Category Archives: Writing retreats

Day 4. More words and more pretty beach, blue water and yes, sun.

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Before we walked onto thisBlue Mountain Beach

we drank some of this

Write By The Water serves coffee.

then sadly sent off one of our writers… sort of like this

or maybe it was more like this

you go girl!

Then, it was back to the page.

More word wrangling, more scene swapping, and then, cold pizza and a change of venue.

SAM_5128

 

Later we met with our fellow creative junkies at Say The Word to talk about a spoken word and music collaboration that will be happening later this year. ( Yes, that is your teaser. Now hit that link and like their page, follow along. Be sure you are also part of WBTW’s page. )

Maria and Andrea are doing a beautiful thing on 30A. We are glad to be a part of it.

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Coffee at Amavida in lovely Rosemary Beach, followed by a trip into Seaside. Of course there was a stop at Bud and Alley’s,  stars twinkling overhead. Dinner at Crush, interesting characters abound. Delicious wine. But wait. We were not done yet. A challenge between writers sent us home, Macbooks were flipped open, music played in the background and there was that tap, tap, tappy tap. The sound that makes you write faster… or think faster…

Whatever it is? It works.

Thank you, Donia for last night at the retreat. For sharing your story, for reading mine and for being such an encouragement. I swear, I’ll never stop learning something new every day, like how the hot Florida sun can burn an unburnable Egyptian girl, a badge she’ll wear proudly on her return trip to the Canadian tundra.

 To anyone struggling with their writing- or life- today:

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

 

 

Testimonials: From the Mouths of Writing Babes

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“I had a wonderful three days of writing, planning, organizing, plotting. I worked on organizing the chapters of my work-in-progress, Book Two of the Moonlight Ridge Series.
I enjoyed the companionship of the creative writers who attended the Write By the Water writers retreat in beautiful Blue Mountain Beach.. This was such a well planned, delightful get-away, truly designed to let our creativity flow. Everything was perfect: the environment, the accomodations, the lovely beach and the wonderful ocean near enough to send our imaginations into high gear.”
Ramey Channell

Ramey Channell raises a toast to writing, with Angela Durden

“What a wonderful time I had at Write By The Water retreat. The quietly invigorating space motivated quick and thorough progress on my novel manuscripts for DFW: DFTF (code name), and on Whitfield, Nebraska (working title). Thank you, Linda Sands, for this venue.”
Angela K. Durden
Novelist. Songwriter.www.angeladurden.com

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 ”Write by the Water was the kick start my writing needed. Not only did I find inspiration in the camaraderie of being with other writers, the experience was a great confidence booster. Sign up for a Write by the Water retreat. It is work,  but it will be the most fun and productive work days and nights you will ever have.” 

Kim Williamson
Please friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter, @kiwialabama.
Linda Sands and Kim Williamson, dinner at Johnny McTighes
And for those people who need more pictures…

Write By the Water Fall 2012 Retreat Encapsulated

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Things we learned

Take notes. Blog later. This is the time to work on your novel. Get in the words- or for some of us- get rid of the words.

Try to remember to take pictures. Of people. Working. Or don’t, maybe they would rather no one sees their pjs and bedhead hair.

Sleep when you need to.

Ask questions. But ask permission first. Sometimes people are still writing in their heads when they’re making a sandwich.

Be flexible.

Take frequent physical breaks. Walk on the beach, anyone?

Laugh.

Sit in the sunshine. Wear sunscreen.

Herons like to pose.

Some bands provide hula hoops.

Poets sing.

You will miss your pets, not your doorbell.

You’ll make friends.

You will understand that even though no coffee lover tells Starbucks how to make a cup of joe, everyone’s home pot is brewed differently.

Nice Christian ladies will call the law on kind poets, claiming they own words.

No matter how many chocolate almonds you buy, it’s never enough.

Usually someone can drive you home faster than the taxi can appear.

As much time as you give your muse, she will reward you in kind. Be ready for that.

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some pictures to share, so that you can paint yourself into our literary party

Morning walks start the brain.

