Monday, January 26, 2009

Writing Retreat

I'm going on a writing holiday, no more working for a day or two.
Hang on, that's wrong. I'll be working all week! But I'll be having fun as well!
Thanks to my wonderful, supportive, loving family (who I don't thank enough) I'm winging my way to Co. Cork to the Anam Cara Writing Retreat for seven days of dedicated writing and relaxation. My plan is to start work on my first novel of 2009, working title 'The Bobbit', which is set in my fantasy world of Reath and is an origin tale of sorts for the different creatures that dwell there. I first wrote it when I was twelve and it wasn't bad, but I want to update it, polish it and send it out to publishers. I'm hoping the retreat will help me get the tone right from the beginning.
Because I am going on a week long writer out and about I thought I would take a break from my regular routine and chronicle my week on the blog. I am hoping to vblog every day about my progress, but if I don't have the Internet connection for that, I will text blog.
I start off my week with a six hour drive to get to the retreat centre. I'm looking forward to it because a) I have never driven to Cork before and I'm looking forward to the achievement of completing the drive and finding my way on my own and b) I am going to use the drive to help clear my mind of the everyday clutter and focus on the project that lies ahead. I love driving on my own - good tunes on the radio, the wind blowing in my hair (or the air conditioning),the feel of the steering wheel against my palms, the countryside blurring past my windows.
Here is to a week of adventure and productivity!
P.S Just heard my flash 'Death's Girlfriend' (inspired by a dream - first hand experience that my writing exercise last week works!) has been accepted for publication in Sonar 4's Anthology of Horror and Science Fiction Flash due out in June. Yay! What a good start to the week.

6 comments:

Aizan Suhaira said...

Phew! At first I thought The Bobbit was about a guy who got his 'bobbit' cut...

Unknown said...

Nope. The Bobbit is related to the many hobbits in Hobbiton. But he is so big, and aptly named Robert, so they called him 'the Bobbit'.

I like fantasy too, but with more blood and gore. Cute characters are nice too, if they are killed along the process.

Forgive me, I was broken since very young. :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on another publication- really looking forward to your vblog
hope you totally enjoy the retreat and come back with a classic ie the BObbit

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your latest success, Inkpot!

Best of luck with the writing retreat, looking forward to hearing all about it!

SSQuo said...

Good luck on this retreat. I'm sure you'll come back with a refreshed version of The bobbit (love the title btw).

I hope you are going to be listening to Ms/ Spektor on your six hour ride. I command you to! :)

Inkpot said...

Hi Aizan, yeah, a lot of people think that when I say the name, that's why it is a working title! :D

Good explanation Shadowthorne. Sounds like a good story. I too was broken young and like a good helping of blood and gore with everything. It makes the sweet stuff go down so much easier, don't you think?

Thanks Anon. Unfortunately I wasn't able to vblog while I was away but maybe it was a good thing I didn't have broadband while I was away, it made it a real retreat.

Thanks DNOTY2008, I'm looking forward to telling you all about it.

Thanks SSQuo. I heard your command and obeyed. She helped pass the time nicely on the way down to Cork.