WRITE A BOOK IN THIRTY MINUTES A DAY! The 30 a day club!

/ Edwina Shaw / 2 Comments

Busy? Too busy with the drudgery of life to get your writing done? That was me too. Then my friend Kathy, also a busy small business woman, and I hit upon a plan. We thought we’d be able to squeeze in half an hour for our own writing projects between all the chores and paid work. It was necessary. Boy, was I getting grumpy when I wasn’t writing. The kind of grumpiness only cured by writing. 

But 30 minutes? What can you get done in that small space of time?

Turns out, you can write a whole book and then do a second draft, including a scene list. I know, because I’ve done just that. In less than six months. I’ve written an entire 80 000 word comedy manuscript and redrafted it, all to a timer set to 30 minutes. I like to do my 30 early in the day because, like most things, if I get stuck into the busyness of work, I don’t emerge till evening by which time my brain juice is empty. So it’s mornings for me, but anytime will do. I also like to play some writing music, with the sound of a train clattering on tracks behind it, urging me forward. 

Photo by Mark Plu00f6tz on Pexels.com

I knew I could probably write the first draft in short bursts, I do lots of timed writing exercises and know that good quality work comes when you’re not thinking about it too much – and only having a limited time certainly stopped me reviewing what I’d already written and falling into that easy trap of rewriting the beginning before you reach the end. Having the timer on forced me to keep writing forward. DON’T LOOK BACK is the first draft motto – keep writing until you reach the end. And I did! I had so much fun, most days I had to force myself to stop writing. Writing comedy for the first time was also a revelation, I was making myself laugh instead of cry for a change. Hopefully other people will also find it funny!

I was more concerned about doing a second draft in short bursts, but by writing a scene list as I went through I was able to hold a full picture of the novel despite the time constraints. I’d put so many barriers up “I need a whole block of time.” “I need at least a week to focus solely on the project”. “I need to have a clean slate.” Now all of these things would have been wonderful and I’ve booked a week for just my own writing in June, but I’ve also learnt that books can get written and redrafted in 30 minute blocks outside these dream conditions.

So what are you waiting for? Got a story that you need to get out of your head on the page? Too busy with life to make a start? Bugger that!

Make yourself a promise to give the 30 minutes a day a try. Super busy? Make it 15 minutes. Ten! Put a timer on, find a quiet spot, tell everyone “I’m out for the next however long” and write like the wind, free and fast and carefree. Write and write and write. Don’t stop until that timer goes off. Then stop, even if you’re on a roll. End mid-sentence as Ernest Hemmingway suggested – that way you know exactly where to start the following day. Feel better. Writing helps grumpy writers find their joy again. It’s the writing itself that is the magic. Creating! Get to it!

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Find a writing buddy to do the 30 a day club with and send a message when you’ve done yours, checking your friend is also on track. No judgement or criticism allowed. Just encouragement. Kathy and I have had down times when life was just too busy, but we’ve slowly pulled each other back and got on with the job. Days off are allowed, as are binge writing days. Sharing the adventure of your 30 minutes a day is part of the fun.

The best part for me is feeling like a writer again. I love writing. I love the magic that happens on the page when I step out of the way and let the story tell itself.

Give the 30 Minutes a Day Club a try. Rekindle your joy in writing. Connect with a writing buddy and get ready to roll!

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Let me know how you go! Reaching The End today on my second draft was a joy I didn’t think would happen. But now here it is and I feel like I’m ready to start a whole new project. 

What will I do for my 30 tomorrow? 

I’ll write. I’ll just write and see what happens.

With lots of love

Edwina  xx

P.S. JUST WRITE RETREAT! Still some spots available at the April 4 – 8 2024 JUST WRITE RETREAT in Springbrook – Gold Coast Hinterland. All the info HERE. CONTACT ME to make sure you don’t miss out. 4 nights, 5 days – JUST WRITING! Plus daily Q & A plus a couple of workshops to help you focus and a Pomodoro collective writing room for those who write best in company!.

HEAVENLY INDEED! Heavenly Hoi An Retreat Review February 2024

/ Edwina Shaw / 1 Comment

Me and the beautiful Kerstin, celebrating another wonderful retreat together!

As the streets of Hoi An filled with flowers for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) a group of talented writers from all around Australia, and from as far away as the Welsh mountains, gathered at beautiful An Villa on the river to write up a storm! 

Every day started with yoga in a lovely yoga shala over the water, kept company by a turquoise kingfisher that flew around us encouraging us to also take flight, and enormous colourful Koi fish who swam below us, reminding us to be calm and flow with life.

The kitchen staff at An Villa fed us so well we felt like geese being fattened for a French market. Even breakfast had dessert! Banana pancake with chocolate anyone? 

After breakfast we had our daily workshops covering all aspects of the writing craft, with plenty of writing prompts to get people sparking. As always, we were blown away by the inherent talent of our writers and the depths that were being explored, right from the very first session. Groups of kindred spirits convened and connected. The greatest joy for me as a host of these retreats is watching writing friends connect and support each other in this writing journey. Stories made us laugh, while others brought us to tears. Heartaches shared felt less burdensome. Pain transformed into works of great beauty soothed the soul.

The afternoons were either free for solitary writing in our beautiful rooms, swimming in the pool, or on visits to the tailor (Hoi An – land of 1000 tailors!) and excursions.

We visited old town and drank cocktails at sunset watching colourful boats rocking on the river and a passing parade of people, then got on a boat of our own (thank you Arek for helping us all get on and off safely) that took us upstream to a lovely restaurant where we feasted like happy fools.

