by Dianne Lorang
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A statue at Shadowcliff.[/caption]
Although I gained a lot of writing tools along with finding oodles of opportunities to write and share, the most important element I left Lighthouse's Grand Lake Retreat with is that I am not alone in the often isolated life of a writer.
The photo to the left is of statuary outside the office of Shadowcliff Lodge where most retreat participants stayed. This to me represented how I felt more and more as the week went on due to the encouragement and lack of competitiveness I felt in the classes and reading sessions.
I was amazed at how good the writers were -- if I hadn't known, most of the time, I wouldn't have been able to tell the students apart from the teachers. This showed me that in a creative, supportive environment, anyone with the true soul of a writer, and the desire to practice the craft, can write well.
If you live in the Denver area, I recommend that you look into taking classes at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and if you want to stretch yourself even further, I recommend that you participate in its special events where you will actually (gulp) have to mingle and converse with other writers. I went to the Grand Lake Retreat alone and came away part of a community.
Standing Together
Isolation
Introversion
Introspection
The life of a writer
Or once I thought
Correction
Comparison
Competition
The life of a writer
Or once I thought
Rejection
Romanticism
Rationalization
The life of a writer
Or once I thought –
Then I reached out to other
Writers and listened to
Their words –
Ecstasy
Enjoyment
Encouragement
The life of a writer
Who has community.
Loneliness
