By Donna M. Boock
As artists, we are always learning and growing in our craft. We read books to learn what readers love, we read more books to learn how to write things right. We attend seminars, conferences and workshops. We meet with critique partners. And after doing these things, we can look back at what we’ve written and actually see the metamorphosis in our work. The more effort and time invested in our craft, the more improved our work becomes.
Since it is not too far from any of our Eastern Pennsylvania member’s backyards, relatively speaking, I wanted to share The Highlights Foundation sneak peek into the 2014 workshop offerings. For those of you who attended the 2013 Pocono Retreat, you are familiar with the experience that is The Highlights Foundation in Boyd’s Mills, PA. Cabins, peace, beauty of nature.
But for those who haven’t been there, I’d like to share a little bit about the workshop I most recently attended there.
I had the opportunity to go to 2013’s Writing From the Heart with Joy Cowley last July. It was a full week workshop. I wanted so badly to go, but it was summer and the kids were off from school. Childcare had to be pieced together like a patchwork quilt. One person could watch them one day, but not the next and so on. My husband and I were to celebrate a milestone anniversary and I am a hopeless romantic. Could I really leave them for a week?
It wasn’t an easy decision. But, I decided to go for it. It was a week, but in the larger picture of our lives, it was only a week.
Yes, I missed my family. Yes, I missed my 10th anniversary.
But what I didn’t miss were the words spun by the amazing Joy Cowley as she weaved us through the journey. I didn’t miss the invaluable experience of working one on one with author Jillian Sullivan as my mentor – happy to offer feedback on anything and everything I’d written. I didn’t miss the workshops that helped me recapture the memories and experiences of my childhood. I didn’t miss hearing author Suzanne Bloom make bedtime stories come alive.
I didn’t miss the opportunity to learn new things that will make my writing better and more authentic. Things that will make my characters come off the page. Things that will make my work shine.
Here’s a sneak peek into some of what The Highlights Foundation has planned for 2014. Is there a workshop listed that could help you point your toes in the direction you want to head in?
EasternPennPoints 