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August 9, 2010 06:45:13
Posted By Michelle
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I know that summer is not over yet but I can’t wait for fall to share my ‘what I did on my summer vacation‘ story!
Writers are by nature a solitary being and at times we can become very withdrawn and introspective while engrossed in writing work. Ask any writer what their dream vacation would be and most would lament for a space and place to be alone to write. My summer experience was for me one better than that. Not only did have a unique space and place but I had the rare gift of writer-types camaraderie.
As a successful applicant to the Sage Hill Writing Experience, I had the honour of sharing ten days with 30 other writers of all genres and specifically four other fiction writers, the Sage Sisters as we are now known, all work-shopping our novels. Under the direction of Terry Jordan (Beneath That Starry Place), we each shared a unique writing-life-altering experience. The knowledge gained, the direction and guidance in my own writing are beyond measure but the greatest gift was not only the honing of my craft but in the support and friendship from the ‘sisters’ and also from the faculty and support staff. (Terry Jordan and other faculty bios)
All that would have been more than enough, but for me the absolute best part of the entire experience was the solitude I and other writers at Sage Hill thrived in. The isolating setting tucked away in a monastery setting, hosted by Franciscan Friars at St. Michael’s Retreat perched above the town of Lumsden, 30 km NW of Regina in Saskatchewan’s picturesque Qu’Appelle Valley was worth the price of admission.
The quiet daily routine, simple surroundings, simple meals, limiting social and as little contact with the real world as one cared for, along with supportive retreat-mates all seeking the same made for an energy which lent to prolific creative juices pouring onto the pages.
I know my writing will forever benefit from this unique opportunity and encourage anyone who can seek out an opportunity such as Sage Hill Writing Experience to do so and treasure each and every creative moment. I know I have a renewed outlook on my writing experience thanks to this unique and amazing opportunity that my summer of 2010 gifted to me.
Thanks to instructor Terry Jordan, my Sage Sisters, the Friars and hosting support staff at the retreat and especially to the Sage Hill ED, Philip Adams, who performed his endless role of ‘everything to everyone’ with a kind, loving and comical heart making each and every day a pleasure to be there.
Did you manage to escape to any writing retreat/workshop locations? I would love to share the info with others - please leave a comment or email me.
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July 19, 2010 04:52:12
Posted By Michelle
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Life has a way of isolating certain times in our life and giving us back a snapshot in a can-
you-have-ever-imagined kind of way.
If someone had told me a year ago that I would be heading out alone, in the open road, in a
bright sunshine-yellow beetle bug, taking myself to a 10 day novel writing retreat I would
have thought they were insane. But here I am, sitting outside at the retreat, one of the most
pretty isolated on a hill places I have ever seen, with 10 days of freedom to work on my
novel under great mentorship in a workshop of 5 other equally thrilled to be here novelists.
When you allow yourself time to dream I do think that dreams do come true, small ones
along with big ones with only you as the only judge. I, like most people I know work very
hard and we get so self-involved in the frenzy of day to day life that we are all guilty of not
taking the time to be alone, be with one ‘self’ and be creative, no matter what your talent or
passion.
Writers are a typically bad bunch for not getting around to being creative. We let too many
things get in our way of physically and mentally sitting down to write. There is always
something that takes priority over writing and as writers we also often feed that bad attitude
that writing is not really a job anyway. There are many closet writers for that very reason, as
they do not want the flaky stigma that often comes with the mystique of a writing lifestyle.
I had to work very hard, professionally to juggle being gone from my self-employed life for
almost three weeks in the busiest of summer seasons. I also had to work very hard
personally to let go of all the things that give me excuses, or reasons as I like to call them,
to not be writing as much as I should or not writing what I really want to write.
Taking this time to firstly pull together the application and a manuscript in progress worthy
of a coveted half dozen spots in a highly respected writing workshop was a feat all in itself.
But surprisingly writers will always typically find a way to be not deserving of accolades or
accomplishments. Upon gaining entry I constantly second guessed the notification letter to
the point of almost not attending. When I got over that personal hurdle I then decided I
simply could not justify the expense of the adventure. That too passed.
I am a writer by profession and came to that role the long hard way through a career change
or two along the way and have had the privilege of covering many a great story in
magazines and journals over the years but finally the next ten days will be a long awaited
chance to at last be what I have wanted to be my entire life as far back as I can remember –
a fiction novelist. Even the word fiction is exciting to me. I have very few childhood
memories as mostly they are stashed so deep buried under the rubble of too many hard
ones but one I do distinctly recall is the day in second grade when the teacher explained the
difference between fiction and non-fiction and even then at only barely seven years old I
instantly had a place I knew I belonged in. I knew even back then that young that my brain
ran a constant reel of stories and observations that I dared not share with anyone but after
that single moment in class that it now had a real place to belong – I knew I was a fiction
writer!
