"You don't have to be noisy to be remembered"
This weekend I spent three days at the incredible Whispering Pines Retreat, organized by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Mary Pierce.
Wow.
This is a small-ish retreat that combines workshops, one-on-one critiques, group critiques, first-page panels, and eating a helluva lot of tasty food.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Every time someone asks me how it went I find myself saying, "It was so nice. Everyone was SOOOO NICE." And it's true. I think of all the workshops and conferences and retreats I've been to over the years, I have never come across a group that was more consistently caring, supportive, friendly and, well, LOVING.
As the author mentor, I was on the first page panels, gave a workshop, and read several 25-page manuscripts and then met with the authors for 30 minute sessions. I was incredibly nervous about my workshop, but once I finally made it to the front of the room, my nerves slipped away. Because, like I said, everyone was so NICE! It was great.
One of the many perks of being a mentor was that when I wasn't presenting or giving critiques, I got to sit in on the other workshops. They were fantastic.
Yolanda Scott (editor) talked about character, plot and action in picture books.
Michelle Poploff (editor) told us about all the debut authors she'd signed on (including after she'd met them at critique sessions at conferences like this one), filling the pre-published writers in the audience with hope. And NOTE: She requested to see TWO of the manuscripts from authors I had the privilege of critiquing, based on the first pages she'd heard. So if you ever doubted the power of a first page, think again! :)
Andrea Cascardi (agent) inspired everyone to keep getting better and stronger, no matter where you are on your journey.
Alexis O'Neill (author and school visit guru) made us clap and chant and sing (and laugh), and gave us some incredible tools for a successful school visit.
And Suzanne Bloom (author/illustrator) captivated us with her WONDERFUL illustrations and storytelling. She is a genius.
I could go on and on. But here is one gem I will share, because if you are a bit shy and stage-fightish like me, it is something you can carry with you before every event you will ever do from here on out. And I want to thank Alexis O'Neill for giving me/us these powerful words of wisdom. This is going to be the refrain I chant to myself before every workshop I give:
"You don't have to be noisy to be remembered. You just have to be honest." -Alexis O'Neill
As my funny little nephew you would say, "Put THAT on your wall." :-) I will!
Thank you Alexis! And thank you EVERYONE who participated in the retreat. You were all wonderful. I feel I left that beautiful place with 55 dear new friends.
xo
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
If you could share one bit of honesty with your fellow writers, what would it be?
Wow.
This is a small-ish retreat that combines workshops, one-on-one critiques, group critiques, first-page panels, and eating a helluva lot of tasty food.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Every time someone asks me how it went I find myself saying, "It was so nice. Everyone was SOOOO NICE." And it's true. I think of all the workshops and conferences and retreats I've been to over the years, I have never come across a group that was more consistently caring, supportive, friendly and, well, LOVING.
As the author mentor, I was on the first page panels, gave a workshop, and read several 25-page manuscripts and then met with the authors for 30 minute sessions. I was incredibly nervous about my workshop, but once I finally made it to the front of the room, my nerves slipped away. Because, like I said, everyone was so NICE! It was great.
One of the many perks of being a mentor was that when I wasn't presenting or giving critiques, I got to sit in on the other workshops. They were fantastic.
Yolanda Scott (editor) talked about character, plot and action in picture books.
Michelle Poploff (editor) told us about all the debut authors she'd signed on (including after she'd met them at critique sessions at conferences like this one), filling the pre-published writers in the audience with hope. And NOTE: She requested to see TWO of the manuscripts from authors I had the privilege of critiquing, based on the first pages she'd heard. So if you ever doubted the power of a first page, think again! :)
Andrea Cascardi (agent) inspired everyone to keep getting better and stronger, no matter where you are on your journey.
Alexis O'Neill (author and school visit guru) made us clap and chant and sing (and laugh), and gave us some incredible tools for a successful school visit.
And Suzanne Bloom (author/illustrator) captivated us with her WONDERFUL illustrations and storytelling. She is a genius.
I could go on and on. But here is one gem I will share, because if you are a bit shy and stage-fightish like me, it is something you can carry with you before every event you will ever do from here on out. And I want to thank Alexis O'Neill for giving me/us these powerful words of wisdom. This is going to be the refrain I chant to myself before every workshop I give:
"You don't have to be noisy to be remembered. You just have to be honest." -Alexis O'Neill
As my funny little nephew you would say, "Put THAT on your wall." :-) I will!
Thank you Alexis! And thank you EVERYONE who participated in the retreat. You were all wonderful. I feel I left that beautiful place with 55 dear new friends.
xo
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
If you could share one bit of honesty with your fellow writers, what would it be?
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