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MCRW Retreat 2005 Checklist
Author: Jody Wallace
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: February 2005
The MCRW Retreat is approaching fast and our group won't be
meeting between now and then. The Retreat Committee wanted to provide attendees
with a checklist of "pre-Retreat" notes and things to consider as the big
weekend approaches.
1) Friday night we're having a special dinner at 6 pm sharp. Be there or be
rectangular!
2) We will be doing a "Polish Your Pitch" session after the chow-down Friday
night led by our own Sherrilyn Kenyon. Even if you haven't requested an editor
or agent appointment, you're welcome to participate--especially if you know a
thing or two about polishing pitches.
3) On Friday night we'll also work on our book collages. According to retreat
head honchette Cassondra Murray, these collages are a "brain drain" for the book
you're going to be structuring this weekend. You will need:
a) Something to paste everything on--poster board, plywood,
foam core, ugly artwork purchased from Goodwill for a mere $2.99--whatever
you think you can get a bunch of stuff to stick to and then carry home.
b) Glue--glue sticks or rubber cement or glues designs for scrapbooking work
better than plain white glue.
c) Stuff to glue on--magazine clippings, fabric, buttons, bows, scrapbooking
stuff, glitter, Mardi Gras beads, costume jewelry, wrapping paper, pieces of
wood, cat toys, plastic utensils, pressed flowers, those weird odds and ends
in the back of the junk drawer.... Whatever speaks to you about your book.
d) Your imagination--but no artistic talent required! Seriously. These
collages are just for sheets and grins and maybe some inspiration, as our
subconscious minds babble about our books in graphical format.
4) Several books by members will play a part in their respective
sessions. To get the most out of each session, if you have time to skim the
books before the retreat, that would be great! The books are:
a) Annie Solomon's BLIND CURVE (available February 2005)
b) Beth Pattillo's PRINCESS CHARMING (technically Out Of
Print but several members have copies they may be willing to loan out)
c) Cheryl Zach/Nicole Byrd's VISION IN BLUE (available
February 2005)
d) Anna DeStefano's THE UNKNOWN DAUGHTER (a Superromance
that came out in October 2004, so it may be hard to find)
5) And last but not least--in fact, first!--bring an idea, on
paper or otherwise, of the book you want to brainstorm during our various "Book
in a Weekend" sessions. I personally plan to work on a book for which I have
exactly 15 pages and few ideas about beyond those 15 (spectacular) pages. I am
hoping this Retreat will solve that little issue. See you all soon!
Love Notes, the official monthly newsletter of Music City Romance
Writers, is provided to paying members free of charge. If you are an MCRW member and would like to submit an article to
Love
Notes, visit the main newsletter page
for more information. If you would like to reprint one of these articles in your
RWA chapter newsletter, please give proper credit to both the author and the
original source. For any other uses, please contact the
president
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