I copied the word off the blackboard and later that night, secretly under the covers I printed
the words over and over and over on a piece of paper adding my name after each line and
secretly stared at it for days. One day when I was afraid my brothers would find it and tease
me tore it up in tiny little pieces and buried the scraps it in the earth and I remember saying
to myself out loud – “there! Now no one can steal that from me – I AM a “fiction novel writer”
just like the teacher taught us about.
It is afternoon one of ten more to come and I am already feeling a world away from my
hectic life and a stone’s throw from my writing life that I have missed so dearly. I am
breathing the most amazing fresh air in perfect temperatures and lovely sunshine and the
novel characters that have been trapped behind a busy life in my multitasking brain are
dancing around with joy and excited to be able to finally come out and play. It seems that it
was only days ago not decades ago that I came to realize I am a fiction writer …. at least for
the next ten days!
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July 10, 2010 03:40:45
Posted By Michelle
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I’m back. Not that I was ever gone but none the less I am here at my blog with at the very least an update and possible a promise to be a more regular contributor to my blog!
Life has an amazing way of getting in the way of a writer’s lifestyle. I have no actual one single excuse for not sticking with my plan for this blog – other than the excuse of life is busy. I do write in many places including another blog or two but this one is dear to me as it is on writing. I intended this blog to be for writers and about writing and have been too busy to even take the time to write about being too busy to write!
I do plan to publish the intended book named for the blog, Inklings On Writing, and perhaps this winter life will grant me some time to complete the project and share it with the many supporters of my work here. I intend it to be an inspirational journey of the process of writing and am so grateful to the many readers who have shared their inspirational moments along with their writing woes and in turn have encouraged me to keep writing, even when life gets in the way.
This past year I have moved to a new city and in trying to connect to a writing group quickly discovered there was no such group. I decided to start a group and launched the facebook page, scribbled a few invites to a monthly meeting on blackboards in downtown coffee shops and am thrilled to say that in 6 months time we have a vibrant group of over 20 writers and growing. The group is energizing and excited about the experiences of writing and growing each their own writer’s lifestyle and the camaraderie has been encouraging to each and every one of us in the group.
Each member has a unique story to tell but share a common goal of finding that precious time. As writers we all struggle to find a space to allow the silence to set in and the creative energy to flow from the scrambled clutter in a busy head to the calming sense of pulling out the words and getting them to paper before they are lost in the day-to-day frenzy of life getting in the way. With summer on us the group is adamant to keep meeting monthly and is even taking the meetings to the outdoors with evening fresh air meetings with new members showing up each month. The group is of every genre and every level and direction but the common thread of the love of writing and the desire to write every chance one gets is the glue of the group.
Where ever you live and write if you feel the loneliness of the writing world or a wavering commitment to your writing lifestyle I strongly suggest you find a group or grow your own. The instant belonging and encouragement to write is a plus but the knowing that others out there are as busy at life as you but still manage to show up at least once a month because is encouraging. They too feel the tug of life on one side and the draw to writing on the other and struggle in a good way to find that time to create.
And in writing this I too will try to stay more tugged into my writing lifestyle and promise to write more encouraging Inklings On Writing at this blog – as well as keeping up at my antique site blog at www.Inktiques.com and my new lifestyle blog coming shortly at www.LandlockedCottage.com
Write often,
Michelle
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September 16, 2009 07:11:40
Posted By Michelle
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... is NOW available!
"In this poetry chap book author Michelle Greysen
shares her poetic reflections on falling in love ...
first love, new love, forbidden love and true love."
For details and ordering info go to:
http://www.lulu.com/content/7550664
(if you are in southern Alberta you may reserve your copy for pickup at Inktiques or want to arrange for a signed copy mailed worldwide please contact Michelle for a shipping quote)
COMING SOON ...
Inklings On Writing by Michelle Greysen
For upcoming titles by Greysen Ink Inc. Publishing - please visit
http://greysenink.com and select "Book Publishing"
Thank you for all your positive support of my writing and as always I welcome any and all comments.
Warm regards,
Michelle Greysen
michelle@GreysenInk.com
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April 3, 2009 07:52:03
Posted By Michelle
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These inklings on writing have circled my desk and consumed my thoughts for a very long time. People often ask me writer-aspiring questions. Why do you write? How do you write? Can you teach me to write?
I first started putting down my answers and thoughts on writing and sharing them out here as a blog. I quickly realized I have far too much to share to limit myself to a few paragraphs on each thought per blog. These concepts would resonate around in my writing brain all day, often getting in the way of real work until one day when I said, “fine let them pass through, write them down and get on with your writing!”
They quickly became my writing and have now transpired into an upcoming book – aptly titled Inklings On Writing.
I invite you to grow and challenge your own writing and please contact me to receive the early release information for this title due out this summer 2009. Thank you for asking the questions that inspired this affirming book on discovering the writer in you.
michelle@InklingsOnWriting.com
Warm regards,
Michelle Greysen
www.GreysenInk.com
http://twitter.com/GreysenInk
Author, Inklings On Writing
ISBN 978-0-9735549-2-2
forthcoming summer 2009
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