Writing in Joshua Tree: Day 2, Creative Breakthroughs, Rewrites, and Lots of Tea

Joshua Tree Writing Retreat: Day 2 of the Creative Process

Day two of my Joshua Tree writing retreat was quiet on the outside, but far louder, and more intense on the inside.

If day one was about settling into the desert, day two was about letting the work take over. No distractions. No schedule beyond writing, thinking, walking, and of course, drinking copious amounts of tea. Just me, the desert, and Fahli, the prequel to Iyanwa.

Writing Deep in the Desert: Real Progress on Fahli

By the end of day two, I had written two and a half new chapters of Fahli. But just as important as what I added was what I removed.

Being able to focus for large amounts of time enabled me to see clearly what wasn’t working.

I spent a large part of the day rewriting earlier sections, reshaping scenes so they finally aligned with the heart of the book. I also removed several older, antiquated ideas that no longer belonged in this version of the story. It felt less like deleting and more like clearing out the junk to reveal a clearer story, something I felt was so important.

Coyotes checking out the car :)

Creative Euphoria (and the Heavy Parts That Come With It)

There were a couple of moments that can only be described as creative euphoria—those rare flashes where everything clicks and the story suddenly feels alive in your hands.

They were euphoric. But as much as they were revelatory in terms of the story, they were also heavy. Now you might ask "What do you mean? Surely you already knew what was going to happen?" Well, you'd be right, I did know what was going to happen at the end, but up until then, there were twists and turns that I didn't know, and they smacked me pretty hard in the face. Centralizing all energy and focus on this enabled me to realize certain things in the story I know I wouldn't have realized if I was still balancing things. I can't multitask. I can't balance things well. I have to be all in, or not. When I jumped all in, I realized what the story was asking of me. What it was asking me to face. And what it meant to write it in one fluid thought.

That time in Joshua Tree held space for that in a way few places can.

Walking It Out: Letting the Desert Do Its Work

At one point, I stepped away from the page and took a walk.

Walking in Joshua Tree’s vast, quiet landscape provided the perfect place to breathe, and think about the scenarios that had appeared. There were times when I got to an interesting point, and I didn't know what would happen next. I almost daren't type any more in fear of not writing something I could truly feel. So I would walk, and it became part of the process. And by the time I returned to the desk, the next scene seemed to already be forming and I had to just trust watching my fingers.

Breaks from writing included reading and drawing. Bliss.

Tea, Ritual, and Sustaining the Creative Flow

There was also a lot of tea. More than usual...maybe not. But I typically chain-drink, where the kettle is already boiling when there is still tea left in the cup. Cups aren't big enough, I've decided. But the tea became a small ritual, something grounding between writing sprints, rewrites, and emotional highs. In a place with no distractions, it was an opportunity to pace the day and sustain momentum without getting sick of it, or burning out.

Why Day 2 Mattered in the Joshua Tree Writing Retreat

Day two took giant steps forward. I was able to:

• Write 2.5 chapters, and move the story of Fahli forward.

• Deep rewrites that strengthened the story

• Letting go of parts that no longer served the book

• Emotional breakthroughs that reshaped the narrative

I truly believe for me at least, that this is the kind of work that only happens when you give yourself time, silence, and space. Joshua Tree continues to prove itself not just as a beautiful location, but as a powerful creative catalyst.

In Part 3, I’ll share how the final days of the retreat shifted from intensity into finally realizing the full story of Fahli.

Making progress.