Tell me if this sounds good to you:
Bells sound, waking you up in the morning. You shuffle out of your bed and go the window of your small room and look out at the courtyard. Water dances around the fountains, friars sit, sipping tea on benches. As soon as you are ready you know there will be hot breakfast waiting for you; coffee, oatmeal, pancakes, sausages. You’ll get your fill of food and conversation from the friends seated with you. Then it’s off to sit and listen as people who are masters at their craft share their tips with you. Each day you are fed and nurtured, in many ways.
If that sounded good to you, then you should go to the retreat at Mission Santa Barbara next year! Great fun, great times, great people, and an AMAZING learning experience!
First, I got to learn from the great Lisa Wheeler, who makes quite an appearance in Reading Journal. Alexis O’Neill will be up here later, but I’ve read a few of her books too, and Mary Ann Fraser were so helpful and amazing planning superstars! They put the whole thing together, and even had crafts and games for us to play. I’m always excited about crafts and games, as most of you should or already do know.
The weekend was SOOO great! Tons of tips about revising and editing.
I loved the dummy workshop too, and really got a better feel for illustrating.
Reading Journal was well loved and got to taste some books that he’s never seen before (mainly because my library doesn’t have them….) including Hooway for Wodney Wat, which came highly recommended by a great reading/writing friend of mine.
By the end of the weekend, I had made lots of new friends!
I especially loved having the input of illustrators. Thanks Kathryn and Mary Ann for showing us what you do and inspiring me! Lisa even signed my book to me saying I was an illustrator! That made me very happy and hopeful for my upcoming conference in August, where I’ll be showing a portfolio at the SCBWI LA conference!!! Should be very VERY fun and educational.
Oh yeah, and did I mention this lovely retreat was at the retreat center at the Santa Barbara mission? Plenty of photo ops because of that!!
So, overall, a very fun weekend. I also got to meet a new friend through a friend who I think will turn out to be a friendly friend indeed. Yes, I just used F that many times. Oh, and I got an advanced reader copy of Scumble (coming up in reading journal) that was signed by the author!!!
GREAT weekend!
Now I know you’re probably thinking, of course, this is just my point of view. What would someone else think? Luckily I have picture proof that someone else thought it was pretty awesome too.
If the monkey has a good time, you know it’s a good time.
Ok, until next time, read and write on!
Kathy Ellen
Kathy Ellen:
Your high-energy, turbo-drive creative spirit was a wonderful addition to the retreat. I especially enjoyed sharing soul-collage with you, marvelling at your journals and spectacular penmanship, and chatting about children’s books. Lisa was right–You ARE an illustrator! See you at the SCBWI National Conference in August.
Kathy Ellen – What a great recap of our retreat — with amazing photos! Loved having you there — and that you dove right in to help folks with their craft project. Can’t wait to see you this summer at the SCBWI LA conference! — ALEXIS
Kathy Ellen,
I love the SCBWI Writer’s Retreat, too! And, your blog reminded me just how much I enjoyed it! So great to meet you and all the other “new friends” and author/illustrators! With the amount of knowledge and wonderful writing tips Lisa, Alexis, Mary Ann, and Kathryn bestowed upon us, it shouldn’t be long before we see one of our “new friends’ ” name in print on a best selling picture book! …and knowing your creativity and energy…it most probably will be you! Thanks for the memories!
All the best, Julie
Kathy Ellen,
What great pictures — thanks so much for sharing them! I met so many terrific writers and learned so much that weekend. I really enjoyed meeting you, and hope we meet up again at another great SCBWI event!
Tasha