escapism: a virtual writing retreat

On more than one occasion, as a child, lil Oneg liked to sneak out of class and run down the hill in the back playground of school. They would sprint downhill and right before the ground flattened out, jump. Oneg wanted to fly. And escape school.

March is a long month. It has 31 days. Which, if you believe and participate in this human capitalist concept of time, it means it’s way too much. But have no fear, because 4words has the antidote to the droning of workaholism. We bring to you: escapism.

Escapism: A Virtual Writing Retreat

This is our second virtual writing retreat that 4wordds is holding as a perfect way to hone your skills, play around with prompts, and share space with some rad folks. Oh, and by the way, it’s free. That’s right, free! As are all our events. Why? Because too many spaces are pay-to-play, and in this economy? Look, we’re cutting back on eggs and we’re growing our own damn tomatoes.

Whether it's to get out of that writer's block slump or just to be with community and forget about the state of the world, head this way to register for our event: ESCAPISM

While all our events are free, however, we do use this space to feature different organizations to encourage those of you who attend - who have the means and desire to - to donate to. It’s not just donations, though; it’s mutual aid. Because we all need a little help, and what comes around goes around.

For this event, we chose to highlight National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), because, again, the state of the world, and because while escape can be a valid coping mechanism at times, having access to other resources is imperative. Based in the United States, NAMI started way back in the early 80s and now has over 650 local chapters and affiliates and are active in 49 states, bringing mental health education and resources across the country.

You can read more about NAMI below. All tips donated to this article will also be 100% donated to NAMI.

Part of 4words is about moving forwards together. And so we asked some peeps about what escapism means to them. Feel free to also share your thoughts in the comments.

What inspired the theme of escapism for this event?

"Because it's needed. Usually the point of escapism is to seek a distraction, maybe create some relief when things are unpleasant, and not to be cynical, but things have been consistently unpleasant, so it’s needed now more than ever.

There's something to be said about writing and reading for escapism . It’s a large part of why people do it, to provide that distraction either when you're curating it or consuming it."

- James (the inspirator of the theme)

What does escapism mean to you?

"It means being able to step away from your reality for your own sanity" - Muchtar

Insanity prevention, nice!

"Escapism to me means something not based on current reality. In other words, something that helps you disassociate, whether it's reading, movies, music, art. Does that make sense?" - Jim

Yes, it does!

"Escapism to me means avoidance, distraction." - Karen

Short and simple!

How do you like to escape?

"I like walking outside while listening to music or a book and just letting my imagination flow." - Raphael

~~Let it flow~~

"Reading books and watching Brooklyn 99, or going for a nature walk in the woods. [With] writing, I journal. But I don't escape through art. I self regulate through art and face whatever I'm working out, like I process stuff through art rather than escape?" - Karen

Fun fact, Karen may had watched Brooklyn 99 around 28 times.

While we all view escapism, and find ways to escape differently, we all know where to head for some positive escapism, right? Remember? The free virtual writing retreat, of course!!

Register here --> escapism

Throwback to our first Writing Retreat in 2025

Back in December we hosted our first Virtual Writing Retreat as a sort of soft event before our full launch in 2026. Snuggled in between Christmas and New Years, writers from different states and countries joined together to hone their crafts and pen some prompts.

Two words easily describe the event: cozy and intimate.

It was such a unique and wholesome experience that we knew we had to do it again. Because this is what communtiy is about.

And if you don't know who we are yet, then you've been snoozing. But 4words is a queer-centered creative collective using poetry, stories, songs, art, and spoken word to build global solidarity, support charitable causes, and create inclusive, decolonized safe spaces. We believe in the transformative power of words and creativity to uplift marginalized voices, challenge oppression, and foster healing, resistance, and community across borders.

We believe in YOU being a part of this community.

You can check us out on Facebook and on Instagram for news, updates, events, and writing prompts. We can't wait to show you what 2026 has in store.