First of all, we had a great breakfast - they do feed you well here. There is no excuse for going hungry (unless you have certain food allergies - which they do try to accommodate). After breakfast, we got down to work. Yes, there was some mingling and socializing as new people arrived. But for the most part, we really did get a lot of work done, either singly or with others. Lunch was a problem for me as they served a dish with cooked peppers in it. I'm one of those with food allergies and the cooks didn't understand that the issue for me isn't just that I can't eat them, but I can't be around them either as I also react to the smell.
As I dashed for safer areas, the coughing already starting, one of my friends prepared a plate of foods I could eat for me. I took it to another floor to eat by myself. To my delight, our lone male attendee brought his plate up to join me. A true gentleman in every sense of the word. Thank you, Karl. Yes, others offered, and I was really fine eating alone, but he decided that wasn't right so came anyway. We had a really good conversation about the state of education today. (He's a teacher, I'm a former one). All in all, a very good lunch.
After the meal, it was time to get back to work - then the scream came.
We all ran for Natalie's room as we knew she was expecting her call from "THE AGENT". But we all backed out as we saw she was still on the phone; pulled the door shut - and paced. It was worse than a waiting room in a birthing hospital. We chatted, we paced, we kept watching the door. We wondered and worried. What was taking so long. Nearly an hour later, she emerged, but not with the the beaming grin she should have had. I feared the worst. Then the grin came. She'd been offered representation!!!! We laughed and hugged and celebrated with her.
Then back to work. Yeah, right. Well, we tried.
Dinner was enjoyable - at least I could go in the room and eat with the others. Afterward, we worked some more. Then it was time for some fun. Several of us gathered together to watch the season finale of Supernatural (which one of our latecomers had recorded). Afterward, a little more work, then a group of us (9) went out to the nearby town for some relaxation and celebration time. Nothing drastic, just a couple of drinks at Applebee's - but fun anyway.
Back here by 11 p.m. for work or bed.
And thus ends day two at the retreat.
Progress made: 125 pages edited, beginning sketches done for new wip.
*********************
Birthdays: Jim
Tips and Teasers: You’ve been asked to do a workshop for a local writer’s group – what would you do one on?
Thought for the day: "No one can write a best seller by trying to. He must write with complete sincerity; the clichés that make you laugh, the hackneyed characters, the well-worn situations, the commonplace story that excites your derision, seem neither hackneyed, well worn nor commonplace to him.... The conclusion is obvious: you cannot write anything that will convince unless you are yourself convinced. The best seller sells because he writes with his heart’s blood." - W.
No comments:
Post a Comment