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Writing Retreat: Lakeside, OH

4/24/2019

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I haven't been to a writing retreat for many years, but I highly recommend the experience. Typically held over a weekend and with a much smaller number of attendees than a writing conference, the retreat atmosphere lends itself very well to getting to know your fellow writers (and their writing) on a much more personal level. It can also provide a more intimate, focused critique opportunity, as most retreats provide critique sessions and/or "down time" to create your own sessions in a cozy corner with other writers.

Lakeside, OH—near and dear to my heart and the Lake Erie setting for my current work-in-progress NaNoWriMo 2019 project "Charlotte's Choice"—is just about the most beautiful location I can think of for a writing retreat. I have debated coordinating one of my own retreats in this quaint, step-back-in-time Chautauqua community, which sports cottages of climbing ivy, a sailing club, shuffleboard courts, and a stretch of waterfront dubbed the "most beautiful mile." Until I get my act together, I would be remiss to not blog about the upcoming Word Lovers Retreat, May 31 - June 2, to be held at the Idlewyld Bed and Breakfast.

WORD LOVERS RETREAT—LAKESIDE, OH

Claudia J. Taller, coordinator of Igniting Possibilities, stages the 23rd Word Lovers Retreat at Lakeside, OH. Held May 31 - June 2, at Idlewyld Bed and Breakfast, the event welcomes two Columbus writers, Trudy Brandenburg and Sandra Gurvis, as presenters. According to Taller, Trudy created the successful Emma Haines Kayak Mystery Series, teaches writing classes, and writes for magazines and newspapers. Sandra Gurvis is the author of sixteen commercially published books and hundreds of magazine articles. Her titles include Day Trips From Columbus, 3rd ed.; Ohio Curiosities, 2nd ed.; Careers For Nonconformists, which was a selection of the Quality Paperback Book Club; and America’s Strangest Museums.

Weekend Lineup

(per Taller's website)
Creating Fictional Characters: In this fun and interactive class led by Trudy, you’ll use a simple magazine picture to create your fictional character. This easy technique helps keep your characters true to themselves. You’ll craft a bio, complete with background, personality traits, and unique quirks that will bring your character to life. You’ll leave this class with a useful writing tool and the zeal to write! No writing experience necessary.

Bird Walk: From her kayak and on walks, Trudy’s an expert at hearing and seeing birds. Lakeside is on the Lake Erie migratory route, and attendees will take advantage of her expertise and love of birds on a walk around Lakeside.

Turning Personal Experiences into Viable Prose: “Everything is material,” or so the saying goes. But how can you turn life experiences into salable writing that readers can enjoy and relate to? This workshop with Sandra will focus on using anecdotes, memories, and observations to craft salable stories as well as how to distance yourself to avoid losing perspective and to protect yourself legally as well as the privacy of others.

Inventing (and Re-Inventing) Yourself as a Writer: No matter how many years you’ve been at it, writing is a continual process of discovery. Aimed at both novice and experienced writers, this workshop with Sandra helps explore the many ways you can use your skills and experiences to boost your career. Participants will get a chance to evaluate their present and future aspirations, along with finding new ways to earn income as a freelancer.

Critique Session: In small groups, participants will discuss what works and what doesn’t work in participant's work.

Open Microphone: With wine in hand, attendees will be entertained by fellow writers.

Registration

For cost and additional information, visit the Word Lovers page on Taller's website, www.claudiajtaller.com. To register, send an email to Claudia.taller@yahoo.com. 

#writer #amwriting #WIP #SCBWI #writingtip #writingretreat #Lakeside

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Fav Writing Websites: resources for 2019

4/8/2019

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The resources available to those of us clicking away at the keyboard, as we write the next great American novel, are, frankly, a little overwhelming. A writer could spend a month of Sundays exploring writing websites (some more reputable than others). I'm grateful Writer's Digest magazine does the legwork for me and puts out an annual spring issue featuring "101 Best Websites for Writers," which I lap up like a thirsty dog every year. There are websites that offer support, that provide information, that challenge us to push our limits, and so on.

Of the Writer's Digest offerings, below are my favorite baker's dozen of new finds I'll personally be utilizing a lot in 2019.

