Posted By Vonna on January 19, 2012

Writers at the Houston SCBWI Novel Revison Retreat at Camp Allen. I'm the one with my hair blowing everywhere, next to Darcy Pattison. Not pictured, Bettina Restrepo.

Though it’s already Thursday, I am still recovering from my weekend at Darcy Pattison’s Novel Revision Retreat. This is the second time I’ve attended this workshop, and I’m glad I went back for seconds. It’s a lot to absorb in just one go. For those who don’t know, we are put in groups of four to critique each other’s manuscripts and work through the exercises together. I had a wonderful group: McCourt Thomas, Sara Joiner and Julie Herman.

Between writing exercises, many of us took walks on Camp Allen’s lovely wooded grounds. Pictured here are three of my regular critique group buddies, Melissa Buron (check out her interview with Nikki Loftin!), Varsha Bajaj, and Laura Ruthven.

Camp Allen was an excellent venue. Our rooms were spacious and comfortable, the food was good and plentiful (boy, was it plentiful! I should have taken pictures of the blackberry cobbler, peach cobbler and Blue Bell ice cream buffet) and our conference room set up worked perfectly. There were comfortable nooks and sitting areas scattered throughout the conference center which worked great for those who required a quieter setting to do their writing exercises.

By the way, for any of you who haven’t taken this workshop, I’d like you to know that although I (and everyone else I talked to) thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, this Novel Revision Retreat should have the word Revision in bold letters. This is a working workshop. I went to bed exhausted both nights, but my head was spinning with revision thoughts all night.

I hope we get to have Darcy here again. I know she does workshops with other themes, and I would love to learn more from her.

Check out more posts on this retreat from Shelli Cornelison, Sara Joiner, Julie Herman, and Linda Leschak. I hear a rumor that more are forthcoming from Joy Preble. If any other writers who attended put up a blog post about it, please let me know in the comments!

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Category: SCBWI, Writing Workshops |
Tags: critique, Darcy Pattison, SCBWI, Writing, Writing Workshop

Posted By Vonna on January 18, 2012

Huge, amazing events this week! PLEASE check Blue Willow Bookshop’s website for the latest information!

January 20, 7:00 pm Doors will open at 6:00 pm.
Sponsored by Blue Willow Bookshop
Pasadena High School, 206 South Shaver, Pasadena
John Green and Hank Green

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

This is a very special event, so please visit Blue Willow Bookshop’s Special Events Page for very important information.

John Green’s and Hank Green’s Tour de Nerdfighting 2012 is coming to town! This is a ticketed event.  To obtain a ticket, you must purchase THE FAULT IN OUR STARS from Blue Willow Bookshop.  The ticket price is $19.47 for each book/ticket. Every person attending must have a ticket to enter the auditorium. Pre-purchased books and signing line tickets may be picked up at the WILL CALL table at the event.

January 22, Sunday, 3:00 p.m.  Line numbers will be handed out starting at 2:30
Blue Willow Bookshop
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, Authors

Jay Asher, author of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, and Carolyn Mackler,  author of VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE, will discuss and sign THE FUTURE OF US.

It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

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Category: Kidlit Author/Illustrator Events, Young Adult Books |
Tags: Authors, Blue Willow, Reading, YA Authors, YA Books