writing retreat

A bit quiet on the blog front this month as I needed to prep two presentations for the Manor Mill Writers Retreat. I meant to blog a bit after the event, but I needed a bit of downtime. I also ended the day feeling energized to work on my creative writing, which I did, and I set aside some time to beta read and provide feedback on a novel from one of the writers in my network. So that was my November.

The retreat was fantastic – excellent planning and attention to detail, lovely hosts, a great lineup of interesting and informative speakers, and most importantly, high quality snacks.

I took exactly two photos.

Susan Reslewic Keatley spoke on The Art of the Interview: How to Use a Conversation to Connect, Learn, and Shape a Story.

Rafael Alvarez spoke about his experience writing for the television shows HOMICIDE and THE WIRE, and how his passion for Baltimore shapes his work.

In fairness, I did speak on two panels in the afternoon. I have a healthy ego, but taking selfies during a presentation would have been a bit much even for me.

I was not expecting great attendance at either panel, and was a bit taken aback at the turnout for the Substack for Writers presentation. The room (seen in part above) was nearly full and attendees were engaged, asking questions straight out of the gate. I hope to see some of them online building their communities. Attendance for the discussion on how writers are using AI was a bit smaller, but still healthy. We had a good conversation about how we use AI – intentionally or unknowingly – and the ethical and creative quandaries that should be considered when engaging in generative AI.

I dread public speaking, but left the retreat feeling energized, connected, and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to share information. It’s gratifying to feel I have something to contribute. I’m looking forward to both participating and volunteering next year.

I’ll conclude here with a funny story that can now be told.

I have mentioned previously that I do not enjoy sitting for photographs. Even in elementary school photos, I smiled through clenched lips, flinching as though the click of the camera shutter would be accompanied by a hard knucklepunch on my upper arm. I have also noticed this tendency in photos of my siblings and the younger generation of my family. We’re happily ignorant until about 2nd grade and then photographs capture the moment reality starts to sink in. I haven’t gotten any more comfortable as an adult. When someone pulls out a camera, I tense up. My posture stiffens. I get a pinched look on my face. I do have a few photos of myself that I don’t hate and in every one of them, I’d been drinking. If you want me to act naturally, you need to provide alcohol.

This is why I commissioned artist friends to create portraits for my website and Substack. I don’t have to look at my actual face, but the images look enough like me that you’d probably recognize me if you see me in person. When the retreat organizers asked for a photo for the event website, I pointed them to my favorite of the drawings.

They weren’t thrilled with the idea – presumably because the drawing wouldn’t match the other writers’ headshots (If you’ve ever seen photos of Serious Authors, you know the type of glamour shot I mean. I would rather die.) They asked instead if I could provide a photo. Now, I’m an agreeable sort, so I dutifully sent a professional photo, taken at work a few years ago. I’m not a fan of the photos that came from that shoot, but I had cleaned up real nice and wore a tie and everything. These weren’t simple employee badge photos but actual studio-quality professional headshots for our website, and they were recent enough that I looked basically how I look. I had even smiled. Mission accomplished.

And they used the illustration instead.

I tried to warn them.

I don’t attend too many writers get-togethers. While it’s good for me to get out of the house and my head for a day, the cost-benefit doesn’t always work out for me. As with most work meetings, I leave with a strong feeling that the same information could have been communicated via email.

That said, this past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending Jane Friedman’s one-day intensive on building a platform, before or after you get a book deal. Regular readers will know I’m not hellbent on pursuing a traditional publishing deal, but I’m still keen on putting books in hands one day, and having a community of writers and readers who want to share advice, enthusiasm, encouragement, and conversation. The more the merrier.

Unlike most expert talks, this was not a one-sided conversation. Naturally, Jane brought her years of industry experience to the presentation, supported by the 2025 revised edition of her book, The Business of Being a Writer (and I’ll have more on that in an upcoming blog post). But her focus was squarely on the twelve writers in attendance.

Prior to the event, Jane asked us to submit links of our social media profiles, websites, newsletters, etc., ie: anything we used to reach an audience. During the day, as we discussed each topic, Jane also reviewed and commented on our actual IRL tools, pointing out what worked well, what could be added, and what might be communicating something we didn’t intend. I wasn’t expecting to have my homework graded in class, but the individual attention elevated the event. Rather than simply gathering information and being left to apply it on my own, I ended the day with greater insight into what I’m doing well and practical advice on what I can improve. It was as close to a one-on-one consult with an industry expert as a person could get.

If you have the opportunity to attend one of Jane’s talks – or better, one of her workshops – I highly encourage it. If you’re not following her blog, you can find it here. She shares publishing industry intel, trending news, and best practices for building a platform around your writing. Jane also invites guest bloggers to share excellent craft advice, so if you’re not interested in platform and branding, there’s still plenty to like (and full disclosure, I embrace the concepts of platforming and branding though I dislike the corporate terminology. That’s why you’ll hear me reference “community” and “identity” – same food, different seasoning).

Now I’m off to do some more homework.