Some Very Good Reasons for Booking on the 2014 Writers' Retreat

First reason: Pyjama Party

Tatum Flynn had a truly splendid time at last years writers' retreat. If you are still ummimg and aaahhing about going, can Tatum persuade you?



Once upon a time, I sat down and wrote a children’s book called Brimstone for Breakfast, about Lucifer’s youngest son who was hopeless at being evil. And then I stared at my computer and wondered what on earth I was supposed to do next. So I researched agents, and read blogs, and befriended writers on Twitter, and along the way I ran across an organisation called SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. An organisation who just so happened to be running a weekend retreat only an hour away from me.

So I packed up my hopes and set off for the land of wine and cake and words. 

‘That might be good,’ I said to the cat, who was blithely plotting the death of a pigeon outside the window. ‘I’d be able to talk to real live kidlit writers and take workshops with published authors and even get to meet a bonafide acquiring editor who *pause to read fine print* yep, who would actually critique my first chapter for me. Plus that hotel looks really pretty and I’d kill for a weekend in the country away from screeching seagulls and thrumming traffic.’ The cat mewed encouragingly. Or possibly homicidally, I can never really tell.

Award-winning authors taught us about bringing setting alive and keeping motivated to write as we scribbled frantic notes

So I packed up my hopes and set off for the land of wine and cake and words. And my hopes weren’t disappointed: for the first time in my life, I met other children’s writers in the flesh, and stayed up late discussing agents and book deals and middle-grade voice and just how many glasses of wine it was possible to drink and still get up for the workshop the following morning.

...we made friends and picked each others’ brains and even had a pyjama party where we read extracts from our work, some of which had us in fits of giggles...

Award-winning authors taught us about bringing setting alive and keeping motivated to write as we scribbled frantic notes, and the real live editor explained all about the inner workings of publishing as curious writers bombarded her with questions. And in between, we made friends and picked each others’ brains and even had a pyjama party where we read extracts from our work, some of which had us in fits of giggles. So by the time my meeting with the editor came round on the Sunday, I was just hoping she wouldn’t hate my story and rain on my parade, because I was having so much fun. What I got was better than I could have possibly hoped: she loved my chapter. It had made her laugh. She thought it was fresh and original and could I please send her the whole thing straight away?

‘We are enthusiastic about your manuscript,’

Well, if you insist, I said, skipping all the way home with a grin the size of Texas on my face. Then, a few months later, an email pinged up on my phone. ‘We are enthusiastic about your manuscript,’ it said. ‘We would like to invite you to our offices to meet our editorial team.’ So I went, and they were lovely. And offered me cake which I was too nervous to eat. And said they might even be interested in a sequel. And told me my book would now go onto acquisitions. In return, I basically just tried not to faint. The cat, naturally, remained unimpressed.

Multi-award-winning YA author Teri Terry will be running the retreat again this year, and to be serious for a second – although you can probably guess my feelings on the matter – I can’t recommend it enough.

I still didn’t even have an agent at this point, so I dashed out to the shop and got myself one. And shortly afterwards we had an offer – a two-book-deal, to my utter amazement – with the terrific Orchard Books, and all because I’d thought it might be nice to have a writerly weekend in the country.

Multi-award-winning YA author Teri Terry will be running the retreat again this year, and to be serious for a second – although you can probably guess my feelings on the matter – I can’t recommend it enough. No, not everyone’s going to get a book deal out of it. I was extraordinarily lucky. But the friends and connections you’ll make and the things you’ll learn – all wrapped up in a gorgeous bundle of wine and food and beautiful countryside – are more than enough reward on their own.

For more pictures of pyjamas and writerly fun go to Tania's report from May last year. 

For this year's retreat with special guests Carnegie shortlisted author Elizabeth Wein and Bookseller 2013 'rising star' agent Bryony Woods BOOK HERE.

---

@Tatum_Flynn

Tatum Flynn is the author of Brimstone for Breakfast, out Summer 2015 from Orchard Books/ Hachette UK, and a sequel which she’s supposed to be writing right this minute.

