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DRAWING
INSPIRATION FROM OUR ENVIRONMENT
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By Susan Flint Rajkumar
A quiet place usually keeps the head clear, allowing
the brain and heart to sort out different elements of
thought. If we do not have deep access to ourselves,
poignant memories and images that we string together to
support and make interesting the information we want to
share, may fall short in depth; sometimes we end up in a
struggle to bring to the surface those smiles or anecdotes
that truly exemplify original thinking. Foreign environment,
when used as a source of inspiration, may drive us to
generate more ideas or increase excitement about our
project. We may have to feel vulnerable enough to let new
words come forth. That specific refuge within one's self may
become a definitive or an historic moment for some writers
as they give vocabulary to their feelings, thoughts,
characters, scripts, or stories.
I had been living in India for a few years when I began to
write again. For me, there was no other alternative: write
or go nuts. My Indian husband and I had moved to his native
land for family responsibilities. The environment caused a
divergence of my personal feelings and beliefs, which gave
me much to ponder. The “foreignness” of India was so different from what I
was accustomed to that I was able to concentrate better,
describe more accurately, and observe and depict my distant
land and internal landscape very clearly. Personal matters
were dire: judgments, learning how to belong, an
immigrant-housewife negotiating family dynamics and cultural
mores, wanting to remain true to my American feminist
identity, feeling the ridiculousness of wanting to remain
true to my American feminist leanings, wanting to be
respectful of the culture, and recovering from a chronic
sickness. My authentic, true-to-local environment was
inspiring. Shocked and jarred with culture and daily living
led me into a literary wakefulness.
The colors and sounds crackled in my brain like my
Mother-in-law's hot China-wok, sizzling mustard seeds in
smoking coconut oil. My writing process gave me a deeper
voice and a stronger expressive style. Initially, I did not
recognize my voice, but my transfer of environment from the
West was the impetus for change from my debilitating
ten-year silence.
This extreme departure from the familiar that living abroad
affords is a quality of perspective not easily attained
while living in the familiar and comfortable. Vulnerability
emerges.
The comfort zone of home stripped away of the
conveniences and securities creates a sense of exposure. An
environment with just enough unknown elements will make for
a spicy writing interlude, like a brief affair with the
exotic. The familiar psychological guards and inhibitions
slowly begin to melt away. It is during this time that I
feel most inspired, like a deep raw stirring. It sustains me
just enough to grow new ideas and a renewed sense of wonder
about the world I live in. This blast of new cultural
awareness causes change.
I liken ethnic infusion to the super-learning
technique of studying with loud music. The harder I
concentrate on my writing, matching my written voice with
the distracting cultural melodies, the more focused I become
on what points I want to make, how I describe and organize
my project, and the results that I want to attain.
Vocabulary comes alive. An environment change gives us the
gift of petit vulnerability and bantam danger. The result
offers us truthful reporting, a keen observation of our
personal and public self, sensual experiences, and
reassessment when we return to our comfortable homes and
surroundings.
To reach
Susan Flint Rajkumar
at The Writers’ Retreat in India, please
Search our Worldwide Residential Retreats at
www.WritersRetreat.com
or send an e-mail to
indiawritersretreat@fastmail.fm
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RECHARGING
YOUR BATTERIES!
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By Maggie Oster
When I created the writer’s retreat at Rose Wind
Farm, I envisioned a place similar to one I used to visit
when I lived in a city. It was a B&B where I “ran away from
home” for just several days and that time away at the B&B
always managed to recharge my batteries. To have a place
now, where a writer can come for a weeklong stay is
a dream come true. Whether you
come here to get away in order to write or recharge your own
batteries is up to you. But I can promise that either one
will indeed happen.
During my thirty-five plus years as a writer, I have
found various motivational techniques for writing.
Sometimes, it is as simple as just making me sit in front of
the computer until an assignment is done. There are
certainly other, less harsh, ways. One of my favorite
methods for getting inspired is to write in my head as I
take a walk. Being here at Rose Wind Farm retreat is ideal
for that.
Because writing is essentially a solitary pursuit, it
is easy to feel like you are the only person in the world
experiencing this process. To alleviate that problem, I have
found it occasionally worthwhile to read writers writing
about writing. There are dozens of this type of book
available, but the following are a few that
I have found helpful in various
ways.
For instance, in
A Voice of One’s Own
by Mickey Pearlman and Katherine Usher Henderson (Mariner
Books, 1992), twenty-eight prominent women novelists are
featured in conversational profiles that reflect on what
inspires, directs, infuriates, and sustains them in what
they do. Silences
by Tillie Olsen (The Feminist Press at CUNY, Twenty-fifth
Anniversary Edition, 2003) concerns the relationship of
circumstances to the creation of literature.
