Feeling All the Feels About the Pocono Retreat!! by Dana Kramaroff

After years of writing and observing/stalking SCBWI from afar, I finally joined this past summer and NOW I feel lucky to attend my first Pocono retreat!

Let me tell you, I am super ready and can’t wait to connect, learn, and grow. In fact, I would add this to my bucket list JUST so I could check it off!  (Actually, I may do that very thing!)

The nerves:

• Will I get lost on my way? There. I said it. I have a non-updated GPS, an inability to read maps well, and an uncannybad sense of direction. Honesdale or bust, here I come!

 

• Critiques!! Will they like my writing? What if they hate it? Ugh. Critiques can be scary. I vow to walk away from my critiques with a dry eye and ways to improve!

 

• Being a newbie and trying to navigate my way through this aspiring writer world and the whirlwind of a weekend that is to come!

 

The excitement:

 

• Being at The Highlights Foundation!!! Need I say more? The place, the creative space, the food being shoved in my face! (I hear the food is REALLY GOOD and PLENTIFUL!)

 

• The costume party!!! Dressing up, like it is Halloween, with other adults? Yes, please!My costume may not be fancy but I will be glad to wear it and that’s the only clue I will provide.

 

• The guests!! Learning alongside of the aspiring and established authors and illustrators, the art directors, agents, and editors will be awe inspiring, for sure!

 

It will be a great weekend! Join me on Twitter now and throughout the weekend (and beyond) to connect and tweet about other nerves and excitement you may be experiencing!  Use the official, RA-approved hashtag: #epascbwi and find me: @LitCoachDanaK

While you are at it, follow the faculty for the retreat!

 

@AmeDyckman

@ZachariahOHora

@LeilaSalesBooks

@Meg_Medina

@mccarthylit

@ErzsiDeak

@ElBoogieSparks