progress

last week’s meeting showed a few dropouts or possibly just abasences, three new people showed up and two of our group are now off out of town for university, so calculating the pluses and minuses, we are holding at around 10-12, which is large but manageable, so no second meeting time will be needed just yet.

two separate meeting groups for review?

doing a little calculating, it is possible we may have 13 people show up at the next meeting, which might be a bit unwieldy….. it is possible we may have the opportunity to break into two groups for separate monthly meetings……. will need confirmation of room availability and of interest on the part of the group before this is a reality

more interest

had another call about the group and from that and another conversation, we may have 12 people out to the next meeting on Aug. 12th.

Turning Leaves Fall Writing Retreat – October 23, 24 & 25, 2009

Registration Open Online for Turning Leaves, All-inclusive Writing Retreat October 23, 24 & 25, 2009

Escape to write in the Kawarthas this fall. Writescape Writing Retreats has put together another wonderful writing getaway at fabulous Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake.

You’ll have three days to focus on your writing while the resort takes care of the rest. The retreat program offers 4 in-depth writing workshops along with optional activities and creativity sessions to nudge your muse and fire up your pens as needed. With private time for writing and reflection, starter exercises and Writescape’s amazing “inspiration station”, writer’s block will be banished.

Register by August 15 to receive the Early Bird Bonus: written feedback on up to 10 ms pages from both facilitators Ruth E. Walker and Gwynn Scheltema, award-winning writers and professional editors.

Joining Ruth and Gwynn this fall is Susan Lynn Reynolds, 1992 YA Novel of the Year winner and accredited instructor in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. Susan will be a guest facilitator at the Turning Leaves retreat.

This is the perfect retreat to inspire all types of writing; poetry, fiction, memoir, and non-fiction writers can escape to write at Turning Leaves.

Popular with European travellers, Elmhirst’s offers a relaxing combination of cosy cottage accommodations and spectacular gourmet meals with getaway amenities like an indoor pool and on-site themed pub. The resort is set on gently rolling hills next to beautiful Rice Lake, a mere 90 minutes east and north of Toronto.

$695 for all meals, single room accommodations, resort amenities and the three-day retreat program. $30 discount for WCDR/HHWEN/CAA/PWAC members (other writing association members please query). .

Full retreat details and online registration at: www.writescape.ca

Contact: info@writescape.ca or call 905-728-7823

Writescape specializes in reteats and workshops designed to take you away from the daily grind and give you an immersion in writing and creativity. We take care of all the details so you can relax, focus and write, write, write. Empower your stories and fill your ideas folder to overflowing.

Writescape Alumni Say:

“Who knew you could keep the pen moving on the page for so long?”

“Talk about exceeding expectations! This was the most value-packed weekend I’ve ever had. You even found a way to combat post-workshop sag by giving us more ideas to try at home….Please, sir, I want some more!”
HEATHER O’CONNOR
Whitby Ontario

“I love the opportunities to write spontaneously – I find the creative energy in the room really inspires me to “think outside the box” and attempt writing I wouldn’t normally do.”
JUDY HAMPSON
New Jersey USA

“Nice full circle quality of the activities. Really satisfying to see it all laid out, just how far our characters have come. Thank you.”
LUANNE SMITH
Toronto Ontario

Visit the HHWEN website at www.haliburtonwriters.ca.

Mariposa Writers Group

John Forrest, Facilitator, Mariposa Writer’s Group, Phone: Res (705) 325-9403, Email: johnforrest@rogers.com
Alternate Contact	Marilyn Rumball, Membership Director, Phone: Res (705) 835-7061, Email: spruce@encode.com
Primary Executive	Alice DeMunnik, Contact, Phone: Res (705) 327-7846
Addresses
Address	Doolittle-Carson Reception Centre 57 Neywash St Orillia, ON L3V 1X2

Mariposa Writers – contest

from The Orillia  Packet and Times

Attention writers! The Mariposa Writers’ Group is seeking submissions for its annual Lake Country Poetry and Short Story competitions (for commercially unpublished writers) to be held in conjunction with the 2009 Lake Country Literary Lapses Festival.

This year’s festival (the 10th) will take place on Friday, Aug. 14 on the grounds of the Leacock Museum.

A variety of events (workshops, readings etc.) will take place throughout the day.

The Mariposa Writers’ Group Awards (and cash prizes) for the competitive short story and poetry submissions will be presented at the fifth annual evening gala.

The group is interested in written works, real or fictional, which evoke emotion and/or comment in some way on the human condition. Submissions are accepted for the (non competitive — no fee) “Summer Readers” feature as well.

For full entry guidelines, contact Marilyn Rumball at or 835- 7061 or John Forrest at 325- 9403.

group activities

we discussed the possibility of a few things at the first meeting:

• members will submit work and the group will provide feedback
• possibly give group readings locally
• possibly prepare a group anthology annually
• share information about writing the process and the business