1. blog.NathanBransford.com - Previously a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd., writer Nathan Bransford provides tons of free advice on everything from getting an agent to self-publishing.

2. FightWrite.net - If you're a true crime/mystery/thriller writer, or the like, this website is seriously helpful. With hands-on information provided by paramedics, a Justice of the Peace, coroners, gunshot victims, etc., the website gets down to the specifics — the blood, guts, and gore — of crime scenes and weaponry. It may be just what a writer needs to make that murder scene more realistic.

3. LanguageIsAVirus.com - Great for fiction writers and poets, this site provides writing prompts, games, and other writing exercises to get those creative juices flowing. Excellent resource for Language Arts educators.

4. CareerAuthors.com - "write. sell. repeat." is the tagline for this resource for writers wishing to make a career of words on the page. There are helpful tabs about specific genres, marketing, craft, publishing, etc. I find the Young Adult tab particularly useful.

5. Aliventures.com - Ali Luke's blog posts are for all writers and specifically hone in on both novelists and freelancers. With lots to look at for free, she also offers purchasable online/self-study courses.

6. Well-Storied.com - Kristen Kieffer, author of fantasy fiction and creative writing resources, offers a wealth of bloggy writing information and even a number of free e-courses on her Well-Storied site (formerly She's Novel). I love that she even includes tips/tricks for using Scrivener, a writing app that takes a bit of a learning curve to master.

7. WriterUnboxed.com - In my opinion, the big draw is the number of industry professionals and published authors who offer advice, posts, etc. An "UnConference" is also sponsored through this site, and the WriterUnboxed Facebook page is self-promotion free, so it's a very uncluttered writing community resource.

8. AAROnline.org - Association of Author's Representatives, Inc. - Provides a database for writers looking for an agent who represents what they write. Agents who are members of this professional group must meet high standards and follow a canon of ethics. The site is very easy to use, allowing searches based on name, genre, etc.

9. JetReidLiterary.blogspot.com - Literary Agent Janet Reid, the Query Shark, will chew up your manuscript query and spit it out ... all while giving great advice on the query process. Soooo many good things about this site. Personally, I go straight to the query pitfalls section and Query Letter FAQs.

10. BehindTheName.com - spend hours researching names for your characters/places. Offers a cool lesson on literal meaning, history, etc.

11. Archive.org - The Internet Archive is like a mashup of Wikipedia and Pinterest. Plug in any topic and a slew of pictures and articles pop up. This is a great resource for anyone who needs to travel back in time to a different era so that story set in the 60s-70s really rocks those go-go boots with realistic details.

12. SwoonReads.com - Macmillan Children's Publishing Group provides an opportunity to upload a young adult novel manuscript and have the readers decide what grabs their attention enough to publish. Writers wanting a chance for reader feedback and shares ... this could be the ticket.

13. TheFreelancersYear.com - Freelance writer Lindy Alexander blogs about everything freelance, including travel writing, corporate writing, writing about writing, etc. Being a freelance writer myself, I expect this will become one of my favorite go-to sites for inspirations in 2019.

Hope these websites help! Now, go explore ...

#lindyalexander #macmillan #queryshark #janetreid #kristenkieffer #writerunboxed #aliluke #nathanbransford #amwriting #amquerying #writertip #WednesdayWisdom #WednesdayWriter
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    Writer

    Brenda Haas lived in the Pittsburgh, PA area for over 20 years and moved to Lake Erie with her husband in early 2018. She has two grown daughters and way too many pets.

    A columnist for Pittsburgh area's Penn Franklin News Publishing Company, her "A Little Bit of Life" essays provided a snapshot of being a parent, wife and independent woman who attracts the "quirky" in everyday living. She has also been published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and My Outer Banks Home magazine.

    Brenda currently freelances for various businesses and non-profits and is well-versed in public relations and marketing.

    Works-in-Progress


    Adult:
    "Here or There on Beddington Bluff"
    "Sutton's Choice"
    "Sutton's Second Chance"

    Young Adult:
    "Something Strange at Water's Edge"
    "Hells of Southgate"
    "Forest for the Trees"

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