Vacationing with writers comes with its own peculiar kind of fun. I first noticed that peculiarity on the second day of our three-day “writers’ retreat” at Wild Duck Lake.
It was early morning, and we were sprawled on the plush living room chairs and sectional, wearing our varied sleeping costumes and drinking our pre-breakfast coffee. For the next forty-five minutes (with individual breaks to refill our coffee cups), we lost ourselves in a discussion of names, their connotations, and the eras they represented.
Such fun … for a writer, and, of course, for someone who’s expecting a baby.
After breakfast, we cleared the table and sat back down. It was time to get to work critiquing each other’s writing. And although finding out where your writing has taken a wrong turn may not sound like fun, it actually is … especially when the critique comes from trusted friends.
Lunch was another adventure. We drove to Cle Elum, looking for a good place to eat and ended up at a small café that served large bowls of thick chili-like chicken-tortilla soup. When the owner passed by, we told her we liked her soup. We also happened to mention that we were writers. Maybe that’s why she sat down with us for the next half hour and shared her life story.
Stories are like gold for writers, and this woman had some fantastic, heart-breaking stories of tragedies overcome and strong, funny characters. We soaked it all up and considered ourselves lucky.
Even though vacationing with writers has its own special flavor, for the most part, our three days at Wild Duck Lake was like any other getaway. We took walks and drove to nearby points of interest.
Bakery House, with Paddy, Dianne, and Maureen
We brought lots of good food.
Maureen’s Chicken Nicoise
We enjoyed the scenery.
We posed for photos.
We watched the Strawberry Moon rise over Wild Duck Lake–a special treat since it was the Summer Solstice.
And some of us even found time for a nap.
Oh, and one more thing: There was a painting of a moose hanging on the living room wall, and the owners of the cabin had asked us to suggest a name for him. We took our assignment very seriously, and by the time we left, we had filled a little box with dozens of suggestions. My favorite was “Oscar Wilde.”
Have you ever had some travel partners who gave a special flavor to your trip?
Beautiful pics, especially the one of the moon! I love the support of fellow writers–and what an amazing setting.
I’m glad you like the picture of the moon. I don’t know how to take nighttime photos, but my iPhone did a pretty good job. Since I started my blog, I’ve come to realize the value of writers supporting other writers, both in person and online.
Ooooh! Your writer’s retreat sounds wonderful. I love that you shared pics, too. When people open up and share their stories, you learn some amazing things.
The stories of our lives are so often hidden. It’s not easy to open up. Nor is it easy to frame one’s story in a way that will interest someone else. In a serendipitous meeting, the restaurant owner, who was a good storyteller, met an audience ready to listen.
aaah, that lake looks so peaceful!
It was very peaceful. When the wind died down, it looked like a mirror.
Fun! I hope to join a writers retreat one day. Maybe I’ll make up my own! In any case, I miss the company of good writers and ladies to give you that push, encouragement and feedback. It’s all about the group. I know some folks have had bad experiences w/ writers groups, but there are good ones. Sounds like you’ve got yourself a gem!
After spending all that time alone working on a piece of writing, it’s nice to have a few people who will read it and who care enough to make suggestions. I’ve had mostly good luck with writers’ groups. “Push, encouragement and feedback.” You’re exactly right. That’s what a writers’ group provides.
Writer’s trip and escapade. It sounded like a relaxing escapade and there was no pressure to write. “varied sleeping costumes” I love this fancy name of pyjamas. It makes sleeping sound fun and fancy 😀
My travel companions have always been amazing and they are always the one in the driver’s seat in the car. Once me and my longtime friend drove out to the country in Australia to pick some fruit like cherries and strawberries. She drove, while I navigated. We are both very different – I have more of an artistically creative mind but she an science, logical mind. I loved walking slowly and taking photos and she would always be ahead of me seeing the next thing 😀
The reason I said “varied sleeping costumes” is that people sleep in all kinds of things there days. I prefer an old fashioned nighty. Lots of the pajamas people wear are unmatched T-shirts and shorts or knit pants.
Your fruit-picking trip with your friend sounds like fun. My daughters have always enjoyed visiting the farmers who allow U-pick. On various family outings, we’ve picked strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
Clearly a great day.
Thank you, Derrick.
It sounds wonderful 🙂 Congratulations!
Thanks for stopping by, Jo.
Sounds like a fun retreat. Writers do make life interesting!
Life is interesting, but writing gives us a reason to pay attention to life–just in case we need a reason.
Combining “work” with pleasure is a great way to get the “job” done.
Looks like you all had fun in the sun.
Enjoyed the pics.
Combining work and pleasure can be the best kind of fun. I know of a painter who goes to Europe every year with her painter friends. They sketch and do plein air painting, and I’m sure they have lots of fun in between. My sister belongs to a photography group. For years she has traveled around with them to dozens of beautiful places.
Eastern Washington state is sunnier than Western Washington. The weather was sunny but not hot. Very pleasant.
Sounds perfect, Nicki. The get-aways and the weather.
I did a working writer’s retreat through SCBWI a few times. It was fantastic, but it mainly focused on the opening of a novel. There’s just not enough time in a weekend to get to more than that. How long was your retreat? It looks fantastic!
Ohh! The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. That must have been fun. The first time I dipped my toe into writing was a correspondence course I took for writing children’s books. I thought I could write and illustrate a book. I didn’t realize that the writer and illustrator are usually two different people. I finished the course, but I didn’t get much further than that. Good children’s books aren’t easy to write. And some of the illustrators are really masterful. I recently read Wynken, Blynken & Nod to my grand nephew and was blown away by Johanna Westerman’s illustrations. https://www.amazon.com/Wynken-Blynken-Nod-Eugene-Field/dp/1558584226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466974596&sr=8-1&keywords=winken%2C+blinken+and+nod
Our little retreat was just three days and two nights. It was more of a getaway than a working retreat, although we did do a little bit of writing.
Sounds like the perfect getaway, Nicki. Are they from VCFA too?
What beautiful scenery! I enjoy my getaways with writer friends too.
Nope. None of the ladies studied at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Our original group met at Write on the Sound, our very successful hometown writers’ conference. Someone had set up tables with sign-up sheets for anyone interested in forming writers’ groups in various towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods.
Many years ago I took a vacation with my 3 besties. It was great fun. Somehow without husbands we would end up at the bar after dinner talking to everyone. It’s definitely a different kind of fun. Unfortunately my besties are either physically unable to do that or living across the country but I’ll always treasure that time we had. Sounds like you had a fabulous time and to get help on your projects is even better!
Your vacation with your besties reminded me of another trip a few years ago when three neighbor ladies and I joined a Rick Steves tour of Sicily and southern Italy. Somehow when you’re with a group of ladies, you do end up talking to everyone. I think we stood out in comparison to all the couples. People hesitate to interfere with a family group. We even had a younger single man who decided to tag along with us much of the time.
It is different and as a group you are more approachable.
I love that the owner of the cafe sat down at your table and shared her life story, Nicki. It looks like you had a fabulous time…the photos are beautiful.
After high school graduation, I traveled to the beach and stayed in a penthouse suite with eight other girls…oh the stories. Needless to say, that was my first and only time I shared a house with that many hormones. 🙂
I love traveling with my family, but there is something special about hanging out with the girls. Thank you for sharing the experience you had with eight other girls at the beach. Sounds like fun.
The cafe owner had some fantastic stories. We were really grateful she opened up to us.