Sunday, March 15, 2009

Workshopping

Spent all day in Provo yesterday at a writers' workshop run by Hyperion editor Abby Ranger. It was extremely useful. One of the things that occurred to me is that people like me (who teach workshops, too) should have the periodic experience of being workshopped themselves. It's important to be reminded of the vulnerability a person brings to a group setting like that.

Anyway. I loved meeting Abby, who is extremely bright and articulate. And I enjoyed the company of fellow writers. We talked about everything related to writing, from the success of the Twilight books to blogging. All of us were interested in Sara Zarr's recent experience of being photoshopped. Stop by her blog (www.sarazarr.com) and read her amazing post.

Good food yeserday, too. You knew I'd mention that, didn't you? Our hostess, Nancy Peterson, cooked up a storm. We ate out on the deck with a full-on view of Mt. Timp against a blazing blue sky. Heaven.

2 comments:

Lisa B. said...

This sounds nigh unto perfection, even with the inherent challenge of getting feedback like that. I won't ever forget the first time I really saw the mountains in Utah Valley--they are pretty amazing.

Louise Plummer said...

I took a watercoloring class at the Y one semester and realized what it felt like to be a novice in an unfamiliar setting. I felt so vulnerable. I felt more empathetic to my writing students, especially the beginners who always gasped when I said, "Now let's have you read aloud."

I think Ina Garten is a genius. Really!