Hello lovelies! As I’m writing this, I’m sitting at Glasgow International Airport (Scotland), waiting for a delayed flight home. I just spent a week at the Writing with the Soul Storyteller’s Retreat and my brain feels like a blueberry slushie (but in a good way). I’m trying to process all the retreat’s goodness, and I’m hoping that writing this blog post will help! Sooo, let’s gooo!
What The H*ck Is Storyteller’s Retreat?
From 17 – 22 October, I journeyed to the rugged west coast of Scotland for a magical adventure away from the distractions of reality. I explored Dunskey Estate, hiked along magnificent beach paths, soaked in ancient Scottish history, gorged on delectable food, and enjoyed the wonderful, wonderful company of 40 other writers. I also had the privilege of meeting some of my favorite authors, who very generously gave us their time and attention during workshops and critique circles.
The Lessons Learned
The retreat’s faculty was incomparable and meeting them was a writerly dream come true!
*Checks off her bucket list*
Adrienne Young, Dhonielle Clayton, Rebecca Ross, Jenny Hickman, and Kristin Dwyer are honestly five of the most gracious and kind human beings on this planet, fearlessly leading us in craft workshops and critique circles, and sharing their wits and wisdom on all things writing! We shared stories, created memories, and laughed until we cried. It was A VIBE.
I now know how to Nine-Box the sh*t out of my manuscript, how to make an unwritten contract with my reader (and how not to disappoint them), and how to write a kick-ass first chapter! Also: I bore witness to the magic of baked beans—my life will never be the same😉
The Critique Circles (a.k.a. Jenny’s Chickens Gone Wild)
One of the scariest and BEST parts of the retreat were the critique groups! Our group was led by indie author/romantasy genius/whiteboard guru Jenny Hickman, who made us feel safe and seen and worthy, and offered tons of writerly advice to help us improve our stories.
Listening to the group dissecting my pages was a little daunting but also a lot of fun: I learned a lot about my story from my fellow “chickens” and I cannot thank them enough for their questions, their passionate discussions, and their lovely words of encouragement. Also: YES, HE IS DEFINITELY HOT😉
The Community
I’m so grateful I got to experience the magic of gathering with other writers and connecting over story—and to just be AWAY from the noise of the day-job, the routine responsibilities, the nay-sayers and the non-believers. Hanging out at a Scottish estate with the 40 amazing writers was THE BEST! I’m rooting for all of them, and I can’t wait to see where their stories will take them! I’m sure I will be buying their books one day!
*Special mention for my fellow Ellis B. Dunskey conspirators, who I hope to speak to soon! Collaborative storytelling is new for me, and I will no doubt learn a lot from each of you! You have already brought me A TON of joy (and so many laughs). Fingers crossed I will meet our deadline…😉
To Conclude…
Much was learned, last week! Perhaps the most important thing was this:
I am a writer. I have stories to tell. And I can do it.
(I mean, when one of your favorite authors tells you you’ve got something special, you MUST believe it, right?)