 

pumpkin in the sea. tastes like chicken.

make your TV into a fireplace, and feel the heat as you write

 

part of our collaboration at Write By The Water

reward yourself with a night out. meet some characters.

Thanks to Maria Schabla and her poets with Say The Word ( GO like them on Facebook- even if the name changes!) We had fun on Saturday night.

Go like Rhoda and Weck on Facebook and see the fab CD in action here.

Tomorrow, come back for more pictures, links and a video!

 

Preparing for a writing retreat: photo tutorial

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First, you will need one of these.

And probably one of these.

Don’t forget this.

or this.

Never mind. We have lots of that.

After a day of doing this

we will reward you with this.

and then, you can enjoy this.

unless you need to do more of this

Hey, it’s your retreat.  Just be sure to make time for this:

Boardwalk on the beach

Some of My Favorite Writers

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I posted this article on my writing blog (the blog that I’m supposed to be writing in every day to share my daily writing progress…but am not…doing either, that is…long story…), and I then I thought maybe it might be worthwhile talking about this topic: Where do you find your inspiration for writing? Or maybe, it’s “Who inspires you to be a “better” writer?”

looking for inspiration

Maybe it’s a famous writer, like J.K. Rowling or Stephen King ? Or maybe it’s your Aunt Martha or your 6th grade English teacher. We are always going to be inspired by someone, more than one someone, and today, I’m sharing just a couple of my sources of inspiration.

First: the obvious ones. I’ll get those out of the way first:

  • My husband, who is one of the most supportive, go-with-the-flow guys I know. I’m inspired by his ability to live a life of complete balance. And I wouldn’t even be a writer if I didn’t have you in my life. Truly.
  • My kids, who have provided me with plenty of fodder for characters and such. Thanks for being clever, and funny, and just plain weird sometimes. It’s all good.

And, now, because I’m a giver…here are some new friends. You inspire me in different, and totally surprising ways.

I hope you enjoy reading their work as much as I do.

Colleen Friesen
In her words, Canadian-writer, Colleen Friesen is “..a cappuccino and travel junkie. Like the collages I love to hammer, glue and sew together in my Sechelt studio,my writing is often a collection of ephemera, transitory images, random thoughts and events that happen wherever I find myself  in the world.”

Colleen’s blog is a treat for me every day. I blame her, in truth, for distracting me from my own writing. Where I used to wake inspired to “write the damn book,” I now pour myself a cup of coffee and click over to Colleen’s blog to get my daily dose of inspiration. She’s an amazing wordsmith, and you’d be a fool not to take my advice and click over there — do it now I say — and subscribe to her daily posts. She’s that good.

Follow her blog here.

Dina Santorelli
I “met” Dina recently. When I found her blog, “Making Baby Grand-The Novel” this “timeline” jumped out at me: “The Making ‘Baby Grand’ blog is born as a way to chronicle the writing process and share my trials and tribulations as a first-time novelist as I finish the writing of this book. Or maybe as a creative way to procrastinate. Not sure.”

A kindred spirit, to be sure. And as I’ve followed her progress, I’m inspired by her enthusiasm, and her progress. She’s actually done it. I aspire to get to where she is now. Check out her blog to find out more and follow Dina’s next steps as she continues the journey to publishing her novel.

Linda Sands
Not only is Linda an incredible, award-winning writer – her short stories have been published in dozens of literary publications over the years — she’s an accomplished novelist and is always looking for ways to help other writers realize their dreams. You go girl!

She’s the founder and editor of scratch — “the writing contest that itching to discover new talent,” and partner in Write by the Water retreats for women If you haven’t read Linda’s ebook, Simple Intent , be sure to put it on her list, and follow the blog. Her smart and witty style will make you smile (and maybe blush a little). :)

There are so many great writers forging their way in this new world of blogging. And how great is it that we can share our work–ebooks, travel articles, random blog posts — with countless readers every day. Amazing.

Do you follow a writing blog that you’d like to share? Someone you connect with or who just makes you smile through their blog articles? I’d love to add them to my list. Let me know!

photo: Tom J Byrne