Pages Promotions and Creative Slingers of Ink
have joined forces to host an
Intensive Four-Day Writing Retreat.
When: Thursday, August 24, 2023 - Sunday, August 27, 2023
Where: The Colombiere Conference & Retreat Center
9085 Big Lake Road Clarkston, MI 48346
have joined forces to host an
Intensive Four-Day Writing Retreat.
When: Thursday, August 24, 2023 - Sunday, August 27, 2023
Where: The Colombiere Conference & Retreat Center
9085 Big Lake Road Clarkston, MI 48346
2023 Story Scribblers Retreat Programming
At Story Scribblers, our goal is to help you focus on learning your craft and getting words written. You will have plenty of opportunities to work on your current projects or create something new... and perhaps learn something you didn't know before.
Writing Workshops... Fun, focused, and relevant, our workshops will allow you to work on new skills or refresh some old ones. We only offer one workshop at a time, so you won't have to go through the agony of choosing or missing out.
Writing On Your Own... If you decide not to attend a particular workshop, dedicated writing rooms will be available for you to work on your craft or meet together in constructive critique... or you can go find a quite place to work on your own.
Casual Writing... Gather together in smaller groups to write. Chat, compare notes, offer brainstorming assists. This is community writing at its finest.
Word Sprints... Focused word-count-goal sessions broken up into small intervals of 10, 15, or 20 minutes. These sessions are all about getting the words written, ignoring spelling and grammar mistakes, and leaving the editing for later. We affectionately call it, "vomiting on the page." Writers who have the highest word count in each session will be awarded bragging rights and perhaps some fun swag.
Night Owl Writing... Are you a writer who works best when the rest of the world is asleep? We understand. Space will be available away from the sleeping rooms, for those who have a Muse who likes to tap dance through their brain in the middle of the night, but they don't want to bother their roommate.
Writing Workshops... Fun, focused, and relevant, our workshops will allow you to work on new skills or refresh some old ones. We only offer one workshop at a time, so you won't have to go through the agony of choosing or missing out.
Writing On Your Own... If you decide not to attend a particular workshop, dedicated writing rooms will be available for you to work on your craft or meet together in constructive critique... or you can go find a quite place to work on your own.
Casual Writing... Gather together in smaller groups to write. Chat, compare notes, offer brainstorming assists. This is community writing at its finest.
Word Sprints... Focused word-count-goal sessions broken up into small intervals of 10, 15, or 20 minutes. These sessions are all about getting the words written, ignoring spelling and grammar mistakes, and leaving the editing for later. We affectionately call it, "vomiting on the page." Writers who have the highest word count in each session will be awarded bragging rights and perhaps some fun swag.
Night Owl Writing... Are you a writer who works best when the rest of the world is asleep? We understand. Space will be available away from the sleeping rooms, for those who have a Muse who likes to tap dance through their brain in the middle of the night, but they don't want to bother their roommate.
Writer's Retreat Workshops...
(dates and times subject to change, based on instructor availability)
THURSDAY - SUNDAY MORNINGS; 7:00AM - 8:30AM... Greet The Day Yoga
...with Mandy Jo
Mandy Jo will lead a morning yoga session where you can greet the day with a fresh mind. The poses will be geared toward helping your back and wrists. They will be slow, controlled, and held for 2 minute minimums.
Mandy Jo is a Certified Stretching Coach through YogaBody. Learn more about Mandy Jo and her books at www.MandyJo.us
...with Mandy Jo
Mandy Jo will lead a morning yoga session where you can greet the day with a fresh mind. The poses will be geared toward helping your back and wrists. They will be slow, controlled, and held for 2 minute minimums.
Mandy Jo is a Certified Stretching Coach through YogaBody. Learn more about Mandy Jo and her books at www.MandyJo.us
FRIDAY; 10:30AM - 11:30AM... The Writer's Dashboard: Tracking Your Writing Practice... with Mandy Jo
Whether you have one writing project or many, sometimes you just lose track of your words and where you are. Mandy Jo will help you take tracking your writing projects to another level. You will receive the spreadsheet and she will help you with how to use it. This is a hands-on workshop. You will walk away with a tool that will help you during the retreat and after.
Mandy Jo is a certified Microsoft Office Specialist who is a Google convert. In her words, "I have a spreadsheet for that." Learn more about Mandy Jo and her books at www.MandyJo.us
Whether you have one writing project or many, sometimes you just lose track of your words and where you are. Mandy Jo will help you take tracking your writing projects to another level. You will receive the spreadsheet and she will help you with how to use it. This is a hands-on workshop. You will walk away with a tool that will help you during the retreat and after.
