The Meaning Behind The Name: Acorn Writing Retreats
By Dr. Rebecca Maxwell Stuart
What is in a name? If curious, these are the reasons for choosing the name Acorn Writing Retreats; where small ideas grow into mighty ambitions.
The Catalyst
I have always been passionate about writing in its many forms as well as supporting others to succeed in their endeavours. Prior to establishing Acorn Writing Retreats, my PhD explored enhancing transnational student engagement and I have been involved in a range of consultancy & student advocacy projects at departmental, institutional, national and international levels of higher education focused on improving the quality of student experience (particularly for postgrads and international students).
However, my PhD was an extremely tumultuous journey (perhaps a writing project for another day). For a long time, the only places that I could focus and progress were within the safe sanctuaries of Professor Rowena Murray’s structured writing retreats.
After attending many of Rowena’s retreats throughout my PhD, in 2023, when I was nearing my thesis finish line, she announced during a retreat that she would be taking an extended break from organising retreats. The announcement sent shockwaves around the room, myself included.
Many in attendance were regular “repeat retreaters” who had come to rely upon these spaces as rare opportunities to make meaningful progress on their projects.
Although I was close to completing my PhD (but frustratingly not close enough), I knew that I still needed retreats in order to finish. Writing and working on my thesis had become emotionally triggering, so Rowena’s announcement became the catalyst; where the small idea of perhaps running my own residential writing retreats would grow into a mighty ambition.
I had previously facilitated daytime writing retreats at my university and had completed Rowena’s Training for Retreat Facilitators in 2020. So later that evening, back at the hotel, I found myself browsing online in search of potential retreat venues.
That was when I stumbled across The Oak Tree Inn.
It seemed perfect: an inspirational location, family-run with exceptional customer service, idyllic places for writing, accommodation thoughtfully spread throughout the village within easy walking distance and even their own locally-roasted coffee. After sending an enquiry, they responded the following day. During my site visit, it ticked so many boxes as an ideal writing retreat venue and, as they say, the rest is now history.
Why Acorn Writing Retreats?
Given that our retreats first began at the Oak Tree Inn, it is natural to assume that this was the inspiration behind the name Acorn Writing Retreats. This was certainly an influence and, admittedly, Acorn Writing Retreats at The Oak Tree Inn does have a rather nice ring to it!
However, this was not the main or only reason.
Oak trees have always been one of my favourite types of trees. I find them glorious and grounding; magnificent in stature and nurturing to the land around them. Their lush green leaves turn golden in autumn, scattering the ground with tiny acorns that slowly darken and return nourishment to the earth and wildlife alike. They symbolise strength and endurance and it has always amazed me that such a small acorn could grow into a tree ever so mighty.
My Grandma is buried beneath a beautiful oak tree. Over the years, I have visited her resting place seeking strength and wisdom, including just before I discovered the Oak Tree Inn. Looking back now, it feels strangely fitting that oak trees would become so intertwined with the story of Acorn Writing Retreats.
The Mighty Oak Tree Poem
During my first visit to the Oak Tree Inn, I sat down with Steven, the General Manager at the time (who has since been promoted), in the hotel’s cosy and rustic restaurant, with decorations of autumnal leaves and fairy lights hanging from wooden beams.
Positioned directly behind him on the wall, facing me was the poem ‘The Mighty Oak Tree’ by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. I took this as a sign, particularly as just the previous week, I had shared the poem with a dear loved one going through a difficult time.
Since then, the poem has become embedded within the spirit of the retreats. I often read it aloud during evening meditations as a reminder to writers that just like the mighty oak, they too have weathered difficult storms. While the challenges we endure may test us in the moment, they also strengthen us, deepen our roots and shape who we become.
The First Retreat at The Oak Tree Inn
Writing in the Roastery at the Oak Tree Inn during our first writing retreat in December 2023. The Roastery has since been substantially upgraded, just like our retreats!
Initially, I named and promoted the first couple of retreats as ‘Winter Writing Retreats at The Oak Tree Inn’.
When the first retreat arrived in December 2023, I was a tad mortified that only one person had booked. However, the Oak Tree Inn team were incredibly kind and accommodating, reassuring me that it would also give them the opportunity to become familiar with the retreat structure before welcoming larger groups in the future.
The sole writer attending that inaugural retreat was Emma, a long-suffering PhD student who had been working towards completing her doctorate for almost ten years.
Despite having only one fellow writer, I was determined to make the retreat a success. So we followed the schedule together and spent three days writing side-by-side and sharing walks beside Loch Lomond. During that time, I witnessed how Emma slowly began to blossom.
On the first evening, she spoke about how defeated she felt by her thesis and admitted that if it was not complete in the next couple of months, she was considering giving up entirely. My response was immediate:
“Don’t you fucking dare! Not after so many years and when you are so close to the finish line.”
By the end of the retreat, her confidence and determination to succeed had grown. I am delighted to share that she submitted and passed her PhD Viva before I had completed my own!
At the end of the retreat, as we shared lunch together and reflected on our retreat experience, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small package. She explained that she had bought it from a market a couple of weeks earlier, but had a feeling it was somehow meant for me.
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with three dainty charms: a small piece of blue sea glass wrapped in silver; a silver tag engraved with the words “I CAN”, and a tiny little acorn charm.
And so, Acorn Writing Retreats was named there and then; where small ideas grow into mighty ambitions.
The bracelet Emma gifted me at the end of the first retreat, featuring the charms that inspired the name Acorn Writing Retreats.
