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Amy Rose Capetta, Carol Brendler, Ginger Johnson, Indiana Dunes, Jen Taylor Schmidt, Katie Bayerl, Larissa Theule, Marianna Baer, Mary Winn Heider, Rachel Hylton, Rachel Wilson, S3Q2, Varian Johnson, writing retreat
For the second year in a row, a number of the Super Secret Society of Quirk and Quill (and friends) gathered in the wild Midwest for a fantasy weekend of writing respite.
We came from all over … Austin, Asheville, Boston, New York, the middle of the New Hampshire woods, and, um, Shanghai. Yes, Larissa flew in from Shanghai, looking cheery and fresh per usual.
This year’s group included: Top row — Amy Rose Capetta, Mary Winn Heider, Carol Brendler, Katie Bayerl, Marianna Baer, Varian Johnson; Bottom row — Ginger Johnson, Rachel Wilson, Jen Taylor Schmidt, Larissa Theule, and Rachel Hylton.
So why did we come?
It’s fantastic of course to see old friends.
The concentrated writing time, workshops, and readings by talented colleagues were all delightful. (Saturday night’s readings took place outside — never have you seen more Macs around a firepit.)
Communing with nature was nice.
Even if Varian and Jen don’t like walking in sand …
There’s also something to be said for sleeping in a bunk bed that reminds you of summer camp, swinging on a hammock that reminds you of family vacation, and hanging out in a hot tub that hints of adolescent scandal.
Not that any of us were ever scandalous adolescents of course!
But there is nothing more magical (for a kidslit writer) than waking up to breakfast among f
riends who want nothing more than to talk about techniques for building magical systems, how theme can guide plot, and how 12 and 13 feel massively different on a girl protagonist.
These are people who get it, who remember your reading from when it was just a rough draft at residency, who understand why you can’t let go of that concept even if you still haven’t zeroed in on a point of view, or a voice, or a plot.
Two of the pieces from last year’s workshops have since sold. All of the pieces from this year inspired me.
I’m not so happy to be home alone with no more writer friends in the next bunk, but I’m happy to be inspired, to be excited to wake up tomorrow and write.
On our last night, we each wrote down a goal or intention for the coming year and tossed it into the fire. It’s a spark that I plan to keep burning.
Quirk and Quill 
OH, FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks so much Rachel. Looks like a fabulous place, and all those happy faces tell the real story. Loved, loved loved sharing vicariously.
Oh, lovely. Thank you, Rachel.
Yes! Yes! Yes! You’ve captured it perfectly!
Yay! So great to hear about it! Those conversations sound wonderful, and you guys are all wonderful. Next year, I hope!
Great post, Rachel:) *sigh* Got the loveliest little taste of how wonderful it would have been to have woken up in one of those bunks, walked in that sand, and sat around the fire with you all. Thanks for sharing!
Well said, Rachel. It was a great weekend.
Miss, miss, miss you all. *Sigh* from me too, Mima.
Thanks, guys! I love these pics. I’ll have to put more up on FB. It was such an invigorating time.
Oh I love this! Made me yearn for VCFA and all your faces so bad. Sigh.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. How lucky you all are. I’m jealous.
Reading this fills me with inspiration. Thanks for sharing your weekend retreat with us!
Sitting out Hurr. Sandy, I can finally catch up on Q&Qs. I’ve avoided this one. I knew it would be tough to read. It was. Made me weepy. You reminded me what I miss the most about these gatherings. Talking shop with trusted peeps or as Uma invited us to do on our very first day at VC–be part of the conversation. Miss you guys so much.