6-22-2013
An
advertisement for unpublished writers
How
I spent my writer-development money this year…
“Pour
it on the Page” was the theme for the annual Writer’s Workshop (June 16-19) at ‘the
castle’ of Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs www.gleneyrie.org. Four different
workshop tracks, led by Angela Hunt, Kathy Mackel, Bill Myers and Nancy Rue,
supported every kind and stage of writing.
This
year Nancy Rue introduced a new workshop track for writers emerging from ‘The
End’ of their manuscripts. This is a frightening place for unpublished writers.
It’s best not to proceed without an expert guide.
Applicants
seeking admission to Nancy’s ‘advanced writers’ class permitted a peek at their
newborn books. Each of the sixteen manuscript samples Nancy approved was
returned with a generous cover letter teaming with praise and guidance as well
as instructive line-edits. Our collective instructional needs became the basis
for our tailor-made curriculum. All this in advance of our convergence on the
castle!
Nancy
took care to know us personally before shepherding her flock of white-knuckled
writers through the arduous process of polishing and preparing our completed
manuscripts for the next level. It’s a scary time for a writer but our
fledgling manuscripts and flighty writing egos were as safe as the indigenous
Colorado Big Horn Sheep that grazed the lush lawns of the castle grounds. Nancy
answered our feeble bleats for leadership with tender nudges and palms of
praise for our tiniest leaps up the dizzying precipices toward publication.
For
three days, she gave morning instruction based on our conglomerate needs and on
two afternoons we lined up for one-on-one meetings with her. This was in
addition to twice-daily sessions with all four instructors (a keynote presentation
and a panel each day). It was exhausting – it was fun – I made new friends – I
slept three nights in a castle. I departed ‘full to the brim and stuffed to the
gills’ (courtesy of Glen Eyrie’s multi-course meals plus bountiful snacks and
attentiveness of the hospitality staff).
Why
Glen Eyrie? Besides the obvious ‘cool’ of a castle retreat…
There
is a serious leap between a new writer’s manuscript and the narrow, steep climb
toward publication. I chose to prepare for that leap somewhere gloriously
beautiful with folks I trusted to laugh, cry and walk a mile with me.
As
a bonus, I enjoyed a lovely Victorian High Tea with my dear friend Pam. Lovely.
