It started on a rainy evening with some smoky gouda, French farmer's cheese and baguettes. Three women, a Kentucky nightfall, leaves just beginning to change. Writers. Introverts so happy to be with like travelers, sharing some of the same writerly neuroses. Lives so different, yet people so alike.
We learned a lot about one another, shared what makes us tick, and learned a little more about our passions as writers--what is it we're supposed to be writing these days anyway?
And the brainstorming! Fabulous brainstorming. They even allowed me to blather on a bit and helped me solidify a character for the novel I'm about to begin, as well as relay their thoughts on Hollywood Nobody, my first YA book.
Gathering around the table for meals, sitting on the porch listening to some group of men gathered for the weekend who'd suddenly burst out in four part harmony, God moving as we opened up, telling us that no, we're not silly, that this is meaningful, important. Talking of art, the kingdom and how that fits together.
When we left the Owl, I knew something good had happened. It was the beginning of not only this season of retreats, but this season of writing for each of us. I was utterly blessed to be in the company of Shanna and Sherri, two fantastic women writers. Expect to see wonderful works from them someday.
Can't wait for serenity II. Will be getting with you soon as to the date.
Oh, yeah. And commemorating the first serenity weekend, I gave Shanna and Sherri a copy of The Highland and His Lady, my first book. Now that's vulnerability!
lisa
Look at those cutie-patooties. Jealous, jealous, jealous!
Glad you all had an enriching time.
Posted by: amy a. | October 09, 2006 at 03:26 PM
woo. hoo. seriously.
I'm still recovering. Will post my account in the next couple of days, but today will enjoy a (mostly) computer-free day to spend some time with the kiddo.
thanks sooooo much, lisa!
Posted by: shanna | October 10, 2006 at 01:04 PM
Wish I were there. Sigh.
Posted by: claudia mair | October 10, 2006 at 01:20 PM
When I go to writing conferences, I come home feeling like I gorged at a feeding-trough restaurant. Each course looks so good that I try a bite of everything, but the indigestion that follows makes me wonder whether I come home with much more than a few pounds. (Of notes and books, of course.)
This year, I decided to try Lisa’s serenity weekend instead of the conference scene.
::No, I didn’t get to sit through agonizing pitch sessions where we learn that a minute is indeed the same as a thousand years.
::No, I didn’t get to network with a zillion people, forgetting 95% of their names the moment name tags moved out of my range of vision.
::No, I didn’t get to bring home a notebook stuffed with class handouts great for wallpapering my office (or more likely stuffed onto my bulging bookshelves and forgotten).
Alas, there are so many things we didn’t get, I suppose some would demand a refund.
But, what I did get was so much more satisfying. Lisa laid out a smorgasbord for us both literally and figuratively. In my case, I ate until I was satisfied, but could have gone back for more and still enjoyed it.
::We talked writing, life and faith…in general, in particular …we shared not just an elevator speech, but the heights and depths to which our stories have taken us.
::We shared our life stories and got to know one another. (Okay, so Shanna had no clue what my last name was the day we left, but that’s because we dealt with each other on a first-name basis from the start ;-).
::We encouraged one another, and I think, as a result, spurred each other on to continue in this writing journey—wherever it may take us.
And that is just a small sample of what we did get…
I could go on, but my word count is calling.
Sherri
Posted by: sherri | October 11, 2006 at 05:03 PM
Man I wish I could have gone!
Posted by: Heather Diane Tipton | October 11, 2006 at 10:32 PM
Hey! I was seriously doped up on DayQuil!!
Actually, I never remember anyone's name. So Sherri's lucky there was only three of us and I could remember her first name, at least. ;-)
Shanna, who is quite thankful for antibiotics and is slowly recovering.
Posted by: shanna | October 12, 2006 at 10:31 PM
I should start popping DayQuil so I have an excuse for not remembering the names of all of these new people in this new place where I live. As Shakespeare would say, "What's in a name?" Right:-?
So, no problem--I just thought it was funny we could spend so much time together and never get around to a mundane detail like our last names. ;)
Posted by: sherri | October 13, 2006 at 09:08 AM