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Writing Biz & Events

Surrey report?

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#1 of 16 Posted Nov-5 8:28 AM

From Beth S/SL-Writing Biz Posts 9858 Last Nov-21
To All [Msg # 65714.1 ]

Those of us who didn't make it Surrey this year would love to see some workshop notes and general reports of what everyone did and learned....

~Beth

Visit The Stone River

#2 of 16 Posted Nov-5 11:33 AM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To Beth S/SL-Writing Biz [Msg # 65714.2 65714.1 ]

<wheeze>

Still recovering... <g>

I did post my 'how I get the most out of Surrey' notes earlier, however, before I generally ran out of steam...

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#3 of 16 Posted Nov-5 3:29 PM

From Beth S/SL-Writing Biz Posts 9858 Last Nov-21
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.3 65714.2 ]

Ron,

I saw that! They should print it up and hand it out to new attendees. <g>

~Beth

Visit The Stone River

#4 of 16 Posted Nov-5 4:03 PM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To Beth S/SL-Writing Biz [Msg # 65714.4 65714.3 ]

Thanks. I thought I'd add it to this thread...

I have a few notes from specific classes that I'll add when I get a chance. They are mostly exercise prompts. I always enjoy those. <g>

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#5 of 16 Posted Nov-6 1:13 AM

From kc dyer Posts 3710 Last Nov-18
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.5 65714.2 ]

Yeah -- it was a great post, Ron!

It was fun to see you, if I forgot to mention it before...! <g>

who is your pretty baby?

~kc

Author of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, MS.ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK & the Eagle Glen Trilogy

Find out more at kcdyer.com

Blogging at leftwriter
Sweetly Tweeting at @kcdyer

#6 of 16 Posted Nov-6 10:00 AM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To kc dyer [Msg # 65714.6 65714.5 ]

That is our grandson William Alexander Clayton. AKA "chick magnet" (g)

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#7 of 16 Posted Nov-6 3:02 PM

From kc dyer Posts 3710 Last Nov-18
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.7 65714.6 ]

Hi Ron,

Totally agree with his moniker -- what a sweetie!

So -- once again, I hardly had time to exchange 2 words with you at the conference. It looks from your notes as though you had fun -- any surprises this year?

~kc

Author of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, MS.ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK & the Eagle Glen Trilogy

Find out more at kcdyer.com

Blogging at leftwriter
Sweetly Tweeting at @kcdyer

#8 of 16 Posted Nov-7 9:41 AM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To kc dyer [Msg # 65714.8 65714.7 ]

>> I hardly had time

Duh. <g>

I think what surprised me this year was myself. <g> The validation I received last year was life-changing, and it was interesting to see the new (confident) me in action at the conference. Confidence is an amazing thing; just having it changes the way one goes after things.

I was really, really greedy to get as much as I could out of every minute. I was more successful at that this year because I really believed I could digest and use the material. I still missed a few people I wanted to talk with, but that's almost inevitable.

I'm not participating in NaNoWriMo, but I've found ways to be writing at about that kind of pace. I'm quite intent on having another great year. <g>

So what's it like to be free? I say that knowing that you're still posting to the conference blog... ';--)

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#9 of 16 Posted Nov-8 12:26 AM

From kc dyer Posts 3710 Last Nov-18
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.9 65714.8 ]

Hi Ron,

I'll...I'll...<whispering> never be free....<catch in throat...>

Actually, it's GREAT! I'm beyond thrilled to hand things over to Kathy. Never in my wildest dreams did I think she'd consider taking on the job -- after all, she's known me for many years, and lived the experience through me. <g> I love this conference, and I love the job -- but after 3 years, I am delighted to put it into Kathy's fresh, energetic hands. We'll all be the better for it.

It's going to take a while to get everything over to her, though, and even when I do, I'll still be on the Board, so freedom's really just another word for nothing left to lose, eh? <g>

But next year, I'm hoping I get to present a bit more, and watch a few workshops and hang out a bit more.

