Awesome GRW Workshop
Don’t miss out!!!
April 17, 2011What am I Reading?
April 19, 2011Weekends at my house are usually busier than the five days during the week. This weekend was no exception.
On Saturday, I made a trip to Atlanta through Macon’s tornado to attend a Georgia Romance Writers Workshop presented by the lovely, Nancy Knight. Nancy is part owner of Belle Books and one of the founding members of GRW.
Her workshop was titled: Well Begun is Half Done. This workshop was incredibly enlightening. She presented it in a semi informal way with lots of great information sprinkled with samples of other author’s work, as well as personal examples from Nancy’s own experience.
This being a workshop, Nancy had us do a number of exercises. I’ll post two of those below.
The first one was to take five words and use them in a paragraph about setting. 1) Silver Chalice 2) Jewel Handled Dagger 3) Aubusson Carpet 4) Bible and 5) Skull
This is what I came up with – –
The bleached skull sat on a dusty table just inside the door. This should have been my first clue this was no ordinary hairdresser. I wasn’t familiar with the city and I certainly didn’t know my sister’s future mother-in-law, but The Silver Chalice had been highly recommended by the woman and I did need an emergency color job. Damn over the counter dies. I never should have tried to freshen up my own color, especially when I was the maid of honor in tomorrow’s wedding. Whatever, too late to dwell on that now.
As I stepped inside, the heavy wooden door swished shut, locking out the city noise. The purple hairs on the back of my neck stood out and honestly, I should have left right then. But I couldn’t. Maybe it was the intricate design on the Aubusson carpet laid out in the entryway. Or maybe it was the collection of jewel handled daggers decorating the wall. Whatever it was, I knew if I left I would regret it.
A slight noise from an open door to the right drew my gaze. When a mountain of a man stepped through, I swear on a stack of bibles that my jaw hit the floor. I kid you not, this guy was the exact image I held in my head of the sexy knights I’ve read about in novels. My only thought was Lord, please don’t let him be gay.
So, what do you think??? Remember, we only had about 10 minutes to write this one.
The next exercise was to use a blush pink rose as a primary plot devise in a scary or horror blurb. This one was a little out of my comfort zone, but I was game to try it. I even read it out loud and no one laughed. So I’m guessing I did okay. Again, we had about 5 minutes for this one…
Lisa always wondered who left the blush pink roses on her mother’s grave. For years she would visit the small town where she grew up and each time she paid a visit to her parents’ grave, a fresh bud would be lying below her mother’s name.
Lisa thought it was from an old lover or even one of the many students her mother taught. Never did she think there was anything ominous about the act until she found the first on lying by her front door. A door that is more than 1,600 miles away. Now Lisa has to find out who is leaving these for her or she might just end up in the same position as her mother.
Enough of those. We had a blast and I learned a lot from Nancy. I only wish I lived closer to Atlanta so I could take one of her college classes.
The subject was wonderful, but the fellowship with other writers was just as rewarding. Below are some of the pictures I took once I remembered that I did have a camera. I really wish I had captured a few more of some other really great friends who were also there.
Above are Marilyn Estes and Nancy Knight.
A view of the audience
Here is a group of Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. Pictured is Linsey Lanier, Maxine Davis, me, Christine Glover and down in front, Sandra Elzie.
Sally Kilpatrick (also a Petit Fours and Hot Tamales author) and me.
Maxine Davis and me
This is fellow Petit Fours and Hot Tamales author, Pam Asberry. Check out her blog post about her experience at the workshop.
This is Bryonna Nobles-Stern. Check out Bryonna’s blog post from yesterday about her experience at the workshop. I love the stories she came up with for Nancy’s exercises.
I rode up and back with Maxine Davis and Sandra Elzie. Both ladies were wonderful and I was fortunate enough to be able to brainstorm with them on the YA story I’m working on. Invaluable!!!
Okay, I think that’s all. Sunday was just as busy doing house/family/chores stuff. Lots going on, but glad to be able to do it.
How about you? You have anything going on this past weekend?
2 Comments
I had so much fun at the workshop. It was fabulous seeing you and the PFHT as well as the rest of the GRW group. Nancy’s workshop was enlightening and encouraging to writers of all stripes. BTW, I think you are super brave to post your assignments! I’m too shy LOL.
I can’t wait till I see you all again 🙂
Hey Christine! It was great meeting you. I love chatting via e-mail, but it is nice to put a face with the name every once in a while.
I really thought twice before posting my assignment, but I decided to just go for it. Besides, it was fun and maybe it will help someone else get going on something for their writing…
Thanks a ton for stopping by!!!!
Tami