Writer Friends Are Awesome! (A quick peek back at 2015)

As you should know by now, the name of my blog isn't just a catchy line; I'm really a farmer. Here's some corn the kidlets and I picked. (This is one of many loads every day.)

And here's my maze. It's 1.5 miles if you take zero wrong turns. Most people take almost an hour to get through it.

(Remember, I make it all with a weed wacker.)

 I love to give things away to people who need a lift, so we created the Pumpkin Fairy--a mischievous sprite who drops loads of pumpkins off to people who are struggling. 

You get the idea. The farm can be fun, but it's also a LOT of work. Writing and visiting with my writer buddies is the highlight of my year. First, I attended the iWrite Network writer's retreat in March. Donna Weaver, Candace Mortenson, Cindy Hogan, & a bunch more did an excellent job.

And then of course there was the LDStorymakers Conference--hands down my favorite event of the year. Here's two of my favorite guys, James Dashner & J Scott Savage. Seriously, these guys are awesome. James talked about wanting to give up, and how his friends were the motivation that kept him going. Totally made me teary-eyed. 

My writing group at home meets twice a month, so we keep each other motivated and accountable. (but alas, I have no pictures of our little group)

In December, Jeff Savage and his wife, Jennifer, came up to Idaho Falls for a dinner with a bunch of us. He explained his outlining strategy for us. 

I am the Activities Director of Author's Incognito, the sister group to LDStorymakers. This year, our group underwent a huge change including a name change. AI is now Storymakers Tribe! My good friend, Marcy Curr, took my initial sketch and computerized it into this new logo for the group. I think it turned out pretty cool.

In November, I hosted the Storymakers Tribe writer's retreat with a special guest, Kevin J Anderson! We were very excited to listen to his advice and tips on writing. Everyone had an extremely productive and rejuvenating weekend.

Tada! So now you're caught up with my 2015. What was your favorite part of last year?

Writer Retreats. Are they worth it?

In a word? 

YES!

Retreats vary according to who organizes them, but usually, the best parts are universal:

* Time to write. -- Away from your family, friends, job, house, chores, farm, pet dinosaur, and anything else that interferes with your writing time.

* Little or no responsibility for meal preparations -- As a mother of five children, let me just say how awesome it is to have people make food and feed me. Not mac and cheese either. We're talking crepes, Hawaiian haystacks, salads, fruit, roasted chicken. Heavenly.

* New friends! -- even the most introverted of writers comes away from retreats with a few new friends. Writers usually get along famously when tossed in a room together. Don't be surprised if you hear snippets of conversation like, "Would a body be harder to find in a lake or in the ocean?" Plotting murders make for great bonding time.

*  Free help. -- With a house full of writers, it's no biggie if you get to the end of your novel and can't figure out how Joe rescues Fifi from the White Lord, because you've got a captive audience that loves to brainstorm! With all these brilliant minds bouncing ideas off each other, there's bound to be something that sparks the idea to get you over the block. (this feature is also extremely helpful for spelling and punctuation advice. Don't fear the Grammar Nazi's, they are harmless as long as the chocolate doesn't run out.)

* Nice rooms -- Most retreats offer nice accommodations, though you might be expected to share a bed. If that is a deal breaker for you, consider bringing your own cot and/or mattress.

* Bonus Prizes! -- At many retreats, there are door prizes or swag and awards for the highest word count, early birds, night owls, best quotes, or most pages edited.

* Classes and/or Workshops. -- Sometimes they offer classes on marketing, brainstorming, or any number of other subjects. They can even watch and analyze movies and discuss plot points as they come up.

As I write, it's the last night of the iWrite retreat in Heber, Utah, and we're all up late to savor the last of our freedom here. I won the award for being most cheerful (I think it's probably my funny writer shirts). It might be silly, but I almost teared up that people enjoyed being with me as much as I loved being with all of them. Alas, it's time to go, but I'm already looking forward to the next one in the fall.

If you can swing it, GO. Retreats are wonderful!

I'm in the hat next to Canda Mortenson, as we roast marshmallows over the fire. Cindy Hogan is the one photo-bombing in the back. This was taken during a break the last night. So. Much. Fun!