Mandy Jo is a certified Microsoft Office Specialist who is a Google convert. In her words, "I have a spreadsheet for that." Learn more about Mandy Jo and her books at www.MandyJo.us
FRIDAY; 11:30am - 12:30pm... The Short Story Experience...
...with Andrew Allen Smith
We will start with an overview of short stories, novellas, and novels and the differences between each. Once establishing a baseline, we will talk about approaches and use several short stories as examples tha twill show tactics for engaging the reader and keeping them enthralled in your writing, as well as common ideas to make you memorable.
Then, we will have a common item or idea as a central point to a new short story that will be crafted during portions of the workshop or your free time. Participants will be given the opportunity to read their short stories and discuss their views on the particular item or idea.
Andrew Allen Smith has enjoyed writing short stories for a long, long time. The ability to impart emotion into a well-crafted piece of text has always fascinated him, and he has worked tirelessly to create short stories and flash fiction that operate on multiple levels withing a limited number of words. Andrew currently has 13 books in publication, including four short story anthologies. He has also been included in seven anthologies, five of which are still in print. Although Andrew prefers mystery and thriller shorts, he appreciates all short stories and is currently working on anthologies in six other genres. His recent anthology, Another Slice of Fear, received praise from both Readers Favorite and Literary Titan. Learn more about Andrew Allen Smith and his books at www.AndrewAllenSmith.com
...with Andrew Allen Smith
We will start with an overview of short stories, novellas, and novels and the differences between each. Once establishing a baseline, we will talk about approaches and use several short stories as examples tha twill show tactics for engaging the reader and keeping them enthralled in your writing, as well as common ideas to make you memorable.
Then, we will have a common item or idea as a central point to a new short story that will be crafted during portions of the workshop or your free time. Participants will be given the opportunity to read their short stories and discuss their views on the particular item or idea.
Andrew Allen Smith has enjoyed writing short stories for a long, long time. The ability to impart emotion into a well-crafted piece of text has always fascinated him, and he has worked tirelessly to create short stories and flash fiction that operate on multiple levels withing a limited number of words. Andrew currently has 13 books in publication, including four short story anthologies. He has also been included in seven anthologies, five of which are still in print. Although Andrew prefers mystery and thriller shorts, he appreciates all short stories and is currently working on anthologies in six other genres. His recent anthology, Another Slice of Fear, received praise from both Readers Favorite and Literary Titan. Learn more about Andrew Allen Smith and his books at www.AndrewAllenSmith.com
FRIDAY; 3:30-4:30pm....How To Keep Your Story Moving: Tips & Tricks...
...with D.A. (Deborah) Reed
Sometimes we get a little stuck in our writing. The words haven’t just stopped flowing, they feel jammed up behind a brick wall with no way out. Frustration builds and we eventually walk away from the keyboard, and sometimes the entire story. This workshop will provide tips and tricks on how to keep your story moving, the words flowing, and possibly an idea for a plot twist or two!
D.A. (Deborah) Reed is an obsessive-compulsive woman who is addicted to running, chocolate, and caffeine. Her daily occupations include being wife to a band director, chaos coordinator for two children, and scratching post for her extremely high-maintenance cat. Her favorite writing time is early in the morning, sitting and staring at a blank screen on her computer as she waits for the caffeine from her fifth cup of coffee to kick in while praying her children don’t wake up before she has managed to write at least one sentence. When not writing, she hones her athletic skills by throwing darts at pictures of authors who are terrible writers but who make a lot more money than she does. Find out more about D.A. Reed and her novels at www.DAReedAuthor.com
...with D.A. (Deborah) Reed
Sometimes we get a little stuck in our writing. The words haven’t just stopped flowing, they feel jammed up behind a brick wall with no way out. Frustration builds and we eventually walk away from the keyboard, and sometimes the entire story. This workshop will provide tips and tricks on how to keep your story moving, the words flowing, and possibly an idea for a plot twist or two!
D.A. (Deborah) Reed is an obsessive-compulsive woman who is addicted to running, chocolate, and caffeine. Her daily occupations include being wife to a band director, chaos coordinator for two children, and scratching post for her extremely high-maintenance cat. Her favorite writing time is early in the morning, sitting and staring at a blank screen on her computer as she waits for the caffeine from her fifth cup of coffee to kick in while praying her children don’t wake up before she has managed to write at least one sentence. When not writing, she hones her athletic skills by throwing darts at pictures of authors who are terrible writers but who make a lot more money than she does. Find out more about D.A. Reed and her novels at www.DAReedAuthor.com
FRIDAY; 7:00PM - 8:00PM... Creating Book Cover Designs in PhotoShop
...with Jules Nelson
Are you at a loss on how to start designing your cover? Whether you are coming up with a design idea to submit to a cover artist or wanting to create your own book cover, we will walk through the process of how to design your cover to stand out. Join us as we explore genre specifics for cover styles, fonts, sizes and backcover matter. Then we will take what we discover and learn how to put it all together using photoshop.
