I am in Dallas leading the annual Story Circle Network Lifelines writing retreat this weekend. The “From Good to Great: Sharpening Your Writing Craft” retreat runs from Friday evening through Sunday at noon.

The women participating represent a wide range of writers, from just starting out to seasoned authors with multiple book publications. They also come from all across the United States: California, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Florida. We picked Dallas because of its central location and because DFW is a hub for several major airlines. Our hotel offers a 24-hour shuttle, and the hotel rooms are large, spotlessly clean, and nicely appointed. Plus, the catered food this evening was quite tasty, unlike the usual bland food offered for weekend events at hotels.

We began today at five and went until 8:30. We will resume at 9 am tomorrow.

This weekend, we are focused on writing craft: voice, scene structure, character development, dialogue, and plot structure. We’ll have many short writing sessions followed by sharing the pieces that have been written. So far, the writing has been excellent and gives each of us a way to connect on a deeper level with our fellow writers.

I am so happy to be among these women. Their presence bolsters my spirits and inspires my writing.

Looking forward to more tomorrow!