Inspiration...From Inspiring Places

Las week at this time I was in a city about fifty miles to the south of where I am right now. It's called Provo, Utah. Maybe it's just me, but I don't believe a lot of people are indifferent to the city. It's one of those places you either love, or do not love.

Personally, I think it's a beautiful valley with a shimmering blue lake to the west and incredible mountains to the east (I still like the mountains in Weber County better, but that's just personal preference...). Each day I was at the writing retreat I took a break and went up to a small canyon just east of my friend's house. It's called Rock Canyon.

And it's incredible.

I took my camera and tried to get some good pictures. Of course, it's impossible to capture the true beauty of a place with a camera because being there--living it--is part of what makes the experience so memorable. 

Taking a daily hike also helped my writing. I had sent my main character on a trip through a rocky, barren canyon from Jericho to Jerusalem. I've never been to this area of the world myself, but if you do a google search, as I did, a lot of Rock Canyon looks like the area thousands of miles away. It helped me write the scene. It put me there. And if you've ever tried writing something--creating something, you know how important a spark of inspiration can be.

So, if you've never been up to Rock Canyon directly east of the Provo Temple, here's a couple of pictures. I really didn't go up very far. Next time I need to explore more.

To The Butlers...All Of Them...I Thank You!

Earlier this week I loaded up my car with some clothes, my down comforter, some food, my computer, and a need to do some writing. I arrived in Provo, Utah an hour later, unpacked the car and got to work.

It was a fantastic week!

It was the first writing retreat I've ever attended. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I hoped I'd be able to focus on my WIP and get a lot accomplished.

I ended up doing a lot more than that!

I stayed from Tuesday morning until Friday morning and wrote several chapters. I basically have the story's opening written. There's so much more work that needs to go into it, but I am so stoked at where I'm at.

Of course, this whole experience--the writing, the editing, the eating, and the gaming to round of the evenings--would not have happened if it weren't for the Butler family. It's one thing to have some friends over for a movie night, or a game night. It's another thing completely to have 6-8 grown men basically move in for a week. I thank Dave for inviting me and being a fantastic host, but I thank his wife, for basically allowing it to happen in the first place. If the wife's not on board, it just won't work. Thanks to the Butlers--all of them, even the kids who allowed us to invade their space. I know I wouldn't have been able to do the amount of work I did without them.

And, as an added bonus, I won two awards!

The 2016 Retreat to the House on the Hill is complete, and the Kovel Jurors have returned a verdict. 2016 has seen the following Kovels awarded:

Edward M. Kovel Loves You for:

Most Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Husberg
Most Force Breeding . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon Rock
Snappiest Hat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Braithwaite
"Like Ben Hur, with Demons" Prize . Scott Taylor
Best Post-Apocalyptic Cattle Drive. . Aaron Michael Ritchey
Most Day Job Work Done . . . . . . . . Eric Patten
Dwarf Ringer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marion Jensen
Best Game Explanation . . . . . . . . . . Nick Dianatkhah
Best Dark Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Husberg
Best Drug-Addicted Duellist . . . . . . . Michael Dalzen
Most Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Husberg
Best In-Progress Fantasy Novella . . Jon Rock
Best Chicken and Rice --- Tie --- . . . Aaron Michael Ritchey
Scott Taylor
Most Hittite Erotica . . . . . . . . . . . . . D.J. Butler
Best Beard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Dianatkhah
Most Improved Health . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Patten

Congratulations to all Kovel winners, their editors, agents, and interns!

Attend Writing Retreats...It's Something Writers Do

I have friends who, from their earliest thoughts and reckonings have wanted to be writers. That's all they ever wanted to do. They have stories--many of them very entertaining--about how when they were young (almost always when they're in their single digit years...), they created their first story. It could have been a story about a dragon coming to destroy their school, or about their first pet and how they loved that puppy more than life itself. The point is, these people had a singular goal: to become a writer.

My experience was much different. I approached writing as an adult (more age than maturity...). I didn't do many of the things young writers do like write stories for the literary projects in jr. high or high school. I didn't submit stories to local newspapers or writing contests. But today, I have done something that writers, many writers do. It's something writers talk about doing, and when they talk about it, they usually praise it for how beneficial it is to the craft they love. Today I'm participating in a writing retreat.

There's a half dozen of us, give or take. We're spread out in a rather large house at the base of a mountain. The home itself has a literary history. International best sellers have been written within its walls. We're hoping some of that successful literary karma finds its way into our WIPs. 

For me, I chose the quietest section in the basement, found an incredible comfortable chair and went to work. Not knowing what to expect, I did not make any word count goals for myself today. I think I will tomorrow. I need to push myself and write...write like the wind.

With a trusted portable heater by my side, words have come. Usually when I write, there's either music or TV in the background. Today, only the warming buzz of the heater and distant sounds of creativity are heard.

Yes, as I've learned more about this obsession called "becoming a writer," I've learned there are things you do. I can now cross "going to a writing retreat" off my list.