Hear that? I can’t either

The thing I notice most about our house now the retreat is over and all our friends are gone is the silence. No more clatter of Nicole’s keyboard, no more of Donna’s infectious laugh or Matthew’s polite comments, or Trudi and Paul’s humour.

What a great retreat it was. I’m re-enthused about writing, as is Kylie. Two weeks of fun with great friends, getting all creative, going for outings, laughing at each other – and ourselves – and sharing our writing. Eating, drinking, eating and writing. And eating. There’s enough leftover food here for Kylie and I to survive a month, particularly if we like fudge.

So I’ve got this manuscript. It’s about the 30th draft, more polished than anything I’ve ever written. It has tension, a bunch of interesting characters, a cool world and a novel-sized premise. But aarrgh! it’s still missing something. So everybody has to come back and listen to me read it out loud.

Sigh.

I have to wait until next year. Only 50 weeks to go…

Bookended by a waterfall

The retreat is over.

Trudi, Paul and I are currently living the high life in the Qantas Club at Auckland Airport, waiting for our flights.

It was hard to say goodbye. The company, as always, was superb and the surroundings delightful.

I’ll write something more indepth when I’ve had time to think, but for now the bookend.

One of the first things I saw at the retreat was Kylie and Russell’s waterfall. Five minutes later, I sprained my ankle. Today, I very gingerly joined the others in a trek back down. I was determined I was going to see it one more time. This is why:

Kylie and Russell's waterfall

Worth the walk, don’t you think?

Goodbye Kerikeri, goodbye FWOR 2012, hello a great year for us all!

We went to Russell…

And it turns out he’s just delightful.

So today was about travelling around and seeing more of this absolutely stunning land. After I knocked out another short story. I’ve now written six on this retreat. Most of them 2000 words or less, some of them requiring more work than others, a couple of them just very, very weird. Like todays, about an inherited piece of jewellery that in the hands of a psycopath means something else…

So we set out and our first stop was the HuraHura Falls, which barely rate being mentioned. I mean, I guess they’re okay, for a waterfall, but Russell and Kylie have a better one in their backyard!

Next was to Waitangi. I was really looking forward to see – seeing the actual place that such an important moment in the history of New Zealand took place. Except they wanted to charge the non-Kiwis $25 a piece to get in! Now, I don’t mind paying to go into attractions, and if I’d known what was in there maybe it would have seemed worth it, but considering you had to pay extra again for the cultural activities… we all decided it was too rich for our blood. So, I can say I’ve kinda been to the place where the treaty was signed.

Very disappointing.

From there we went to Paihiri and had a lovely look at the Bay of Islands, then onto the car ferry across to Russell. First trip on a car ferry and I thought it was pretty cool.

View from where we had lunch.

Russell itself is an absolute delight. It was once the hellhole of the pacific and a whalers town, but now it’s a delightful old town with many buildings extremely well cared for.

We had lunch with a lovely view over the bay. As you can see, the weather was just perfect. Then we split up and all went our own ways.

I wandered into a shop where I found the traditional present Hubbie and I give each other (no, I won’t share it with you but he’ll be happy) and I found a gorgeous little paua bracelet, very cheap and so I was able to keep up my tradition of buying a piece of jewellery on a FWOR retreat.

Then I went to the Russell Museum. They have a whaleboat out the back and it was really interesting to see just how small the boats were that they went out in to harpoon and drag back whales to the main ship.

The musuem itself had some interesting artefacts, including one display where you could put your hands in and feel some moa bones and Kauri gum. There was some gorgeous weaving, a 1/5th scale replica of the Endeavour and lots of Maori weapons. There was also lots of stuff from the original European settlement, making it a very interesting mix.

I found a little gallery that didn’t have much and then caught up with most of the rest of the gang – Donna, Matthew, Trudi and Paul. They were near the French mission. Trudi bought out the mission store and it would have been great to go see, particularly the book printing and binding area they had but it was time to meet up with Russell and Kylie again.

We all got icecream. Well, most of us got icecream – you know, on a cone. Donna, however, got the motherlode -

Donna's sundae.

We ended the trip to Russell by driving up to Flagstaff Hill. There’s a fabulous story of a local Maori chief who, incensed that the treaty of Waitangi wasn’t being adhered to, cut down the flagpole not once, not twice, not even three times but four.

Here is the view:

View of Russell and Bay of Islands from Flagstaff Hill

Gorgeous, right?

Finally, here’s a little something – I’m going to give a pdf of Secret Ones to the first person who can guess where I was sitting when I took the following photo:

Where was Nicole sitting when she took this picture?

FWORians need not enter

Back to the drawing board

So I finished the re-write of Battle for Odana yesterday. I spend this morning reading it aloud to myself in the privacy of my bedroom, in order to line edit. Then I come out and a conversation begins about it.

And I realise that it’s crap.

Well, no, that’s not fair. The idea I have is good. It’s an idea that folks here love to discuss and have done since the Metung retreat, three years ago. It’s an idea that excites them.

