Writing Retreat Blog
Elmore Leonard: 10 Rules Of Writing
In July 2001, the crime fiction writer Elmore Leonard wrote a short piece for The New York Times on his ten rules for writing. This was eventually adapted into a book. I’ve shared his rules many times with writers on our retreats, so I thought it might be useful to outline them here. In the preface to his book, Leonard says: These are rules I’ve picked up along the way to help me remain invisible [...]
An MFA in Creative Writing: Is It Worth It?
Read the bios of a dozen new fiction writers, and the chances are good that at least half will list among their credentials an MFA in Creative Writing. I completed my own MFA in Creative Writing through the University of British Columbia, and I’m often asked by my writing students: is a Masters in Creative Writing essential, if you want to see your work in print? Arguments Against an MFA in Creative Writing A Masters [...]
Historical Fiction Prompts for Writers
In our last blog, we looked at how online resources have transformed a writer's research process. So let's explore this idea with a creative writing prompt. Writing Prompt: Historical Fiction Write down a daily task or hobby that interests you. Now, choose a specific historic period and location. Come up with a close approximation of your interest that may fit with the period and location. Write down what you already think you know about that [...]
Researching a Novel – How Things Have Changed!
Research for writers in the twenty-first century is not what it used to be. Decades ago, researching a novel might take months, and the entire process had to be completed before the creative writing process could begin. Researching a historical novel – any kind of novel, really - required a well-stocked library, and the more specific the research your novel required, the more specialized the library had to be. Writers might find themselves making long [...]
The Benefits of a Creative Writing Retreat
I've attended many Creative Writing retreats over the years. A writing retreat in a fishing village in Mexico. Another on the wind-swept moors in Devon, England. Retreats in Scotland and Wales. I've also run dozens of retreats myself. Our creative writing retreat centre in Canada hosted more than 100 writers, and these days, we run creative writing retreats in Costa Rica: and a new writing retreat in Mexico. Why Attend a Creative Writing Retreat? [...]
Poem from the Creative Writing Retreat to Merida, Mexico.
At the end of our creative writing retreat, we created a list poem together, reflecting our shared experience over the course of the week. Here is the poem, created by Shay, Nichol, John, Jeffrey, Virginia, Betsy, Sara, Patricia and Julie: Flying in the Depths The air is charged with creativity: we are writing stories to the sound of water falling and our tender words are received like party guests. Hearts pound as wooden steps descend [...]