There is also a plethora of books that are a
combination of memoir and helpful suggestions for the
writing process. Among the ones that have stood the test of
time, you might want to consider
Writing Past Dark:
Envy, Fear, Distraction, and Other Dilemmas in the Writer’s
Life by Bonnie Friedman (Harper, 1994).
On Writing by
Stephen King (Pocket, 2002).
Bird by Bird: Some
Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne
Lamott (Anchor, 1995).
Starting from Scratch
by Rita Mae Brown (Bantam, 1989).
On Becoming a
Novelist by John Gardner (Peter Smith Publisher, 2001),
or any of Natalie Goldberg’s books.
For day-to-day inspiration, try
Room to Write by
Bonni Goldberg (Tarcher,
1996), and A Writer’s
Boof of Days: A Spirited
Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life by Judy
Reeves (New World Library, 1999).
More technically oriented books that I keep near the
computer are books on recipe writing and styling as well as
reference works like
A Writer’s Coach by Jack Hart (Anchor, 2007).
On Writing Well, 30th
Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
by William Knowlton Zinsser (Collins, 2006), and
Line by Line: How to
Improve Your Own Writing by Claire
Kehrwald Cook (Houghton Mifflin, 1985).
To reach
Maggie Oster
at The Writers’ Retreat in Starlight, Indiana, please
Search our Worldwide Residential Retreats at
www.WritersRetreat.com
or send an e-mail to
maggieoster7670@rosewindfarm.com
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WRITING
FROM WITHIN: A
WRITER’S RETREAT INTERVIEW WITH MARY ANN HENRY
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WR: What exactly is spiritual writing?
MARY ANN: People ask me and I tell them that there’s no
one-word answer. In fact, I had never heard of the phrase
until I wrote it down as the answer to one of my own life
questions, and that question was ‘What do I want to do that
would merge all of the things that I love most in my life?’
The answer was, ‘Teach spiritual writing.’ That phrase was
the key that opened up floodgates of information. I
immediately sat down and wrote an entire eight-hour session
that now serves as the center of the three-day workshop
called ‘Writing is Good for the Soul!’
WR: So your background was …?
MARY ANN: A writer. I’ve published short stories and
articles. But I’m also a student of spirituality—Reiki,
Shamanism, Psychic-K, and Buddhism, and a teacher of
creative writing.
WR: So what is the process?
MARY ANN: The process involves many things, chief among them
is intention. I bring a great deal of intentional energy to
the teaching process, and the participants bring an
intentional energy to let go and to allow themselves to flow
with it. Writing is by definition a process of turning
inward, and you have to intend to do that. Spiritual writing
takes place in a part of us that is actually more connected
to the kind of contemplation that poets often employ. That’s
why a lot of the writing that happens in the workshop is so
surprising to the participants who usually write novels or
short stories. Hard-core journalists are especially
surprised by what they write.
WR: Is it something that anyone can do?
MARY ANN: Yes, it’s quite practical and hands-on! Guided
imagery sessions might introduce various topics, but
participants bring journals and notebooks and they’re
writing all day long. Except for lunch and snack breaks, of
course.
WR: Do they read their work aloud?
MARY ANN: Not everyone and not every time. Some things
aren’t meant to be shared. But the greatest growth happens
when people read their writing to the group. They learn so
much from each other.
WR: Is the workshop only for experienced writers?
MARY ANN: Not at all. Many participants have done their
writing exclusively in their own journals. For seasoned
writers, it’s a way of checking in, doing a creative
tune-up, so to speak. I think of it as writers exploring
their spiritual side.
WR: Is there a flow to the workshop?
MARY ANN: It’s actually very structured: Friday evening is
all about our bodily wisdom and connecting to our own (wild
or tame) nature in order to write. Saturday is the ‘journey
of the soul’ and Sunday is all about ‘connecting to our
creativity.’
WR: You know, it does sound good for the soul.
MARY ANN: Thus the name!
Mary Ann Henry
teaches “Writing is Good for the Soul” workshop. She can be
reached by calling 843-437-1934 or by e-mail at
lowcountrywritersstudio@comcast.net
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WRTING IN
THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE
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By John Cooke and Joyce Scott
Welcome to our writer’s retreat in the heart of the
French countryside. La Grange aux
Dîmes is an historic
medieval building overlooking a millpond on the
Gartempe River in the village of Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé.
Tranquil, and sublimely beautiful, this is a healing
environment in which to nurture and recharge your
creativity.