Tiaras, shamanic journeys and cake cake cake… the SCBWI Retreat at Dunford House

What do you get when you put twenty-nine writers plus one editor in a beautiful house in the Sussex countryside, feed them with slap-up meals and endless cake? An amazing, stimulating time and some inspired writing says Tania Tay.

We had a pyjama party on our last night. Do we look like we're having fun?

Dunford House

This was my first writing retreat and I couldn’t wait to get there.

Our guest writer was Lucy Christopher (below right - editor's note: look, she's grown her hair!), author of Stolen and Flyaway, who teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University, and the guest editor was Rebecca Frazer (left) the editorial director at Orchard Books. We could book a one-to-one with Lucy or Rebecca to discuss our WIPs.

... an evening of cake, wine and chat about writing - the best kind of evening there is!

From the moment we arrived, the stimulating conversation began over chocolate chip muffins on the lawn. Then we settled into the gorgeous 18^th Century rooms of Dunford House. There was time for some to rattle off a few hundred words before an evening of cake, wine and chat about writing - the best kind of evening there is!

Saturday, after a huge breakfast, Lucy Christopher led a workshop on creating vivid settings, and making Place a vital character in our stories. 

Lucy's a very expressive speaker

She explained that her starting point is the setting, above character or plot. It was fascinating to hear how, before writing Stolen, she spent three weeks immersing herself in the Australian desert, talking to locals, absorbing the atmosphere, and making lots of notes. 

For Flyaway, she got a job with the RSPB, and for her current work, The Killing Woods, she lived near the woods. Lucy gave us the exercise she uses herself, to make setting work harder in the story. 

We made notes based on sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Next we noted the emotions, the fear and/or excitement the setting created. Lastly, we put our character in the setting, moving towards something. We then used our notes to write a short piece. We came away from the workshop totally inspired, ready for a few hours of writing.

Lucy in red silk pyjamas.
She wore normal clothes too

After tea, cake, chat and dinner, Lucy Coats, took us on a shamanic journey. She uses “creative napping” to induce a trance state to help remove blocks. In ancient times, bards and druids - the storytellers - would go into a similar trance to inspire creativity. 

We closed our eyes and relaxed to soothing music and she guided us through a meditation. The visualisation worked for many of us and some had incredible breakthrough visions about their stories.

We came away from the workshop totally inspired.

Sunday, after a morning of writing time, Lucy Christopher was back to tell us about her writing life. She suggested we write the books we do because of presences in our lives, conscious and unconscious. 


She also talked about writing blocks and how she overcame them while writing her third novel, a dark thriller, with the help of poetry, drawing and listening to songs. She then read the first chapter of The Killing Woods to us - even before she sent the final edited version to her publisher – and the power of her writing had us in silence.

In the evening, Candy Gourlay hosted a Tiara and Pyjama Party. Queen Philippa Francis opened proceedings with a poem and others shared their writing. 

All hail, Philippa!

The variety and quality of writing astounded us all. There was everything from poems and hilarious writing for younger ages, to gripping middle grade and YA adventures, mysteries and fantasies. Several writers said they were inspired to up their game….

Monday came too soon, and it was time to pack and go, but not before the last session with Rebecca Frazer, editorial director of Orchard Books. Rebecca was as far away from scary editor as possible – absolutely lovely and really generous with us. 

She gave us the background of Orchard Books, how they see themselves as a boutique publisher with the backing of Hachette. Then she took us through the acquisition process, which explained why there are so many opportunities for rejection along the way. 

She also talked about market trends and what people are looking for at the moment. There is a definite need for more Middle Grade fiction, where humour is important. Marketing trends suggest there is now more emphasis on finding author-led series. In teen and young adult fiction, the 50 Shades effect means that romance is big news, especially contemporary romance and issues stories. 

Rebecca then spoke about pitches and how to pitch our ideas in a query letter. Die Hard meets Rainbow Magic here we come…

 Marketing trends suggest there is now more emphasis on finding author-led series in teen and young adult fiction...

