Experience a Writer's Retreat...Vicariously

Who cares? Who would want to? Beats me, but I always wondered what went on at one. I've had others who asked so...I'm taking you along. (I have permission, yay!)

Here's the agenda, which is still a bit fluid: arrive in Texas on Thursday, April 29th at a 'dude' ranch. Register, check-in, receive goody bags and get acquainted over dinner. About 25 writers plus spouses and family are attending. I like the size, not too big and not too small.

April 30th, 10 AM--JoAn Watson Martin presentation on historical writing. Sounds cool, I'm interested and heck...it's 10AM. My brain is functioning by then.

11:30 Informal discussion about the future of ePublishing with Rhonda Penders and RJ Morris, The Wild Rose Press.

1:30 Barebones Plotting with Linda Carroll-Bradd. Yeah, I need some of that. I'm there.

Dinner and then we wander off to the local rodeo.

Oh, an important note. If at any time there's something going on you're not particularly interested in--go riding, write, play in the pool or take a little sight-seeing trip.

There you have the first full-day.

May 1st, 8:30 AM hayride to a Cowboy Breakfast. Oh dear, I don't suppose they'd let me walk. Wagons and hay aren't exactly comfortable.

10:30 AM JoAnn Power, Author and PR Consultant. Woohoo, I'm there. It would be stupid to miss this one. "...she has helped many individual authors grow their readership and attain best-seller status." If you ever manage to write something that is published, by golly you ought to have a clue how to promote it.

12:30 PM Barbecue. I wonder if those Texas folks can do a good B-B-Q? I'll find out.

1:30 PM Allie Standifer and Brenna Zinn, Co-Writing Workshop. "How to Co-Write and Not Kill Each Other" Heh, heh. Catchy title.

2:30 PM Diana Carlile and Belinda Bass, Brown Bag Workshop. Hmmm. Let's see. You get a brown bag of random items and write an opening scene using those items. All righty, got it. Hope mine has chocolate chip cookies.

4 PM Meet The Wild Rose Press staff--discussion on ePublishing. Well, they are sponsoring the dang thing. I'm curious and ignorant. Sounds like a chance to learn.

5 PM Wrangler Time--Talk with the Cowboys. Heck, I'll have done that long before now, but hey, as mentioned earlier...you don't have to do everything.

6 PM Dinner

7:30 PM Campfire, hayride (again!), Texas history and a professional storyteller. Celebrate TWRP's 4th birthday. Door prizes, TX Hold 'Em, Black Jack...my husband should be happy.

May 2nd. Oh, a lazy day. Goof off. Network, chat, visit. *cracks knuckles* I'm ready.

12 PM Lunch and then pack it all up and wander home.

Well, that's the plan so far. Sounds like fun and I'll learn a thing or two.

http://www.silverspur-ranch.com/

Bandera at the Silver Spur Guest Ranch. Yeehaw. (just practicing)

Ah, but...is it better than mine? That's the real question. I do a mean brisket and ribs.

I will do that. We hope to get to San Antonio and have a look around when this is over. After driving that far, it would be stupid to miss the opportunity.

I bit the bullet and ordered a laptop today. Lugging the desktop around seemed kind of ridiculous. That was something I assigned the youngest boy to scout out, best deal for the money...oh and as cheap as possible. I don't ask for much.

He found a Toshiba, 15.6" at a good price and then I wandered over to Dell, where most of my computers have come from. Yikes! Inspiron 17" refurbished for $409. Oh yeah, my eyes will appreciate that big screen. I may get tired of lugging it around but that's okay.

Make that one cherry red. Thank you very much. *brushes hands together* I like it when a plan comes together.

That Salt Lick website looks so good I can almost smell the smoke. Yummy.

Those are the best kind. It's an indication that they're damned good if they can stay in business that far away from the big crowds.

Book, I'm going to take you all with me. On the spot reports, whenever I can find wi-fi or an internet connection. According to the Wi-Fi Hot Spot List, that won't be happening much unless I'm in a bigger city. I know we have internet at the Ranch, so I can sneak in here and babble.

It took about all the gumption I had to inform my husband I was going. He's not convinced that: a. I'm serious about writing and b. it's actually worth the time and trouble. But, I make half the money so...suck it up bubba, we're going.

Oh yeah, he invited himself along, after all was said and done. It seems there's a place he can go on a wild hog hunt that's fairly close. (I may be sitting around for two or three days while he's doing that.) I suppose it will all balance out in the end.