IWSG - Travel Writing & Future Retreats
It's the first Wednesday of May, which means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!
The IWSG was created to bring writers together to share their insecurities and lend each other support. Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, anyone can join. Simply click on his name and add your name to the linky list, then post the first Wednesday of each month.
The co-hosts this month are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi.
The optional question this month is: What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?
While I've had some really nice things said about my writing, in general, one of my favorite things is when I'm in an anthology with other authors and stories and my story gets called out as a favorite in reviews. To know one of my stories stuck out to someone feels great.
I had a great time in the UK last month and fell even more deeply in love with the little harbor town of Whitby. Happily, my husband enjoyed it there, too. We did a little pre-planning to eventually, hopefully, host a week-long writing retreat out there. I've got the venue and various details planned out already, but have a lot of other things (like working out pricing and transportation) to work on. This is an in-the-future kind of thing, but I'd love to run writing retreats in places I know and enjoy, such as Whitby (England), Estes Park (CO), and Playa del Carmen (Mexico), as examples. Of course, I fear they won't get proper attendance or that no one would be interested, so it's an appropriate thing to bring up today.
Speaking of which, I really want to get into some travel writing, so looking at that. If you've got tips or resources for travel writing, I'd love to hear them! I've been interested in this for some time, but want to get a feel for what would make it stand out. I've tentatively started a new blog to deal with travel with autism and physical disabilities, which had its first post today. (Some of you may have ended up there first via my profile if you're visiting from a comment.)
I'm also seriously considering a dive into a true crime novel concerning a serial killer my family has personal ties to (no, we're not related--he came after my mom). But I'm trying to step back and make sure I plan things in the right order. I need to consider the impacts on family, as well.
If you have knowledge/information/resources/tips on any of the above (planning group retreats, travel writing, in-depth true crime), please share!
My insecurities? Well, can I make these things happen and would people be interested? I'd rather not fall flat on my face. But I do believe in taking risks with my writing and in the writing world.
Some news! I'll have a table at Mountain of Authors on Saturday, May 16, from noon to five, at Library 21c.
A couple trip pics:
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| Whitby Abbey with some spring flowers |
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| Big Ben |
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| Spring buds with York Minster in the distance |
Great photos! It's always great when it's your story that stands out in an anthology for a reviewer/reader.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Time for a Pivot
Thank you!
DeleteEngland is such a cool place to visit. You should do a writing retreat there.
ReplyDeleteWhat constitutes travel writing? I know an author who published a book about her travels living on a boat for several years.
I may know the same person! I know of two who did that. And that's a good question. I'm looking more at maybe articles to get my name out there some. Eventually, I want to tour the abbey ruins of the UK and write about that journey, but that's far, far away.
DeleteIt's great that you had such a good trip. It's awesome that you're considering a writing retreat. Sorry that I can't help you with your questions.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay! I'm getting some great positive feedback on the retreat thing (in person, too), which makes me feel a little more able to do it.
DeleteEveryone should experience England once. Although my fondest memory was visiting Scotland and Loch Ness.
ReplyDeleteI loved Scotland last year, too, and I'd like to do a longer trip to the highlands to get around more. There are some islands off the north coast I'd like to visit.
DeleteI would sign up for a retreat in Whitby! Your pictures are gorgeous. I don't have any advice, although I did publish one "travel" article. It was more a reflection on my study abroad experience in Ukraine. However, if you're open to writing for kids, I know Highlights is always looking for those types of articles, especially if it's something different.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great tip about Highlights, thanks! And great to know the retreat sounds interesting! Right now I'm kind of chatting with people about it to get a feel for the interest. I don't want to financially get in over my head.
DeleteI read about some of your adventures on Facebook! It definitely sparked my travel lust and some laughter. I wish i knew more about travel writing, but if I did, I'd probably never be home. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to just travel and write about it (and, of course, write other stories)! My husband and I are kind of looking at both working remotely and traveling with maybe a small homebase after the kids are out living their lives, but we'll see. Glad you liked the posts!
DeleteI have thought about travel writing from time to time, but never got farther than trip reports on my blog or backpacking forum :) Non-fiction in general (specifically memoir) draws me, but I can't find the traction to start. It seems to be easier for me to write mysteries.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem is that the best travel writing seems to either be funny or emotionally naked. The funny I can do, but stripping myself bare to have the private life behind the travel would be harder.
DeleteLooks like a lot is on your plate. Small town living keeps my plate pretty sparse but that's on purpose. hehehe
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a calmer life, but I wouldn't want a boring life. At least I don't think I would? I feel like there has to be an in-between place that works. Maybe you've found it!
DeleteGood luck with your writing retreats. Your locations are very far apart. (Never having run a retreat myself), I wonder if you’d benefit from doing the retreats closer together geographically, so you could have same people attending each time. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback!
DeleteYes, I would love to go on those retreats. And I think your story ideas sound cool, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback! Hearing that people are interested gives me a boot to move forward with it.
DeleteIt's nice that you're planning to write in some other genres such as travel and true crime. Im not deeply familiar with these genres, otherwise I'd try to offer you some tips.
ReplyDeleteThose are really beautiful photos of the UK, especially the one of the abbey on the green hill!
Thank you! I love photography, but have no real training in it. I'd love to do some classes some day.
DeleteThat must be an amazing feeling---to be the fav in an anthology! Love that pic of Whitbey Abbey.
ReplyDeleteI've written travel essays in school and grew up watching lot of the travel vlogs. There's an Indian writer---SK Pottekkatt. He's a man who showed the entire world to the people of his own state. There are english translations of his work. His books have been part of my school syllabus and it's why I think my travel essays are fairly good.
Thank you for the recommendation!
DeleteI've never participated in a writing retreat. I'm too ADHD. I'd love to return to Siem Reap and Florence. I enjoyed your photos, Shannon.
ReplyDeleteI'm AuDHD and pulled it off! It helped that it was a great group of women and that the person running it was probably ADHD (whether she knows it or not). She's also a photographer, so I was able to focus on my photography, as well, which helped. It helps that I have so many interests (architecture, history, writing, photography, people), so being able to split my attention was great. That said, writing was almost always on our own time, and our time together was spent exploring. So I'm hoping to strike a happy medium with that.
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