Finally, it was time to go back to the real world. I left feeling frazzled, full of cake, but inspired – and I haven’t quite calmed down yet. The readings made us appreciate being surrounded by the huge range of talent that is in SCBWI. 

I feel really privileged to be part of this gang of lovely, generous and talented writers. Thanks especially to Lucy Christopher, Rebecca Frazer, Lucy Coats, Candy Gourlay, all the staff at Dunford House and, of course, our amazing organiser Teri Terry without which none of this would have been possible.

Teri Terry who organized it all.

---

Tania has been published in Sable Lit Magazine and is now writing MG and YA fiction. She has an MA Degree in History of Art and is also a professional cake decorator and baker. She is part of the writing features editorial team for Words & Pictures.

Die Hard meets Rainbow Magic for a Young Adult Audience

Ok, the title of this post has nothing to do with what's coming up, but did it get your attention?  Rebecca Frazer from Orchard Books was a little excited by it at the writers' retreat at Dunford House. If anyone's inspired, go ahead.
I had an emotionally charged, cake-filled weekend but did I manage to find some headspace? In the end, yes. It took a couple of days, but a one to one with Rebecca and the prospect of the Sunday night ‘pyjama party’, where we read something we’d written that weekend, forced me to face the fact that the WIP was too unwieldy. It was time to start again. I wrote 750 words before dinner on Sunday that have set me on a much better trajectory. The challenge now is to find the headspace to keep up my 750 word daily target and I’m falling behind already. Help.


This week who would have imagined Sara Grant’s long journey to published and prize winning author? She guest blogged for us on Monday. Even with a ‘fried brain’, Nick still found some treats for us in the Blog Break on Tuesday – I particularly loved Undiscovered Voices winner 2012, Rosie Best’s posts on the six places in London that shaped her novel Skulk - out in October. Celia Anderson and her very helpful year 5 and 6 children looked at story openings on Wednesday, following on from Alex English’s first line feature, last week. Check in next Sunday for a brand new W&P competition featuring, in this first pilot run, Celia’s year 5 and 6’s. Intrigued?  Sunday.

The Bluebell Wood at Dunford House.

On Thursday, when The Network News spotlight was on Central East, I was with other Southampton SCBWI’s making our own piece of Network News, which means there’ll be a double Network News post this Thursday. On Friday, Anne-Marie's 'what I did on my holidays’ report from the Highlights Advanced Illustrators’ course made me want to be an illustrator, particularly “Every attendee is assigned a rustic cabin to themselves” Sounds wonderful - I’d have no trouble finding headspace in one of those.

Check in next Sunday for a brand new competition...

 If you’re a SCBWI member, you may have seen an email from Natascha that we’re looking for a new celebrations editor. Our wonderful Kathy Evans is moving to a new role within SCBWI, which means she can no longer bring SCBWI joy to our Saturday Celebrations. If you’d like to be involved in Words & Pictures and specifically, you think you could follow in Kathy’s footsteps, I’d love to hear from you.

I think I like the tree trunks almost as much the bluebells.

May is Undiscovered Voices month but I might call next week, Dave Cousins’ week! Nicky has interviewed Dave with Jane McLoughlin and Bryony Pearce on how their Undiscovered Voices wins changed their lives and I’ve been talking to Dave about his UK and Europe Crystal Kite win for 15 Day’s Without a Head.

'blue flowers in a blue jug'

Next week, Elizabeth Dale helps us cope with rejection because, as I was reminded at the retreat, publishing is an industry of rejection. Sheila helps us get our heads around hashtags and we have some illuminating Ask a Publisher answers from Sara O’ Connor at Hot Key. Plus on Friday, it’s all change with a new featured illustrator, and a shiny new banner – check in for our new look to find out who it is.

Hope you like my bluebell pictures. I'm off to declutter my head.

Wishing you all productive weeks,

Jan Carr

---

Jan Carr is the editor of Words & Pictures. Her fiction is older middle grade, she blogs occasionally and loves to write in magenta.