 | A WRITER'S WIT |
Ten Days in Eureka Springs
WCDH
Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs AR Eureka Springs isn’t exactly a village, but its 2,000 friendly denizens certainly make the place seem that way! Recently I was privileged to spend ten days at the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in ES (where I stayed two months in 2009 laboring over a novel). The colony is a great place to work on any writing project. Check out the WCDH website to see about fellowships.
If you’re a writer looking for a place where you know your writing time will be respected (no music or cell phone usage inside residence suites) and have a few bucks tucked back, consider making application to WCDH. Because I was considered an alum I only had to schedule a time with the director this year! No new application needed. Several repeaters were present while I was there, and we had a great time reminiscing or comparing notes.
If you don’t win a fellowship consider staying for a minimum of $45 a day (you are encouraged to pay more if you can afford it). The price includes a comfortable suite with its own bath and three meals a day (one that is served each evening in the dining room of the main building, at a meal where you can chat with other writers staying in the colony). While I was there I was able to revise a couple of chapters from a new book, work that has taken the work in new directions. And if you need a break you can hike along hilly little green belts distributed throughout town.
If you’re a writer looking for a place where you know your writing time will be respected (no music or cell phone usage inside residence suites) and have a few bucks tucked back, consider making application to WCDH. Because I was considered an alum I only had to schedule a time with the director this year! No new application needed. Several repeaters were present while I was there, and we had a great time reminiscing or comparing notes.
If you don’t win a fellowship consider staying for a minimum of $45 a day (you are encouraged to pay more if you can afford it). The price includes a comfortable suite with its own bath and three meals a day (one that is served each evening in the dining room of the main building, at a meal where you can chat with other writers staying in the colony). While I was there I was able to revise a couple of chapters from a new book, work that has taken the work in new directions. And if you need a break you can hike along hilly little green belts distributed throughout town.
VILLAGE WRITING SCHOOL
Several months ago Alison Taylor-Brown, novelist and director of Eureka Springs’s Village Writing School, invited me to make several presentations on independent publishing at the school’s Publish! 2015 event at the Village Writing School, May 15-17. Throughout the weekend I emphasized that writers who publish their books independently must wear all the hats of publishing: publisher, editor, copy editor, publicist, to mention just a few. And to produce books that are on par with others, they must be willing to locate the resources to hire out at least some of those hats. During the weekend I enjoyed becoming acquainted with two other authors, Pamela Foster and Thomas Eaton—who explored related topics.
Books Are Blooming in Eureka Springs!
RJ Reading at Main Stage Each year the ES library association (having one of the nation's few Carnegie libraries) sponsors Books in Bloom in mid-May—rain or shine! This year was no exception. The event held at the historic Crescent Hotel featured twelve authors of various genres from noon to five on Sunday May 17. Refer to BIB's excellent website to check out this year’s writers. You just might want to attend in 2016.
Following VWS events on Saturday, May 16, the other presenters and I each gave a ten-minute reading from our writing at a new community venue called the Main Stage. Then Alison swept us off to a reception for the Books in Bloom authors, where we were fortunate to visit with an array of local and national literati.
I would close by saying that if you could see what this small community accomplishes on behalf of books and their authors, you might begin to dream up similar events where you live. All it takes is a bit (a lot) of planning, some (a lot more) commitment, and (even a little) money!
Following VWS events on Saturday, May 16, the other presenters and I each gave a ten-minute reading from our writing at a new community venue called the Main Stage. Then Alison swept us off to a reception for the Books in Bloom authors, where we were fortunate to visit with an array of local and national literati.
I would close by saying that if you could see what this small community accomplishes on behalf of books and their authors, you might begin to dream up similar events where you live. All it takes is a bit (a lot) of planning, some (a lot more) commitment, and (even a little) money!
NEXT TIME: My Book World
BEHIND THE BOOK: My Long-Playing Records & Other Stories. In these posts I speak of the creative process I use to write each story. Buy a copy here!
Date of Original Post:
11/13/14 — Introduction to My Long-Playing Records
11/20/14 — "My Long-Playing Records" — The Story
11/27/14 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
12/04/14 — "Ghost Riders"
12/11/14 — "The Best Mud"
12/18/14 — "Handy to Some"
12/25/14 — "Blight"
01/01/15 — "A Gambler's Debt"
01/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
01/15/15 — "Men at Sea"
01/22/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
01/29/15 — "Engineer"
02/05/15 — "Snarked"
02/12/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
02/19/15 — "The Age I Am Now"
02/26/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
Date of Original Post:
11/13/14 — Introduction to My Long-Playing Records
11/20/14 — "My Long-Playing Records" — The Story
11/27/14 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
12/04/14 — "Ghost Riders"
12/11/14 — "The Best Mud"
12/18/14 — "Handy to Some"
12/25/14 — "Blight"
01/01/15 — "A Gambler's Debt"
01/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
01/15/15 — "Men at Sea"
01/22/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
01/29/15 — "Engineer"
02/05/15 — "Snarked"
02/12/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
02/19/15 — "The Age I Am Now"
02/26/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
My Long-Playing Records Podcasts:
03/12/15 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
03/26/15 — "The Best Mud"
04/02/15 — "Handy to Some"
04/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
04/16/15 — "Men at Sea"
04/23/15 — "My Long-Playing Records"
04/30/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
05/07/15 — "Snarked"
05/21/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
05/28/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
Watch for more podcasts later this summer!
03/12/15 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
03/26/15 — "The Best Mud"
04/02/15 — "Handy to Some"
04/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
04/16/15 — "Men at Sea"
04/23/15 — "My Long-Playing Records"
04/30/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
05/07/15 — "Snarked"
05/21/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
05/28/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
Watch for more podcasts later this summer!
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