Forest Cabins, Garden Sheds, and Other Niches: Spaces of Retreat and the Potentiality of Writing
Writing practices have long been associated with withdrawal and retreat, often into nature. From Henry David Thoreau’s cabin in the woods to Virginia Woolf’s garden shed in Sussex, spaces of retreat appear to be central to creative practice. They promise time, focus, and a calmer environment removed from everyday distractions, raising the question of what constitutes an “ideal” space for writing and creative work.
This conference seeks to examine secluded, marginal, and sometimes remote spaces of retreat more closely, with a particular focus on writing as practice. What forms of writing emerge in such settings? How are writers shaped by spaces of withdrawal? Which strategies accompany retreat-based writing practices, for example, walking and writing or a particular attunement to surroundings?
Following the 2025 workshop “The Cabin in the Woods and Other Utopian Confinements: Hopes and Horrors of Living in Small Houses in Remote Areas” at JLU, this year’s workshop places creative practice and writing at the centre of its exploration of spaces of retreat, including cabins, garden sheds, and other hut-like environments.
Event co-organized by Prof. Dr. Kirsten von Hagen and Carolin Jesussek.
Find the programme below:
