A Booklover’s Guide to Texas
More on the state’s indie bookstores, storytelling champions, and literary destinations turning the page
I didn’t understand the point of a writer’s retreat until I stumbled into my first one. A friend invited me for a weekend at a large, historic house in the Tennessee mountains, where we and five other people would sit in separate rooms all day and write. I already sat in a room by myself every morning and wrote; aside from the beautiful view, I struggled to see how paying to do this in another room away from my books, notes, and snacks could be a good use of my limited funds.
I was wrong. A good writer’s retreat will make you feel suspended in time. Never mind the beautiful location, the camaraderie of fellow writers, the good desk with the good window—it is the slow unfolding of time. There are no obligations to anything but the written word, the physical and mental space to think, dream, and create while someone else does the cooking and the dishes.
For DIY retreaters who want an escape, Winnsboro’s Oaklea Mansion Bed and Breakfast offers a quiet refuge in the heart of an eclectic art community in Northeast Texas. Visitors can hole away in any of the mansion’s spacious rooms and enjoy a gourmet breakfast in bed. Other options include Spoon Mountain Glamping in Wimberley and Hilla Ranch in San Saba County, where tent camping meets high class under the stars.
For writers who just need four walls, a writing desk, and solitude, try Serana in Paige, a rural community northeast of Bastrop. Book a single room on the property, sit on the tiny porch, and listen to the birdsong.
If you’re looking to push your writing to the next level, apply to the Macondo Writers Workshop. Founded by celebrated Texas author Sandra Cisneros, the workshop occurs annually the last week of July in San Antonio. Writers must apply, but once you’re accepted, you become a “Macondista” for life, which allows you to return without reapplying.
For writers seeking the monkish experience, there’s the Corsicana Artist & Writer Residency located in the historic Odd Fellows Lodge in downtown Corsicana. You’ll have the run of the building for two months, fully funded, with only two other artists in residence.
Finally, naturalists should consider the Guadalupe Mountains National Park Artist-in-Residence Program. Enjoy up to four weeks in the Chihuahuan Desert creating works that reflect the cultural and ecological diversity of the region.
