Thursday, July 24, 2008

Annual Writers' Retreat


The beds are all ready, the refrigerator is stocked, the house is clean, and my husband's enjoying his last few moments of quiet. In other words, the annual retreat at our Idaho home starts today.

This is our sixth year for gathering during the last weekend of July. We are a group of 11 novelists who pray, play and plot hard during the long weekend, going from Thursday to Monday morning. Each of the novelists within the group (two aren't writing), get an hour-and-fifteen-minute session for plotting her next book. When you get that many crazy fictional minds together, you can come up with a lot of ideas in that time.

In the later afternoons we hang out, go out on the boat, go into town, whatever. We've gotten almost everyone up in the parasail at one time or another. There are a few hold-outs. Perhaps this year ... (Hey, one of the retreaters is my mom, who plays mother to us all. She parasailed seven years ago at the age of 84, so the rest of the gals have no excuse.)

The weather's going to be sunny and beautiful all weekend. Did I say that we laugh a lot? Great friends, great fellowship and fun. And a book plot to boot. Can't beat that.


10 comments:

Cindy Thomson said...

What a blessing to be able to host something like this (not to mention being a guest). I'd love to be able to do something like that someday.

Have a great time. (As if you won't!)

Pam Halter said...

Isn't that the best? My group meets once a year in January. We've been together for over 5 years. What a fun, productive, insane time we have together! Everyone needs to have a group like this.

Anonymous said...

Brandilyn, your post brought the sting of tears to my eyes. How fortunate you all are to have that time of fellowship, fun, and renewal! I would so love to be a part of a group like that. Maybe someday God will open doors for me. In the meantime, tell your wonderful mom hello from Kim in Kansas! I think she's one of the neatest people to ever walk the earth.

Unknown said...

What a great idea and blessing to all involved.

Gracie said...

Getting together for book plotting -- what could be better? It's sounds like an awesome opportunity to fellowship. I pray ya'll have a great time, crank out a couple novels, and that everyone goes parasailing! Blessings

Rita Gerlach said...

How do writers get a group like this going? I'd give my eye teeth to have an opportunity to fellowship with fellow authors and brainstorm novels.

T. Forkner said...

What a great idea. I would love to do something like that here in Wyoming someday...when I actually have time to plan it...well, someday.

John Robinson said...

Sounds like great fun, Brandilyn!

Unknown said...

Wow, what a time y'all will have. I parasailed twice and it scared the pee-diddle out of me both times. They had to pry my hands off the ropes!

Susanne said...

Look at your mom fly! Whe must be a riot! Have a great time of refreshing and plotting!