I recently returned from a few days in Scottsdale, Arizona at the She Writes Press (SWP)Author Retreat 2016 at The Boulders Spa.
I love writers conferences, but found this retreat, similar to the Wild Mountain Memoir Retreat I attended in Washington almost four years ago, to be more restorative.
Like writers conferences, there were opportunities for learning craft at the SWP retreat. Author Rebecca Skloot of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was the keynote. She taught a workshop on structure, and panels of industry insiders later presented on topics like getting our books into libraries, bookstores, and ways to get collateral rights sold.
But at the retreat,there was built in time for solitude and writing.
There was also the comforting feeling of support in the air. No conference story-pitching and competition. Just more experienced writers mentoring the newbies, and the newbies reaching out to the newer newbies.
Good food and nice trails for walking were all around. A chance to get new head shots and promo video was offered, not required. And after working closely with the terrific staff from She Writes Press and SparkPoint Studio, it was a real treat to finally meet them all in person.
Authors were invited to give three minute reading of their work by the fire pit the final evening.
Perhaps that’s the most welcome difference I’ve noted between a writers conference and writers retreat. There are invitations extended, but no hard expectations expressed.
I returned home, refreshed and focused with a new group of authors to add to my friendship bank.
A worthwhile investment, indeed.