As many of you already know, some lucky few of us OSers spent a day happily and usefully ensconced in the stony aerie that is Mohonk Mountain House, members of a writers' retreat. Some of us came from across the country and some from just down the winding road. Some were strangers known only to others by our avatars. Others were friends, both longtime and recent. And get this -- though we wrote and spoke of stories pain-filled, true, touching and funny -- we none of us fell to argument or criticism. When it was over, no one dared describe the good feelings that abounded, perhaps for fear of breaking the mood we'd been feeling all day (moods don't yield well or easily to words). Now, two days away from it (I did not avail myself of Sunday's tugboat trip, alas) I'd call that feeling this: we experienced the fellowship of the pen that day. So many writers use their words -- especially on the net -- to cut and slash and burn. On Saturday, we writers used words to build. I'll leave it at that and suggest if you'd like to read some particulars that reflect in spirit and tone the tenor and pleasures of the day, take a look at Maria Heng's latest post.
Egad. I think that was the longest paragraf I've ever written. But, in keeping with the spirit of that day, I'll refer no more to what retreat leader Kate Hymes so refeshingly called the "jargon of writing."
My original reason for this post is reflected in its title. None of the day's discoveries or pleasures would have happened without Greg Correll's mighty efforts, ranging all the way back to the first time he proposed the writer's retreat in the fall. Greg has worn many hats in his various careers, (including his hallmark, tubularly-squashed straw cowboy hat) but, though I've never asked him directly, I don't think hesd ever been an event planner. I won't enumerate the tasks he took on, since I don't know what they were and I was perfectly content to let him (and his delightful daughter Molly) do all the heavy lifting.
So here's to two-fifths of the Correll family, the folks who made it possible for strangers and friends to come together on a gorgeous day in June and see what we could see and write what we could write about and for each other and ourselves.
Cheers, mate! And many thanks.
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Comments
"the fellowship of the pen " Love the term!
Cranky: It was too short. I still don't understand your moniker. It doesn't seem to have much to do with your writing, which I find generous, thoughtful and anything but cussed. Accent over the "e."
And to all: Jeremiah was, without question, the funniest, most entertaining Evening Reader. His selection, from his new all-too-true, gothic horror comedy, "Get Me Out of Here!" based on a middle-aged guy's colonoscopy-and-subsequentials? Had us falling out of our chairs. He is a gifted comedic reader, too.
thanks, pal.
Yes, so many of my sentiments have already been said by you all.
It is still giving me such a rush, even though it's been days.
Now, god only knows where all you OS'ers get the energy to keep up with all this activity. I'm always thinking of who I'm forgetting.
But I have an idea, a good one, of what Greg had to do to put this together and make it happen, and it could not possibly have been easy, not withstanding Molly's help.
I sincerely hopes he does it again because there aren't many who would, or could, fill his shoes. And Kate, if you ever read any of these posts, you did an absolutely fabulous job working with such a diverse group, helping us in finding our own unique voices.
Steve
Marie: Anytime you find yourself heading this way, let me know. I'd be happy to show you around the place everyone yearns to come to when they tire of the city. As for sustaining faith, check out Molly's, Greg's, Jonathan Wolfman's, Nikki Stern's, the mysterious yalebno's, Lea Lane's, Gail Walter's and Maria Heng's sites for all the proof you'll ever need that writers can help and support and enjoy each other and their work, especially if someone or two lead the way.
Abby: Here here. It's refreshing and illuminating meeting people you've read on OS and discovering they're even more interesting than their stories.
Jonathan: I second that emotion. Or is that third?
Nikki: Here it is Tuesday -- almost Wednesday -- and we're still talking (and writing) about it. That says something, doesn't it? I know I'll see you at the next one. You think fall is too soon, because autumn around here is unbelievable. . .
Greg: I'm uneasy with praise but happy to have to struggle with it. Fact is, I had a great audience -- I felt listened-to with the same alert attentiveness that had prevailed all day. Your comment is icing on a very rich cake. Thank you my friend.
Evan: Mighty kind words, coming from someone who's already been published and who has something to say about the dark and mysterious and inhospitalble place I HospitalWorld.
Jim: I hope you're right & I hope I see you sometime soon.
Lea: Your stories (day and night) were brilliant, the first draft of your jaw-dropping "anniversary" story seeming as bright and sharp as your traveler's tale. The pleasure was all mine.
Yalebno: (don't know if you want your real name used). I wonder how other OSers keep up too. It can be humbling. But thank God for it -- I find very little nourishment any where else on the web, or anywhere else, period.
And let me add, having spoken to you a bit and read several of your posts & comments, you did us all an honor by coming all that way and stepping into such an unknown. Bravo.
"fellowship of the pen" it certainly was and I love how your draw attention to the use of our busy pens - to build as opposed to slashing.
You are very sweet to point your readers to my post. Thank you very much. Greg now has all our reports linked to from http://open.salon.com/blog/greg_correll/2010/07/02/our_writers_retreat which will be like an album of this wonderful day for me. It was a deep pleasure meeting you Jeremiah. I enjoyed your presence immensely.