So, on the calendar for this week, I was supposed to be talking about crushing your writing goals (a follow-up, if you will, from last month’s post on making writing goals). However, this past Friday I returned from the Sunrise Publishing Writing Retreat and wanted to share a re-cap.
I know I still owe everyone the story of how I actually got a publishing contract (and agent). I promise that story is coming (three months in and I’m STILL trying to wrap my head around it). One of the benefits of signing with Sunrise Publishing is the Sunrise plotting retreat that comes before you really start diving into writing your book.
I was really nervous going into this week. While I’m always trying to perfect my plot, I’ve never been one to understand all the schematics. My critique partners are forever talking about act one (and two and three) and doorway of no return and at some point in those conversations, my brain short circuits. So, knowing I was going on a retreat that entire purpose was to plot a book had me both excited and feeling all the nerves (so nervous my brain would short circuit once again and have no idea what anyone was talking about?)
Sunrise Plotting Retreat
Due to the publishing schedule, I was up first for plotting, nice and early on Monday morning (so, yes, not only did I not know what I was doing, I was going first — I know … the horror). Looking back over the past week I’m not sure what I was so nervous about. Susan May Warren and Tricia Goyer are both wonderful teachers of all the things. The way they teach plotting made everything click in my head. (Yes, there was happy dancing).
When past Sunrise authors warned me that we would be plotting all day, they weren’t kidding. We got started each morning at about 9 AM and didn’t finish until dinner time (around 6). We plotted the entire first three days and y’all I was in heaven. Also in heaven because Kate cooked all the amazing food all week — we were spoiled! (Also, I probably consumed way too many peanut M&Ms last week.)
On Thursday, we were able to have a field trip to Amish country + visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder home. It really felt magical.
Now I’m home and the real work begins. I have real deadlines (aka ones that I haven’t set for myself) and an entire plot to work off of. I’m really excited for this book and can’t wait for y’all to read it (in 2023 — preorder coming soon. LOL).
Note: Thanks to Kate for most of these amazing shots of our week!
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