Jules Nelson grew up in rural Michigan with her head in the clouds and her nose stuck in a book. Ever curious of the world around her, she set about capturing stories with her pencil and her camera. This Award-winning author lives each moment to the fullest with her Hubby, 2 kids, 3 dogs, an ever-changing number of farmyard fowl and one cranky orange cat... Learn more about Jules and her books at JulesNelson.net
...with Jules Nelson
Are you at a loss on how to start designing your cover? Whether you are coming up with a design idea to submit to a cover artist or wanting to create your own book cover, we will walk through the process of how to design your cover to stand out. Join us as we explore genre specifics for cover styles, fonts, sizes and backcover matter. Then we will take what we discover and learn how to put it all together using photoshop.
Jules Nelson grew up in rural Michigan with her head in the clouds and her nose stuck in a book. Ever curious of the world around her, she set about capturing stories with her pencil and her camera. This Award-winning author lives each moment to the fullest with her Hubby, 2 kids, 3 dogs, an ever-changing number of farmyard fowl and one cranky orange cat... Learn more about Jules and her books at JulesNelson.net
SATURDAY; 9:30am - 10:30am... Using The Hero's Journey To Create A Compelling Plot... with Amy Klco
Chances are likely you’ve heard of The Hero’s Journey, but why does this pattern keep showing up, both in ancient mythology as well as modern books and movies? Because it speaks to the heart of the journey that everyone must take if they want to become a “hero” in their own lives. And because it makes for great stories! This workshop will break down the stages, explain why they are important, and show how you can incorporate them into your own writing.
Amy Klco is the author of eight published books (and a large tote full of all her writings from when she was nine until the present.) Her books, like her life, revolve around the things she loves: tender-hearts, trees, and the magic that is all around us. Find out more about Amy Klco and her books at Enchantment Press.
Chances are likely you’ve heard of The Hero’s Journey, but why does this pattern keep showing up, both in ancient mythology as well as modern books and movies? Because it speaks to the heart of the journey that everyone must take if they want to become a “hero” in their own lives. And because it makes for great stories! This workshop will break down the stages, explain why they are important, and show how you can incorporate them into your own writing.
Amy Klco is the author of eight published books (and a large tote full of all her writings from when she was nine until the present.) Her books, like her life, revolve around the things she loves: tender-hearts, trees, and the magic that is all around us. Find out more about Amy Klco and her books at Enchantment Press.
SATURDAY; 10:30am - 11:30am... Exploring Comedy In Fiction
...with Kristoffer Gair
Imagine if the film Caddyshack 2 had been written to be a comedy. Wait...it was. Well, what if it had been funnier? Or even remotely funny at all? Or what if a certain former President had come out with exorbitantly priced digital trading cards? Wait...he did. Look around you. There's humor to be found everywhere. Writing humor is just a matter of recognizing it, then plugging it in to your story. Many people say "My life isn't funny" or "There's nothing funny going on." Check again. You'll be surprised at just how much can be twisted, turned, and otherwise made to amuse you, and therefore your readers. Let's explore it.
Michigan-based author Kristoffer Gair wrote his first puppet play in 1st Grade and continued writing in one form or another from that point on. Much of it was crap, but there were tiny nuggets of potential mixed in with the likes of Pickle Pony Gets A Puzzle. He spent three of his years at Fraser High School performing in plays, then attended Grand Valley State University where he graduated with degrees in Film & Video and Creative Writing. When not writing and editing, Kristoffer spends his days tormenting management at his day job, shopping at ALDI, being bossed around by the dog he inherited from his mother, playing Halo, listening to music, and going to see The Motels play in concert whenever they're in the area. Learn more about Kristoffer at www.KristofferGair.com
...with Kristoffer Gair
Imagine if the film Caddyshack 2 had been written to be a comedy. Wait...it was. Well, what if it had been funnier? Or even remotely funny at all? Or what if a certain former President had come out with exorbitantly priced digital trading cards? Wait...he did. Look around you. There's humor to be found everywhere. Writing humor is just a matter of recognizing it, then plugging it in to your story. Many people say "My life isn't funny" or "There's nothing funny going on." Check again. You'll be surprised at just how much can be twisted, turned, and otherwise made to amuse you, and therefore your readers. Let's explore it.
