Retreat anyone? The opportunity to spend two and a half days at the beautiful Holy Spirit RetreatCenter in Encino reading in small groups with an acquiring editor or
agent? The 2014 SCBWI Southern
California Writer’s Retreat sold out four hours after enrollment opened.
I put myself on the waiting list. I attended the WWR in 2007
and 2012 and was dying to do it again. I got lucky.
Saturday Morning:
I’m on break. Yesterday the entire group divided into two first pages sessions.
We each had three minutes to read our first 250 words. Our critiquing panel, authors
Stephanie Gordon Jacobs, Judith Ross Enderle and Ann Whitford Paul gave us
feedback. This was a practice session for Sunday’s first pages read. Sunday morning,
editors Ariel Richardson, Bethany Strout, agent Karen Grencik and a surprise
guest editor will be are critique panel.
Waiting to read first pages. |
I heard so many wonderful first pages. My only regret is that I couldn’t hear all of
the stories that went with the first two hundred and fifty words.
I read the first 250 words of a non- fiction picture
book. How They Wrote It. Judy’s,
Ann’s , and Stephanie’s responses made me realize I had better use a bit of my
three minutes to explain what I intended to picture book to be.
After a stretching session with Lynette Townsend, we went to
dinner and on to our first sessions with the acquiring faculty. We had twelve minutes each for reading and
critique time. It was up to the individual to decide how to divide the time
between reading and feedback.
The evening had two sessions for each of the acquiring faculty.
Regional advisor Sarah Laurenson worked out a spreadsheet worthy of a military
maneuver. We writers were divided into two groups: Best Sellers and Award
Winners. Then these groups were subdivided into groups of five
Roommates were in opposite session. This gave us an hour alone in our room to write and revise.
Sarah Laurenson |
Roommates were in opposite session. This gave us an hour alone in our room to write and revise.
My group of five met with Little Brown’s Bethany Strout.
I loved my group’s work. Katharyn Sinelli read from her YA
fantasy chiller. Maria Johnson and Lynn Becker had terrific picture books. I
read Chapter 1 from my mid-grade novel. (Lynette Townsend, our fabulous Stretch
Queen, chose not to read. She said work had kept her too busy to do the
revision she’d wanted to do. I’ve loved Lynette Picture books in past retreats
and I regret not hearing her work.) Bethany Strout’s critiques on all of our
work were insightful and encouraging.
Bethany Strout, Kim James and ????My mind blanked It's Late I need bed. |
Karol Silverstein |
Friday night I chose not to revise. I stayed in the main
building waiting for the Wine and Cheese party and got into a great conversation
with terrific story teller and West side Schmooze coordinator, Karol
Silverstein, about our secret love for the
Twilight books, religions and toads.
Karen Grencik came out of her second session and remarked
that the level of writing here at the retreat was so much higher than those she
heard at conference. I felt all warm, fuzzy and nervous. Karen is the last
person my group will read for. I’m praying we’ll all measure up.
The last event Friday was the wine and cheese party. I
contributed a solid chocolate salmon. I hope to be remembered as the chocolate
bringer. Although I’d rather be
remembered as the writer whose work they decided to acquire. I loved meeting
and talking to my fellow authors and getting to schmooze with the staff.
Lynette, the stretch queen, Angela and Lynn |
Saturday morning started at 7:30 with a stretch session for
those who chose to attend. I love Lynette’s sessions. Breakfast was from 8:00 – 9:00.
Each group had morning sessions with one of our resident authors. I got some great feedback from Stephanie Gordon and rushed back to my room to make changes. I remembered I had a blog post due and began it.
After lunch came pictures. Nutschell Windsor, the staff photographer posed us in straight and zany groups. She hasn'tposted these yet, or I would show you.
Each group had morning sessions with one of our resident authors. I got some great feedback from Stephanie Gordon and rushed back to my room to make changes. I remembered I had a blog post due and began it.
After lunch came pictures. Nutschell Windsor, the staff photographer posed us in straight and zany groups. She hasn'tposted these yet, or I would show you.
Melody Mansfield, The grant winner, Me and Catherine Modesitt |
Karen Grencik and author |
After that, Karaoke!
Bethany and Karen were both at our table at breakfast. I’ve
really enjoyed getting a chance to know them as the delightful humans they are.
I want a chance to talk to Ariel and find out more about her. She too feels
like a kindred spirit. We are all people who love books and want to see more of
them.
Sunday: Breakfast, checkout and three hours of first pages.
Sunday's surprise panelist was Nephele Tempest from The Knight Agency.
Sounds like a great retreat. I'd love to go if I lived in California.
ReplyDeleteI wish you did live here, Natalie. I would love to have coffee with you.
DeleteNatalie,
DeleteYou don't live in California?
Run! Don't Walk...to the nearest California border. Just say, "Pen N' Ink sent me" and the hounds will be locked in their cages.
Sincerely,
Border Buddy
It was a perfectly organized WWR. I had not attended for many years, but was a regular at the first ones. It was great to have fresh ears for my works-in-progress. There was indeed a high level of writing experience among the attendees. The terrific faculty was honest yet supportive, and very approachable. (They could sing, too!) Thanks for writing it all down so well, Susan.
DeleteI agree, Lisze. I think I was in your group when we read in 2012.
DeleteWonderful recap of the wonderful retreat! Thanks so much for this fantastic post. It was such a pleasure to go into the weekend with a friendly face at my side, plus to make so many new friends. The sessions were as valuable for me as for you as well. Great, great experience!
ReplyDeleteIt was great seeing you there, Kady and I loved your first page!
DeleteWow - this sounds like a fantastic experience. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading, Lynne
DeleteHi Susan, thanks for sharing this. It's always good to have a writers conference that uplifts and gets the creative juices flowing. Nice write up. (Please don't invite more to CA--we are already too crowded in the Bay Area, and need water more than people!) Blessings, Penny (www.penelopeannecole.com)
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Penny. I bet you have good writers retreats up north.
DeleteSounds like you had fun :) by the way When are you coming to Bend/ Redmond? KC:)
ReplyDeleteI don't know, KC. I'd sure like t see you again.
DeleteGreat recap, Sue! Reading about our wacky Friday night convo made me laugh. It really WAS about Twilight, religion and toads, people! Thanks for all your help this weekend. It made a huge difference for me physically and allowed me to get the most out of the weekend. You are a rock start!
ReplyDeleteUm..Rock STAR. Clearly exhaustion and the heat are melting my brain (at least the part that catches typos)...
DeleteStop the heat!!!! I don't mind being a rock start. And I love hearing your work.
DeleteKudos to you, for ALL the stretching...in body, mind and spirit! Good luck with your submissions. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Samanthe. Same from me. Good luck to all of us.
DeleteAwesome post! The retreat was so much fun (and very productive to boot.) It was absolutely thrilling to see how much everyone's first pages evolved in the course of a single weekend (and that chocolate salmon was a beast!) It was lovely meeting you and good luck on your writing quest!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I loved seeing how we all evolved.
DeleteBlessings
Fantastic, productive retreat and a delightful time with Sue! Thanks for posting. One of these years we will have a chocolate-tasting table.
ReplyDeleteI loved your story. Contacting Kaliko for you.
DeleteBlessings
Susan
It was great meeting you Sue. Nice to read your recap. I had a great time and learned a lot from everyone.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Clare. So did I.
DeleteBlessings