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MCRW Retreat
On February 21-23, 2003, 17 MCRW members plus one celebrity guest, the
delightful Pamela Ahearn of the Ahearn Literary Agency of New Orleans, LA,
gathered at Montgomery Bell State Park to talk about life, love and the pursuit
of publication.
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Agent Pamela Ahearn
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Friday night's feature presentation was an enlightening
chat by Ms. Ahearn about the state of the market today, the usefulness
of agents (did not include whipping girls), publication schedules, and
the truth behind such myths as "All romance writers make so much
money they get to quit their day jobs!"
Saturday dawned bright and early and, after scrabbling for breakfast
in the hotel restaurant along with the members of a large biker's
convention (no blood was shed), MCRW members embarked on a day-long
series of educational and entertaining events.
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| Workshops included a hands-on investigation of what makes
good dialogue presented by Annie Solomon, an experiment in authorial
voice presented by Trish Milburn, and open sessions where members
discussed such things as plotting techniques, revision and
characterization.
Right: Members Beth, Annie and Gaynelle chill out on
the comfy couch between workshops. This coveted seating position
was the subject of much jockeying. |
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On Saturday Ms. Ahearn also gave a very instructive
overview of participant query letters, letting us know how the agent
brain works when reading these gems. Surprisingly, agent brains
work like the brains of other humans. Now if we could only map the
editor brain as well...
Left: participants Michelle,
Annie, Corbette, Pam Ahearn and Mary enjoy the special Friday Night
seafood buffet and matching placemats.
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| Saturday finished in a member critique session where
participants were given the opportunity to present their first chapters
to people who had never seen them before. Cries of stunned amazement
filled the room and members exclaimed in awe of one another's skill.
Right: Cheryl, Susan and Monica
discuss their critique sessions in the MCRW suite. Ok, they probably
aren't discussing their sessions, they are just standing still for the
picture, but it's not like I was eavesdropping. |
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Left: Member Susan and her husband in the hotel dining
room. Susan is also a cartoonist. |
| Right: Another MCRW member family member who appreciates
cartoons, Mae, the official mascot, thinks all these women sure are
corny. Her dad (not pictured) would not dare agree. |
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MCRW members rose Sunday morning to a semi winter
wonderland that lasted long enough to take this picture but didn't make
driving hazardous -- the perfect kind of snow!
All rooms at the Montgomery Bell State Park Inn and Resort boasted a
view of the lake and hills. |
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