I'm so thrilled to hear of your own burgeoning confidence. It looks good on you! <g>

~kc

Author of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, MS.ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK & the Eagle Glen Trilogy

Find out more at kcdyer.com

Blogging at leftwriter
Sweetly Tweeting at @kcdyer

#10 of 16 Posted Nov-8 2:41 AM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To kc dyer [Msg # 65714.10 65714.9 ]

Keep breathing. <g>

Here's how I explained my new process to a friend, with some added material that sorted itself out just now while I was reviewing this. The result is surreal. (Get it? Surrey + real) I think it makes a pretty good 'Surrey report' <g>

Persistence in revising the material comes from what has changed for me over the last two years. Two things happened: one, I had to get validation because I didn't inherently believe in myself. Two, I had to own that my writing needs to be completed in a way that has always eluded me. I had to learn to be receptive in ways that I never trusted myself to accept. Receptive to what others have to say, receptive to what I have to say.

I got the validation last year at Surrey. This year, I got the insight into how to revise while I was rewriting a scene based on very specific feedback from Don Maass. I went up to my hotel room and just believed I could do it.

What do I do? I look at each bit of it and I ask myself: what am I really trying to say/do here? And then I coldly make whatever change I need to make to get there. If something is wrong, it's wrong and it has to go. Even favorite lines go when they don't fit in the story any more. <g>

It's a curious state of mind to say the least. What I wrote in the previous draft, what I liked, what I cared about - none of that matters; only the story does.

It's a highly imperfect process. Each time I go through a scene, I see more, I learn more, and I do a better job. One series of edits exposes another, deeper layer that needs its own kind of fixes. On and on. It's like being in a Star Trek movie - all hell is breaking loose around me, and I just steer the ship where it needs to go. <g>

This is what I'm locking in from Surrey this year. I think it's working... I suppose it's just the difference between dating my writing, and getting married to it. ':--)

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#11 of 16 Posted Nov-8 7:59 PM

From Pam Posts 5627 Last Nov-21
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.11 65714.10 ]

Dear Ron,

I LOVE your post - Star Trek reference, dating/marriage metaphor, all of it.<g> Plus I _get_ it.

I'm so happy you now believe what many of us have seen and told you before. You're a wonderful writer and a terrific storyteller. And I'm not saying that because you brought the most amazing chocolates (and whisky) to the partay. <g> I really mean it.

Pam

http://anovelwoman.blogspot.com/

#12 of 16 Posted Nov-8 10:49 PM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To Pam [Msg # 65714.12 65714.11 ]

I suppose the worst part of realizing that, is that I can no longer do my 'aw, shucks' routine. Sigh.

Too bad you can't be bribed, however. Still, I will have to try again next year. I'm thinking that next year would be a good chance to try those 'margarita shooters' I described a while back. They are deadly little buggers.

Oh, almost forgot: thank you. For those who do not know, you and I had a talk about life and writing for the ages last year at Surrey that was a real heart-opener for me. That bit about learning to accept what I have to say has its origins there. I can say no greater thanks than to bring chocolate. <g>

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#13 of 16 Posted Nov-9 12:42 AM

From kc dyer Posts 3710 Last Nov-18
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.13 65714.10 ]

Hi Ron,

Now THIS -- THIS I'd like to post to the blog. May I?

~kc

Author of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, MS.ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK & the Eagle Glen Trilogy

Find out more at kcdyer.com

Blogging at leftwriter
Sweetly Tweeting at @kcdyer

#14 of 16 Posted Nov-9 12:47 AM

From rwodaski Posts 1689 Last Nov-21
To kc dyer [Msg # 65714.14 65714.13 ]

Sure - please feel free. Thanks.

Ron Wodaski
Dark Matters

#15 of 16 Posted Nov-9 8:37 AM

From Pam Posts 5627 Last Nov-21
To rwodaski [Msg # 65714.15 65714.12 ]

Dear Ron,

A heart-opener...yup. For me, too. One of those moments in life where everything comes together at the right time with the right people. Anyone who doesn't believe the SiWC is magic just isn't paying proper attention.

As for those margarita shooters, I had a hard enough time recovering from the whisky. No way am I going near those shooters. The chocolates, on the other hand, will live on in my memory (and hips) forever.<g> So thank _you_.

Pam

http://anovelwoman.blogspot.com/

#16 of 16 Posted Nov-9 10:52 AM

From Laura Taylor Posts 117 Last Nov-19
To Beth S/SL-Writing Biz [Msg # 65714.16 65714.1 ]

Hi Beth,

Sure, I'll chime in later tonight (or this week), after I've had a moment to go over my notes. ;)

Laura / Moira
Blog: http://moirayoung.livejournal.com

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Writing Biz & Events

Surrey report?

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