Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Catching Dreams




I wanted to post a picture of our little group at the Hawaii Writer’s Retreat, but for some reason I couldn't upload the pictures. Blasted technology! You can see it on my author website at:www.dorrainedarden.com


Dreams are powerful. We all have them, but catching them is another thing entirely. I’ve always felt you must first know what you want to have it. Writing our goals down is a great place to start. The Hawaii Writer’s Retreat has been on my list for seven years, and, sigh… I finally made it there.

There are many awesome writer’s retreats, but in my mind this was the mother of them all. And what a great mother she was. Seasoned authors attend here, still learning and growing. If you’re coming here to loll about the island, you’d best come a few days early. Once you start the six day retreat, or writing intensive, you’ll be drenched in classes. Classes before classes. Classes after classes. So many great author/speakers you won’t want to miss. Your day starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends, minus homework, at 4:30 p.m.

First let me mention our amazing author and instructor, Anne LeClaire. She had the patience of a monk and the grit of a soldier. Talented to the max, she left no rock unturned when it came to our manuscripts. This is no place for sissies. Or the ego. We were here to learn and learn we did. Anne had this uncanny ability to see exactly what was needed to turn our manuscripts into gold. She taught us how to flip our stories. She taught us to be better liars and that’s the truth! It's all in the details.

In regards to your story, ask yourself, what would happen if? Here’s an example from my latest: The Passion Diary. A pastor accidentally ends up with a woman’s diary, which changes their lives forever. Now: What if that same pastor takes a woman’s diary? Immediately the story has more flavor. Why would a man, let alone a pastor take a woman’s diary and read it? What happens now that he’s fallen in love with her? Don’t you want to know?

I do.

Oh, right. Guess I now have to figure that out. I also discovered this novel I’ve worked on off and on for four years needs to be told in first person rather than third. Holy crap. I now have to rewrite the whole ding dang thing. But you know what? I’m thankful because I just might have something in the end that will attract an agent. We like attracting agents, don’t we? And by the way, your first page should sing like Beyonce. Most agents will not turn to page two, so you must capture them on page one.

The women I worked with in class were not only talented but witty and humorous. It was a joy getting to know them and I hope to have them in my life for along time to come.

Do you know what separates the real writers from the rest? Yes, you need talent, but the key ingredient is perseverance. Some of you knew this already. Those, like myself, who have been slogging quietly along for years, believing when nobody else did. Belief in your abilities must start from the inside out.

It’s nice too, when people come along who see that you’re not just some fly by night, hokey poky, I’ll write when I want to kind of chick. I hope you are blessed beyond measure that way. I have been so grateful for those who’ve gotten aboard my dingy. We get nowhere in life without the support from others, which means we need to Pay it Forward also, which by the way, is a great movie.

In the coming days I’ll be sharing more tricks I learned to make your writing sing, so stayed tuned and keep catching those dreams.
Filed in Writing | Edit | No Comments

18 comments:

  1. First, that picture left me breathless. Just plain awesome.

    Second, this post is amazing. There are so many valuable nuggets in here that I can't even pinpoint just one or two to mention.

    Thank you for this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Lydia. I hope whatever I share here helps. There is so much, I wasn't sure where to start.

    And, oh my, if you've never been to Hawaii, it is dead drop gorgeous! If you've been you already know.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Never been there (that will change some day), but my older sister actually lived there for a time. Lucky her.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I'm sorry you didn't get to go while your sister was there. Yes, lucky her, although the cost of living is extremely high. At least that's the conversation I had with someone who lives there. She said it didn't matter; she was staying. Do put it on your list, Lydia.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! You've received the Lemonade Award! Check out my blog for more details!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dorraine, I'm glad to hear you had such a good time and so many breakthroughs in your writing! Wish I could have joined you there. That picture is so stunning, like Lydia I had to catch my breath on seeing it.

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  7. I loved this post on many levels. The picture is sensual. Thank you for sharing what you took your time and money to learn. You can't even begin to imagine how much it means to me and how much it tells me about you. I look forward to more.

    Namaste.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, ye gads, a lemonade award! Why, thank you so much, Jessica. I was rather parched. Still hot, hot in Texas. Really, I'm honored that you selected my blog and I'm enjoying yours as well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bright flowers, and blue water; it was a breathtaking landscape. Yes, Jai, I should have came and snatched you up. You would have fit right in.

    And thank you. Breakthroughs are work, but good things can emerge. Fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, Ronda, thank you for your kind words. I'm happy to share. Speaking of Cher, do you remember that old song, Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves? For some reason that came to mind. Although I loved the song, I never wanted to be a tramp or a thief. A generous Gypsy would have been charming, though, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dorrine, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful experience! As some of your readers already know, I'm just starting out on the writing journey, and though I can't imagine ever measuring up to all of the other talented writers out there, I can only attempt to try. I don't know where to start let alone what to do first,...but reading these blogs/posts, connecting with individuals, reading their joys & sorrows, living life through their words, is truly a blessing.

    Thank you!
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  12. You're welcome, Jennifer. And you are right;it is a blessing connecting this way. Some of the stories fellow bloggers have shared are truly touching, and one almost feels like they are tiptoeing on sacred ground.

    And I expect you'll measure up like the rest of us, one word at a time. Keep writing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dorraine, must you continue making me jealous by posting stunning pictures of Hawaii? I see that you must.

    Fine. I'll just go and, um, look at the soggy grass outside. It's beautiful. So there!

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  14. Damn, I've been eaten alive by mosquitoes. And it's all your fault for making me go and look at soggy grass. It wasn't even pretty!

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just calm down, sister! Stop the whah, whahing. I can't do a darn thing about your mosquitoe bites. Bug spray. I've found that to be useful.

    You know, they don't have mosquitoes in Hawaii.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Argh! I should tickle you with a peacock feather and see if you like the torture.

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  17. D, that photo just about says it all! So glad you had a wonderful experience.

    ReplyDelete