Michigan-based author Kristoffer Gair wrote his first puppet play in 1st Grade and continued writing in one form or another from that point on. Much of it was crap, but there were tiny nuggets of potential mixed in with the likes of Pickle Pony Gets A Puzzle. He spent three of his years at Fraser High School performing in plays, then attended Grand Valley State University where he graduated with degrees in Film & Video and Creative Writing. When not writing and editing, Kristoffer spends his days tormenting management at his day job, shopping at ALDI, being bossed around by the dog he inherited from his mother, playing Halo, listening to music, and going to see The Motels play in concert whenever they're in the area. Learn more about Kristoffer at www.KristofferGair.com
Saturday; 2:30PM - 4:00PM... Messing with Perspective - Thinking Outside the Box ... with D.A. (Deborah) Reed
Messing with perspective is an exercise geared toward freeing writers to think creatively in different ways. We will look at pieces already written and add our own perspective and twist, allowing our minds to think and create in ways outside the norm. This workshop will impact how you think about writing within guidelines.
D.A. (Deborah) Reed is an obsessive-compulsive woman who is addicted to running, chocolate, and caffeine. Her daily occupations include being wife to a band director, chaos coordinator for two children, and scratching post for her extremely high-maintenance cat. Her favorite writing time is early in the morning, sitting and staring at a blank screen on her computer as she waits for the caffeine from her fifth cup of coffee to kick in while praying her children don’t wake up before she has managed to write at least one sentence. When not writing, she hones her athletic skills by throwing darts at pictures of authors who are terrible writers but who make a lot more money than she does. Find out more about D.A. Reed and her novels at DAReedAuthor.com.
Messing with perspective is an exercise geared toward freeing writers to think creatively in different ways. We will look at pieces already written and add our own perspective and twist, allowing our minds to think and create in ways outside the norm. This workshop will impact how you think about writing within guidelines.
D.A. (Deborah) Reed is an obsessive-compulsive woman who is addicted to running, chocolate, and caffeine. Her daily occupations include being wife to a band director, chaos coordinator for two children, and scratching post for her extremely high-maintenance cat. Her favorite writing time is early in the morning, sitting and staring at a blank screen on her computer as she waits for the caffeine from her fifth cup of coffee to kick in while praying her children don’t wake up before she has managed to write at least one sentence. When not writing, she hones her athletic skills by throwing darts at pictures of authors who are terrible writers but who make a lot more money than she does. Find out more about D.A. Reed and her novels at DAReedAuthor.com.
Saturday; 4:00PM - 5:00PM... The Dreaded Synopsis
...with Diana Kathryn Plopa
For many authors, the Dreaded Synopsis is far more difficult than writing the actual book. Whether fiction or non-fiction, it is hard to summarize all those words into a paragraph or two that will seduce the reader so well that they will take a chance on your book. This should be easy, but it’s not. After taking a year or more to write the book and make it perfect, how do we convince people that what we have to say, the story we have to tell, or the thing we want to teach is worth their precious time in just a few lines? This workshop will help you brainstorm through that conundrum.
Diana Kathryn is the author of over a dozen multi-genre books. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree In English with a Concentration in Creative Composition; a Certificate in Early Childhood Development & Literature. Since 2010, she has Edited, Published, and Formatted over 350 Books, plus countless Toastmaster Speeches, Scripts, PowerPoint Presentations, and she is the creator of The Passionate Plotter Classroom program for adult and student writers. She spent time as a journalist with The Detroit Jewish News; and as a staff writer for Alan Almond's PillowTalk, a Detroit radio program. Learn more about Diana Kathryn and her books at DKPWriter.com
...with Diana Kathryn Plopa
For many authors, the Dreaded Synopsis is far more difficult than writing the actual book. Whether fiction or non-fiction, it is hard to summarize all those words into a paragraph or two that will seduce the reader so well that they will take a chance on your book. This should be easy, but it’s not. After taking a year or more to write the book and make it perfect, how do we convince people that what we have to say, the story we have to tell, or the thing we want to teach is worth their precious time in just a few lines? This workshop will help you brainstorm through that conundrum.
Diana Kathryn is the author of over a dozen multi-genre books. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree In English with a Concentration in Creative Composition; a Certificate in Early Childhood Development & Literature. Since 2010, she has Edited, Published, and Formatted over 350 Books, plus countless Toastmaster Speeches, Scripts, PowerPoint Presentations, and she is the creator of The Passionate Plotter Classroom program for adult and student writers. She spent time as a journalist with The Detroit Jewish News; and as a staff writer for Alan Almond's PillowTalk, a Detroit radio program. Learn more about Diana Kathryn and her books at DKPWriter.com
Pages Promotions, LLC
Indie Author & Book Publicists Email: [email protected] Phone: 248-914-4027 (voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)
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Creative Slingers of Ink
Indie Author Advocate Email: [email protected] Phone: 248-791-4199 (voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)
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