Those of you who've been reading for a while know that I can't say enough about Lighthouse Writers Workshop, a non-profit creative writing school that we are incredibly lucky to have in Denver.
In February Lighthouse was honored with the Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. I just discovered this short film about the school. The video features Lighthouse Program Director Andrea Dupree, Denver's Poet Laureate Chris Ransick, screenwriter Alexandre O. Philippe, and board member Marcelina Rivera (incorrectly ID'd as faculty). On a side note, debut novelist and Pajama Gardener Carleen Brice is a board member for Lighthouse. Lighthouse was started by Andrea Dupree and Mike Henry in 1997 and now has a membership of over 1,000 writers. The story of how Lighthouse came to be is here.
Tomorrow, I'll be headed up to the 11th annual Grand Lake Retreat for five days of writing and reading in beautiful natural surroundings. You can see details about it here or read about some of my experiences at the retreat last year here and here.
It will be interesting to see how my experience this year differs from last year. When I signed up for the retreat last year, I'd never attended a writing course before. I was headed into to completely unknown territory and I was terrified. For all I knew, I was walking into The Algonquin Round Table, prey to a modern day version of "The Vicious Circle". I was sure everyone there would be accomplished, brilliant and expose me for the talentless hack I was. Naturally, it was nothing like that. It was the single best step to becoming a better writer I could have taken.
After attending the retreat last year, followed by several courses at Lighthouse throughout the year, I anticipate the week with the same sense of excitement I'd have if I were headed to a summer cottage in the woods with friends and family.
I'll have lots to share when I return, but I'll be checked out from July 6th through the 11th.
15 comments:
Cool! Have fun. :)
This is your busman's holiday, enjoy every second! I KNOW you will. ;)
soak it all up. enjoy.
Have fun. Looking forward to your report.
I'm grateful for Lighthouse because that's where I met YOU!
Have a great time!
Lana, I definitely will :)
Larramie, I wish it was a true busman's holiday because I think that would mean I was a full time writer, wouldn't it? But I will have fun.
Patti, That's the plan!
Charles, I'll be taking copious notes for posts when I return.
Yogamum, And I YOU. Meeting cool people has been the best part :)
This sounds absolutely great and I envy you this wonderful retreat with likeminded people. Enjoy!
Enjoy it, Lisa! It's a great thing! Being with people who have the same love and desire for writing as you do is wind beneath your wings... :-)
Write, write like the wind! :-)
Sounds inspiring. Hope you enjoy it.
Can't wait to hear all about it.
Hope you had fun and learned even more than last year! You've come amazingly far since the last one. Thank you for sharing your journey with u.
Enjoy. Tell us all that happened.
(o)
This sounds like such a worthwhile experience, Lisa. I know you're having a great time, and I'm really looking forward to reading about it when you get back!
It's funny: I've been seriously considering joining The Writer's Center in D.C., but what's been holding me back is that same fear that you said you had about being "exposed as a hack." Apart from high school, I've never taken a creative writing class or attended a workshop. It seems so intimidating, but it sounds like, when you've got a great group, it's super beneficial for all involved. And it must be nice to get some face-to-face time with other writers who are as passionate as you are about the craft.
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