“I’ve always felt that my ‘style’—the careful projection onto paper of who I think I am—was my only marketable asset, the only possession that might set me apart from other writers.” ---William Zinsser

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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

ANNOUNCING THE SPRING WORD LOVERS WEEKEND -- CHECK IT OUT

We writers need to set aside time, create space, give ourselves permission, and practice the craft. We just need to write! Word Lovers creator Claudia Taller has created a motivational and supportive writer’s getaway weekend at Lakeside, Ohio’s Chautauqua on Lake Erie. On Friday at 1PM, Claudia will lead early arrivers on a tour of two local wineries. Dinner will be served at 6:30PM followed by a session of exploring your goals through vision boarding 9-11AM Saturday, Liana Laverentz (www.lianalaverentz.com) will present Beginnings, Middles, and Endings. She’ll show you how to open your book with a bang, prop up a sagging middle, and craft endings that leave your readers wanting more. Focus will be on keeping your reader’s attention, getting rid of words that slow a manuscript down, knowing what’s important to the story, and what is not. Bring the first three pages of your work in progress. 1-3PM Saturday, Trudy Brandenburg (www.trudybrandenburg.com) will lead a fun and active two-hour session about Self-Publishing and Marketing. She will lead you through publishing through CreateSpace, and you’ll also walk away with a draft of your book cover and a marketing plan. You’ll also design your business logo and your brand. 3-5PM Saturday, Claudia will remind you of The Elements of Style in a copyediting and word choice session that take you back to Strunk & White and get your manuscript or short pieces into audience-ready shape. 7:30AM Sunday, Claudia will lead yoga by the Lake, and after breakfast, a roundtable critique session. Weekend Fees are $239/weekend for a shared room and $329/weekend for a private room. Commuters pay $169, and a Thursday’s overnight stay is $50. All meals, except Saturday dinner, are included. Send your reservation to Claudia Taller at claudia.taller@yahoo.com. A $50 nonrefundable fee will hold your space until May 15 when the balance is due. Cancellations after May 15 are subject to penalties. Sign up by April 15 and save $30. Payment should be sent to 26408 Chapel Hill Drive, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070.

A Winding Road - Writing

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My book, "Ohio's Lake Erie Wineries," an Arcadia production, explores the history of island and lakeshore wineries from the mid-1800s through today. I write travel, memoir, profiles, book reviews, local interest articles, and fiction. My writing is always of discovery--whether it's journaling, book reviewing, letter writing, or sharing an experience of life. I have written two novels and am working on a third novel and a memoir. I am passionate about sharing what life has to offer with others. "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron woke me up to a sense of possibility--life is too short not be enjoyed by living deeply and well. I created Igniting Possibilities, a conduit for creativity workshops and events, in the hope of guiding others to realize their full potential. The Word Lover's Retreats at Lakeside, Ohio's Chautauqua community, help writers find their voice and direction.