Results tagged “lynn flewelling”

Suvudu: Hi Lynn. Thank you for joining us on Suvudu!

Lynn Flewelling: Thanks! Glad to be here.

S: You are taking part in a writing retreat cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean luxury liner Freedom of the Seas for seven days of sun, fun, and writing from May 23-30, 2010. What made you decide to use this venue instead of a hotel or resort of some kind?

LF: To be honest, the venue chose me. I was doing a book signing last year—one of those deadly table-of-books-by-the-door-people-asking-you-where-the-restrooms-are sort—and this man walks up to me and asks if I’d like to teach a workshop on a cruise ship. It took me completely by surprise, and at first I didn’t really take it seriously. I was also neck deep in a tough rewrite at the time, but luckily George kept after me and here we are. Last weekend he took my husband and me on a tour of a similar ship. Wow! They really are floating palaces.

S: Being an author requires long hours throughout the year working on your book. Why do you take time away from your own writing to teach the craft of writing to others? What do you gain from teaching?

LF: I like to teach, I like people, and I genuinely enjoy working with new writers. Writing is a solitary, sometimes grueling profession and teaching is a great change of pace for me. I come back refreshed and recharged, ready to tackle my own work again.

S: Who is your target audience for such a writing retreat? What will they learn while traveling the seas?

LF: I’m expecting people who are already writing something on their own, at a variety of levels, but probably not terribly advanced, although you never know. One of my past workshop students is a published author now, though I can’t really take the credit for that. He was well on his way. There will also probably be a few beginners, but the way I teach, people at very different levels can all take something away, in part because I do a lot of Q&A; and discussion. I’ll be dining with the students and hosting open reading salons, so there’ll be lots of time to talk shop on a casual level, too.

S: When you were younger did you have a mentor or a teacher who guided you like you hope to guide those on this retreat?

LF: Yes and no. My seventh grade student teacher, Ms. Stevens, got me started in creative writing and really praised my efforts, but she was the last one until the single creative writing class I took in college (the only one available). That was of limited use, since I was the only one writing genre and a lot of the other students, and the professor, didn’t really ‘get’ what I was doing. It was a good experience, though, in that I learned how to respectfully deal with other people’s work, how to be both honest and helpful. All the same, I kept writing, even without a lot of encouragement. What’s the sign of a real writer-to-be? Obsession.

Then, years later, when I was in the midst of finishing up the draft of what became my first two novels, I took a week-long workshop with Cathie Pelletier, a literary writer I really admire. I was a bit nervous, since I was working in genre, but she was really impressed and supportive of my work, and actually tried to connect me up with her agent at the end of it. Unfortunately, the woman didn’t handle fantasy, but Cathie remained a staunch supporter and her faith and enthusiasm really made a big difference. Whenever I tried to thank her, she’d point out that other writers had done that same for her, and that all she wanted from me was to pass it on. So I do. It changed my life, and I hope I can do that for others. And I tell them the same thing Cathie told me: Pass it on.

S: If someone with extraordinary talent came on the writing retreat, how would you help them? Would you help them meet agents and editors? Or something else?

LF: I would most certainly help them. If they were at a beginning stage with a project, I’d offer to do some reading for them if they wanted help. If they were at the end of something good, I’d ask to read it, and if it was as good as I hoped, I’d give them my agent’s name and number.

S: The truly important question: Do you drink rum?

LF: Why, yes I do, with lots of fruit and umbrellas, but not the flavored kinds. I’m a bit of a purist that way.

S: Thank you for your time, Lynn! Good luck with the retreat!

LF: Thanks!

Lynn Flewelling is a fantasy fiction author who is perhaps best known for two internationally acclaimed fantasy series: the Nightrunner books and The Tamir Triad. You can discover more about Lynn and her forthcoming sea writing retreat at her website, located HERE!

As someone who is trying to break into the industry with his own novel, I have a short announcement for others—like me—who want to get a leg up and put forth the best work possible.

A side note first. I graduated with a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. But nothing prepared me for what I would learn at the 2004 Maui Writers Retreat & Conference. I took part in intensive writing seminars. I listened to bestselling writers talk about the industry. And I had agents and editors take a look over my own writing.

I learned more in two weeks about the craft of writing at that conference than I did during my four years at a major university.

No lie.

Want to be a published writer? I highly recommend writers trying to break into the industry to go to conferences and retreats like this. They exist all over the country and world. You get great information, you have your own writing pushed to the limit, and you usually get to meet and build relationships with authors, editors and agents who can really help one’s future career.

Well, here is another writing conference that might float your fancy!

From bestselling writer Lynn Flewelling:

Come join me May 23-30, 2010, aboard the Royal Caribbean luxury liner Freedom of the Seas for seven days of sun, fun, and writing in the Caribbean sun! I can’t promise you Jack Sparrow, but I can promise Alec and Seregil as they debut in The White Road! In between stops in beautiful, romantic Cococay, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, I will be reading from the new book—and maybe a few other things—teaching six jam-packed writing workshop—including one on publishing—hosting writer salons for you to share your work, and wining and dining with you. Whether you’re a beginning writer, have a work in progress that needs some guidance, want in-depth inside information on the Nightrunner world, or just want to hang with me while you work on your tan, I think you’ll have a great time.

To read more about this opportunity for all writers and fans of Lynn Flewelling, click HERE!

Author Lynn Flewelling (and bodyguard) signing copies of her book Shadows Return at the Bantam Spectra booth at San Diego ComicCon.