Writing Retreat – St. George Island, Florida.

What does one do in January in Florida? A writing retreat on St. George Island, of course!

This is my first official writing retreat. I’d been Facebook stalking fellow writers as they posted pictures of previous retreats to St. George Island. I was green with envy.

SOME UNBELIEVABLE STORIES HAVE TAKEN ROOT IN THIS HOUSE!

I took the plunge and paid the retreat fee with several other writers who deemed themselves “Sisters of the Sentences”.  Only women retreaters. (Bras are optional). I prayed and hoped it would be all I wished it to be.

I wasn’t disappointed.

Sunrises and sunsets everyday is just fine with me.

Then we get serious about writing, but not so serious that you can’t stay in your jammies all day if you wanted to.

We’ve shared our stories during the workshops. Some are memoires, which evoked crying and passing around the tissue box. Other stories had you laughing until you couldn’t breathe.

I’ve learned so much from these women. Not just writing skills, but acceptance. I’ve found a group of women that don’t judge. They welcome you in with open arms, AS LONG AS YOU SHARE THE OREOS…

If had of been with me, you would have seen several women typing fast and furious on their laptops, working on their story-in-progress. An Editor propped on the stairwell, critiquing a few pages. Our host, furiously sweeping up all the sand we’ve drug in from the beach. Psst…I’m sure most of it’s from me. And two other writers, cooking up a hot lunch to fuel our brains for the next workshop.

What am I bringing back from this workshop?

Freshly edited pages of my witch story, new friends, and some beautiful shells.

I’ve learned not to include backstory too soon, but dripple in through-out the story. The difference between a round character and a flat character, and about two pounds of beach sand in my clothes.

Happy writing from the newest member of “Sisters of the Sentences”.

2018 is the year for success!

Zelle