This is one of these cases where I have TOO much to post — it was a busy 5 days, and without internet access (no, Bev, that was NOT considered internet access — if it involves a phone, then that’s for the third world countries, not us) I didn’t get to post some of the action.
The Writer’s Retreat was truly a retreat. Now I can write anywhere. It’s a learned skill, one that is definitely a must. But writing is a solitary task and sometimes, the mind goes a little crazy. Especially with no commercial success, the only thing keeping me going…is me. There’s not a lot of feedback, not a lot of interaction, so sometimes doubt begins to creep into the equation.
Which is why Writer’s Retreats are so important. Being around others who are as crazy as I am (well, more so than me) really energizes me. They helped me the Proud Nails of Curse of the Black Swan. Proud Nails was an editing term I read somewhere and it’s a great description. When there was always something that wasn’t quite right, but you couldn’t place it. Just enough, like a proud nail sticking out of a floor that caught your sock…
Bev and Eileen caught the Proud Nails of Curse of the Black Swan and I think it’s a much stronger story now. And we worked on pitches (that’s for another post), and started planning for the World Fantasy Conference in early November.
There were ‘ifs’ before I left for this trip. Work ifs, and personal ifs. I’m glad all the ifs worked out.
Hey, glad to help. Now, tell me, what am I doing reading YOUR website when should be updating mine???
Maybe I’ll just read one or two more entries…. That’s right. Back to avoidance. Ahh. Like slipping on an old pair of slippers.
Speaking of slippers, how are your feet?