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Plan A Writer’s Retreat in the Greater Merrimack Valley

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Whether writing is your job, your hobby, or your passion, you recognize the importance of having a place to write. For many, it’s a quiet, familiar spot close to home they can go to any time. But what happens when your usual writer’s refuge isn’t as quiet as it once was? What if you’re suffering from writer’s block and need a change of scenery to inspire a new wave of creativity? Then it’s time to plan a writer’s retreat in the Greater Merrimack Valley.

The Greater Merrimack Valley has produced many great writers throughout the centuries. Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and Jack Kerouac all called it home and were deeply inspired by the area. By planning a writer’s retreat, you too could find your voice and produce that heartfelt poem that’s been buried inside you or the next Great American Novel. 

Where to Book Your Stay

One of the most important things to remember when planning a writer’s retreat is that you’re looking to get away from your everyday distractions. This means booking a place to stay away from home, where you can focus solely on writing.

Concord’s Colonial Inn

Concord’s Colonial Inn in Concord, MA is an ideal place to stay if you’re writing a historical piece. Select from 54 unique guest rooms, with many boasting beautiful hardwood floors, exposed beams, and period details. Yet you won’t be without modern conveniences like private bathrooms, complimentary WiFi, and flat-screen HD TVs.

If you’re looking for inspiration for a supernatural story, Room 24 in the Historic Main House is believed to be haunted. It was the operating room for Dr. Timothy Minot in the late 1700s, and even today some guests report strange sensations, flickering lights, and mysteriously closing doors. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, staying at the Inn could be the inspiration you need for your ghost story.

Groton Inn

For a modern and unique place to stay with all the amenities you could need, the Groton Inn in Groton, MA is great for a writer’s retreat. Each room is uniquely designed with a different layout and aesthetic so you won’t feel stifled by bland colors or cookie-cutter hotel room designs. Instead, you’ll be surrounded by comfortable furniture, plenty of USB ports and plugs, and scenic views from the windows as you write.

If you need a break from your literary endeavor, you can visit the NOA Gallery that’s available to guests. It showcases over 50 different works of fine art by local New England artists. You can also delight your senses by dining at the on-site restaurant, Forge & Vine. You’ll experience a lively atmosphere as you dine on seasonally-inspired dishes. There’s an eight-foot, wood-fired grill as the centerpiece, an open kitchen where you can interact with the chefs, and a bar where you might just meet some interesting characters to add to your story.

Where to Write Your Masterpiece

The major point of a writer’s retreat is to find a place where you can finally sit down and write uninterrupted. A place where you can feel the creative energies flow from your brain down to your fingers. It doesn’t matter if you’re typing on a laptop or scribbling notes by hand – you have come to Merrimack Valley to find a place to sit down and write.

Thoreau Farm

Henry David Thoreau is one of the famous authors to come out of the Merrimack Valley, and Thoreau Farm in Concord is where it all started. The farm is on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving the beauty and history of the house and surrounding land. Admission to the farm is free (though a $5 donation is encouraged) where you can tour the house, see exhibitions, and even sign up for special programs.

Best of all, you can actually book a writer’s retreat at Thoreau Farm in the very room where the famous author was born. For $200, you can spend six hours writing at a replica of his desk from Walden Pond, looking over beautiful pastures and woods from the window. Despite the historic nature of the house, there is WiFi and electricity so you’ll be able to use your computer. The space is available Monday-Friday from May through October, and seven days a week November through April.

The Worthen House Cafe

The Worthen House Cafe is Lowell, MA’s oldest historical bar and tavern, having been established in 1898. It is a must for adding to your writer’s retreat itinerary because it was visited by many famous poets, including Edgar Allen Poe, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac. The bar was a favorite of Poe during his travels through the Greater Merrimack Valley, and local legend even says that he wrote “The Raven” within its very walls.

The restaurant is a great place to write if you find inspiration in a lively atmosphere. The walls are decorated with old bottles, coins, and dishes from the 1800s and the mahogany bar is the perfect setting for two characters to meet. The food is also delicious, as even writers need to take breaks to eat. Consider ordering the Nevermore Sampler to nibble on as you write, or maybe a hot dog from the menu’s Poe Section.

Where to Visit for Inspiration

While a writer’s retreat should primarily be spent writing, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out and explore the area around you. In fact, it might be precisely what you need to overcome your writer’s block and get your creative juices flowing again.

The Wayside (Author’s Home)

The Wayside (Author’s Home) was home to three of Concord’s most prolific writers: Louisa May Alcott, Margaret Sidney and Nathaniel Hawthorne. It’s best known for being the only home Hawthorne ever owned and the place where he wrote his last works, as well as being a key location in Alcott’s book Little Women. In fact, the Wayside exhibit and tour makes note of the many events that inspired scenes in Little Women, as well as real life experiences of the Alcott family. It’s a superb place to visit and a reminder that your own childhood home could be your inspiration for a story that becomes beloved for generations to come.

Museum of Printing

For a look at how the books you’ve loved were made, go to Haverhill, MA and visit the Museum of Printing. The museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the graphic arts, printing and typesetting technology, and printing craftsmanship. There are special collections, small exhibits, and hundreds of antique printing, typesetting, and bindery machines, as well as a library of books and printing-related documents. It’s a great place to stop in during a weekend writer’s retreat, as it’s open every Saturday, year-round, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Don’t let a blank page intimidate you. Plan your writer’s retreat to the Greater Merrimack Valley and gain the inspiration you need to write the next great poem, novel, or short story you’ve always dreamed about.

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