All posts tagged: Write by the Lake

Write on, Wednesday: Writing Retreats

By Leslie Lindsay Last week, I was at a writing retreat. With a warm fire roaring in the distance, a gentle snow cascading from the gray sky, my laptop propped on my lap, and the ideas a-flowin’, it was a slice of glorious heaven. Oh, wait. It wasn’t. Instead, I was laid up on the couch with a laptop and a bum knee. Not quite the romance and mystique I was going for, but well…there was snow. [not my actual fireplace…image retrieved from http://ecoopportunity.net/2012/02/fireside-chat-leadership-from-the-top-in-the-green-economy-2/fireside/ on 2.18.14] If you’ve ever dreamed of attending a writing retreat, you’re not alone. Some 200 retreats exist across the U.S. They range in size, scope, and practice and also vary in your overall goals. Do you want to steal away to the Montana mountains where you can write your heart out in rustic setting, or would you rather head over to Monterrey or Sausalito, California where you could be a writer-in-resident in the warm sun? Do you want to partake in the prestigious Iowa Writer’s Workshop (MFA program)? It all depends …

Write On, Wednesday: Creating a World So Believable Your Critique Partners Think You’re Having an Affair

Published by Always with a Book

By Leslie Lindsay Last evening, I took my writing to the library critique group. I have been going and sharing my work with this bunch of writers for about two years now. I know most of the folks pretty well, even though it’s not an inclusive group–it’s constantly changing, as all good groups do. These writers are very familiar with the current story–well, novel–I am working on. It’s title, “Slippery Slope.” It wasn’t really intended to turn into a novel. Heck, I never saw myself as a novelist…it sounds so fancy and grown-up. But I knew I wanted to write. There is a point of all of this: I got some good feedback. I got some ideas for revision. I got some new thoughts, too. Thank you, fellow writers. But here is one thing I wasn’t expecting to hear: “Oh my! It sounds like you are really having an affair!” Helllooo!! My character is. Emphasis on character. It’s an emotional affair at this point, but I think that still counts, huh? (and no, I am not having …

Write on, Wednesday! Writin’ by the Lake

Published by Always with a Book

By Leslie Lindsay (image retrieved from the Madison Visitors Center website 6.21.12) I am having an absolute ball here in Madison, WI at the “Write-by-the-Lake” retreat hosted by the University of Wisconsin. Here’s how life doesn’t get much better: writing instruction, good group of peers who also like to write, good shopping, a nice location, yummy things to eat, and some time alone. Here are the downsides: I miss my dog. And my family. That’s why I just spent the afternoon doing a little shopping for them…arrowheads and university tee shirts and books…now if I could only find something for the hound). Another downside to all of this learning and time alone: I perseverate. A lot. As our instructor, Kathy Steffen says, “I am throwing you all of this information like a fireman with a hose.” It’s a lot. I think I have acquired something like 22 hand-outs/worksheets since the first day of class. Have I looked at them again? Well…not exactly. (But shhhh….don’t tell Kathy Steffen). In fact, there is a little something to …

Write On, Wednesday: Sharpening the Saw

Published by Always with a Book

By Leslie Lindsay We writer’s need continuing education like the rest of us. Writing may not be life or death as in my former career as an R.N. where we needed to do annual competancies, CPR re-certification, and CEUs….but it is just as vital. And I do mean that in all ways–vital to making our writing stand out, and vital to the inner writer–those of us who feel we may die if we don’t get our daily word count in. Of course, we aren’t going to die, but well…our words tend to atrophy. So, I am gearing up for a season of conferences and retreats. Ha! I say that as if I am going to be shipped off to a writer’s colony or something. Alas, I am going to just two events this year (at least that I know of). This weekend, is the Spring Fling Conference held here in Chicagoland (http://www.chicagospringfling.com/) It’s really geared towards those who write romance. Folks like Fern Michels, Nora Roberts, & Carly Phillips (I only know those names because I am sitting here at …