So much food! Because it was Tet we were continually offered all sorts of new year treats, the food just kept coming! I was stuffed but couldn’t resist the pandan crepes stuffed with ice-cream! 

Another day we ventured to the Vegetable Garden Island for a tour of the amazing local vegetable farms, which included a foot massage and then a cooking class. We carved tomato roses and carrot daisies then cooked our own yellow Vietnamese pancakes. Watching Kerstin jumping up and down, more likely to flip herself than the pancake was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen! They dressed us all up too – first as farmers, complete with conical hats, then as chefs in bright lime green. We looked ridiculous and laughed a lot.

On the way home in the electric taxi bus we sang old ABBA songs and snippets of whatever else we could remember with our resident singer-writer, Kylie, making us all sound so much better with her beautiful harmonies.

On afternoons when we weren’t ‘writers running amok’ in Hoi An, we had one on one feedback sessions discussing projects and the way to best move them forward, as well as delving deep with tarot readings. Some napping and swimming may also have happened, as well as lots of chatting and sharing of life stories and writing tips, with beautiful hearts opening to each other through the magic of deep connection enabled when we stop talking about the trivial and venture into what really matters.

In the evenings we feasted, remembering to leave room for dessert, with the Hoi An staff plying us with ever more delicious New Year treats to try. Across the river, end of year parties sent Karaoke songs over the water, but by bedtime all was quiet. The beds were super comfortable, and I slept like a log, still recovering from a flu that had seen me confined to bed for most of the week prior to retreat.

I am constantly in awe of the magic that brings just the right people together at just the right time. This retreat we had two venues close to each other and we randomly assigned people to each place, then stood back to watch as this magic went into effect, with firm friendship groups building in each place. 

The people who come along are what makes these retreats special. Yes, we provide heaps of information and useful guidance, but the true blessings come in the friendships that are made or deepened. Writers need other writers. It’s a silly business, with plenty of the joy of creation but then often the pain of rejection too. We need a tribe of writing buddies to cheer us on, help us polish our work, to commiserate with us when the rejections come, and to celebrate with us when our book babies see the light of day because only other writers know just how much hard work goes into every page.

So thank you my wonderful new writing friends (and some older ones too), Susan, Arek, Trish, Tallulah (Lorraine), Annie, Nicole, Kylie, Genine, Emma, Cindy, Lena, Yvonne, Belinda, Laurie and lovely Helen, who made this retreat so much fun. Thank you to the staff at An Villa who pampered us and went above and beyond to make sure everyone was safe, happy and well looked after in every way. It truly was a heavenly time. My favourite memory of the retreat is Emma saying over and over again, “I’m in heaven. I’m in heaven.”

REVIEWS HEAVENLY HOI AN 2024
Here’s what some of our lovely retreaters had to say:

“Regardless of where you are in your writer’s journey, this writing retreat is for everyone. Emerging, mid-career or professional, there is something to be gained personally and professionally. For me this retreat offered an opportunity to connect with creative and intelligent co-writers who share a passion for story-telling, in an inspiring location. The facilitators were warm, dynamic, generous, authentic and engaging.” 

Kylie Ryan

“I loved coming together with diverse writers sharing our knowledge and practice, bonding and cementing lasting friendships for future writing adventures. I loved it! I feel so blessed to have been part of the 2024 Heavenly Hoi An Retreat.”

Helen Weder

“Edwina and Kerstin were great, expertise plus interpersonal warmth, enthusiasm, encouragement, inspiration and more! Nothing was too much trouble for the beautiful staff and the food was delicious. The other participants were so easy to connect with and the yoga was a great balance between yin and yang. Loved the excursions too.”

Retreat participant

“Thanks Kerstin and Edwina for a lovely, immersive experience. Great to refresh on some topics and get a new viewpoint on others. The encouragement and advice was so valuable and the companionship of other participants and the fun excursions and experiences in another country were the ‘toppers’ on a wonderful retreat.”

Annie Kemp

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these retreats are only as good as the writers who come along and make them true magic. THANK YOU for coming beautiful people! Love you!

Thank you most of all to my dear friend and co-host Kerstin Pilz whose new book Loving my Lying Dying Cheating Husband is due for release imminently, launching in Cairns as part of the Tropical Writers Festival. The launch is FREE but do book your place. I’ve just pre-ordered my copy! It’s a great read. I know, I did a structural edit for Kerstin a while back now.

Now back to the real world, teaching at UQ, and the stifling Queensland summer heat after the very pleasant reprieve of the cool(ish) Vietnamese winter.

We’ll be back in Hoi An in February 2025, FEBRUARY 10-17, 2025. If you’re keen to join us in wonderful Heavenly Hoi An DROP ME A LINE and I’ll put you on the waiting list. All the details coming soon! And, just quietly, ITALY IS COMING!! October 10 – 17, 2025. In a beautiful medieval retreat centre on a hillside surrounded by autumnal forest, between Cortona and Assisi. I’ll keep you posted, but in the meantime, you can check out our glorious venue Terzo Di Danciano HERE. Find a buddy to share your room. Most rooms will be shared rooms to keep prices as affordable as possible and still get us to Italy!! Plan an extended holiday around the retreat – I sure am!

This is it! Where we’ll be in October 2025! Put yourself in this picture! Oh my goddess I can’t wait!

I so hope you’ll be able to join us soon at one of our uplifting, inspiring and informative retreats with kindred writing spirits. International retreats are open to all genders. Information on all upcoming retreats, both in Springbrook S.E, Queensland (April Just Write, August Second Draft and October Memoir and Life Writing)and internationally HERE.

Lots of love,

Edwina xx