Our guests have their own bedroom and bathroom with
separate access to the courtyard. Many enjoy the opportunity
to share meals and discuss their work and the world of
ideas, but we also respect those who prefer their privacy.
The house is designed to provide a peaceful and
congenial sanctuary in which to work. There is a
well-equipped library and broadband wireless Internet
access. The riverside gardens provide a secluded spot in
which to write, read, or simply think great thoughts.
As writers ourselves, we are able to act as on-site
mentors, and if desired, provide editorial advice, and
criticism. Set on the very edge of the village, the house is
well situated for those who seek inspiration through walking
or bicycling in the countryside, yet is just a short stroll
away from the boulangerie and
other village shops.
Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé is
a thirty-minute drive from the town of
Chatellerault, which has regular train service to
Paris just eighty minutes ride away by TGV. Far from the
main tourist routes, this area is nevertheless rich in
attractions. La Roche Posay, an
attractive spa town just twenty minutes away, has been
renowned since Roman times for its healing waters. Here
visitors may indulge themselves in a profusion of massage
and hydrotherapy treatments.
At the Grange aux Dîmes, you
will be assured of a warm welcome and a nurturing
environment in which to pursue your writing. A portion of
your fee will go to support the Bali Children’s Project, our
tax-exempt charity that helps disadvantaged young people in
villages obtain an education.
Retreat mentor Joyce Scott is a published writer, who has
recently completed
Entwined: Of loss, reunion and transformation. She has a
BA in psychology and has taught and led workshops in the Bay
Area for more than twenty years. She is married to Dr. John
Cooke who taught at
Oxford
for more than ten years. He is the author of several books,
numerous magazine and technical articles as well as several
film scripts and a radio play. As a director of Oxford
Scientific Films, he was involved in the production of more
than thirty wildlife documentaries, and has served as a
consultant and camera operator on several others, including
an IMAX film on flight for the Air and
Space Museum in Washington, DC. He has also led wildlife photographic
safaris in eastern and southern Africa. John enjoys a special association with the
island of
Bali, being particularly
interested in the culture, prehistory, and wildlife. He and
Joyce are the founding directors of the Bali Children's
Project.
To reach
Joyce or John
at The Writers’ Retreat in France, please
Search our Worldwide Residential Retreats at
www.WritersRetreat.com
or send an e-mail to
alogny@aol.com
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Sandy
Lee, 1986
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“Nothing so intimidates the prospective
author as the sight of a blank sheet of paper. It matters
not what you first set down on the page—anything can, and in
all probability will, be subsequently changed. Once your
page boasts its first sentence, no matter how inadequate,
you will have overcome the primary challenge to writing.
When you have done writing, hide your manuscript
away for at least a month—preferably longer. When you return
to it again, you will read it as though it were the work of
a stranger and you will more easily spot its
inconsistencies, its grammatical shortcomings and its
inevitable omissions.. Writing is a craft, and all crafts
demand long apprenticeship. It is not only ideas that count,
but also the skill, the craftsmanship, with which those
ideas are captured and set forth effectively on paper. There
are no shortcuts to craftsmanship. Only by writing will you
discover how to write”
Sandy Lee, 1986
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OPENING A
WRITER’S RETREAT IN YOUR AREA:
We’re here to help you from start to success!
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The mission of The Writers' Retreat is to serve the largest
community of writers and authors around the world - written
words remain and it is one of the best ways to create
changes in today's world; The Writers’ Retreat wants to be
part of these changes, and we need you to support the
mission. Would you like to be one of them and to join our
network?
We're here to help you from start to success!
If setting up a writer’s retreat is one of your goals or
your dream in 2009, now is the time. How to set the wheels
in motion?
1.
You may call us directly at 819-876-2065 to share your
thoughts and ideas
2.
You may send us an e-mail to
info@writersretreat.com
3.
Or register directly to our Web site at
www.WritersRetreat.com
where you'll find the link ADD YOUR RETREAT and you will be
able to enter all your retreat information and pictures.
Please keep in mind that you may join The Writers' Retreat
network even if your retreat is not quite set up to
officially open its doors to residents. A note will be
posted on your Web page indicating your official opening
date; it will allow writers to contact you for information
and you will be able to accept their reservations prior to
your official opening. Do not worry if you have started
filling out the online form and you decide to postpone your
decision, your retreat will not be published on the Internet
until we review it and we send you a confirmation.
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Happy
Writing!
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Micheline Côté, Executive
Director
The Writers’ Retreat
www.WritersRetreat.com
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Please
feel free to post or forward this message to a friend.
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