be a good way to motivate you to write fast. It helps to have someone clicking away on their keyboard just across the room. The sound of so many keys is exciting. Books are being written!

So those are my tips. I hope they’ve inspired you. If you are in a season where it’s difficult to write, don’t despair. Try and schedule in a day with a friend and see if you can make some magic happen. If not, keep your eyes peeled for last minute opportunities and take advantage when they do crop up.

Have you ever participated in an impromptu writing retreat? Have any tips? If so, share them in the comments!

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms, and the author of several young adult fantasy novels including the Blood of Kings trilogy. She loves teaching about writing. She blogs at goteenwriters.com and also posts writing videos on her YouTube channel and on Instagram. Jill is a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant. She grew up in Alaska without running water or electricity and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. Find Jill online at jillwilliamson.com or on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.