But the story I’m telling isn’t doing that idea justice. I’ve got myself caught up in the original inspiration and it turns out that original idea (came from a dream, yet again) isn’t the actual story that is going to carry how interesting this idea is.

What I haven’t done, which this conversation pointed out to me, is two things that I worked out early in the process of writing the gadda books and informed and guided them all the way through, regardless of what changes I made to the book.

I haven’t worked out the mechanism of this world, and I haven’t worked out what I want to say.

In the gadda books, I worked out the mechanism of how this secret race existed and lived alongside us as one of the very first things. And when I started writing, I wanted to achieve two things – I wanted to write books that were fun, and I wanted to write books that showed it was perfectly fine for a woman to be sexually experienced and still fall for the great love of her life.

So now I need to work out what those things are for the odana story. I’ve been playing with some thoughts, and things are making me interested, but nothing has settled in my soul and said ‘Yes, this is what you must do’.

Until then, writing of the story will cease. And when it recommences, I’ll be drafting all over again.

The things we do to ensure that we are creating art we are proud of.

-Nicole

Chocolate and Conversation

This year I’ve dragged Paul along to the retreat, because I’m not writing and ignoring him. You see, I’m under ‘doctor’s orders’ to rest my RSI-suffering right hand. But I don’t need my hand to talk about writing, so it was still worth flying to New Zealand to be with the FWORians for a week.

So far there have been discussions about agents, ebooks and the merits and flaws in Game of Thrones – tv series and book) as well as more technical examination of slow and turgid vs fast and action-packed writing styles. I’m sure there’ll be many more debates to come.

When not at the retreat, Paul and I are exploring the north of the north of New Zealand, and area we’ve not visited before. Yesterday we saw giant kauri trees – definitely a sight to inspire fantasy ecosystems – and I’ve just head about a weaver with an open studio/shop I want to visit, who might provide some insight into the ‘makers’ of my new series of books.

Otherwise, I have been dutifully providing chocolate sustenance for all, and testing out the local product. I can confirm that Makana Confectionary chocolates are very good – especially the macadamia nut butter toffee.

Trudi

Bites and biting

Well Trudi and Paul arrived. We ate out. We eat in. There is chocolate, all kinds. I bombed last night with a headache so I could only hear the echoes of the conversation. Today we’ve been talking writing and agents. I found Donald Maas’ How to write the breakout novel on the bookshelf. As this was the agent I was suggesting Russell submit to he’s grabbed the book and is now ensconced on the couch and is quiet for a change. Kylie is actually writing and Matthew has just got up after having slept through his alarm which he set for 11.00am. I know it’s Monday but it feels like Sunday.
As well as having a headache last night my hands packed it in big time, curtailing my writing effort to 2500 words. I can only do sittings in 500 word lots, sometimes now at 100 words. You don’t have to pity me as I have plenty for myself.
However, I sort of thought I would have issues so I’m enjoying the pace and the company and the chocolate and cruising along. Love writing retreats with this gang of writerly friends.

Donna

Retreat, part the second

So Trudi and Paul have arrived. They’re not writing but are travelling, holidaying, and will be spending days out and about discovering New Zealand and nights with us, laughing and eating and drinking.

Had a bad day with ankle yesterday (too much the day before – walking, writing, shopping) and so mostly rested, so apart from the copyediting I did no writing, which is giving me the pips. I’m hoping that today I’ll get back into the writing as well (although copyediting, being the paying work, is the priority).

I have been doing lots of reading, however. I read Vanity Fair, and it was funny and touching and very emotionally satisfying, for all that the actual style doesn’t match anything that is published nowadays. I’ve read a couple of Jennifer Cruisies and my first Susan Elizabeth Phillips and HELLO am in loooooooove. I’m now working my way through the first two books in the Feral Warriors’ series (having read book four last year – was one of the pick-ups from the RT convention). Sooooo good.

Oh well, back to the computer.

- Nicole

The sun is out

It is truly a glorious day here today, after a bit of rain lashing last night. I err…accidently…that means…not on purpose…drank too much last night. Dinner was the awesome lamb tagine and well I bombed. I was overwhelmed with the quality of wine and went to bed. I felt bad that I didn’t even help clean up. I didn’t write that extra 1000 words or so.  So today, with a more sober outlook, I realise I’m just a one drink woman now. I just can’t cope. I am sure my friends will no longer find me amusing and I probably won’t ever sing to Dancing Queen with the remote control as my mike, but hey I have grow up sometime.

So with the due diligence of one shamed, I was up at 6.30am to write. I did a 1000 words or so and then went outside to get some exercise and to enjoy the sun, while it is there. I took a walk to the waterfall and it is really churning it out now after the heavy rain last night. Then I went to the fern walk and the kauri walk before climbing back up again. Here I was rushing and slipped. No harm done. Then I kept going, a tad too fast, and did one of those wobbly will she won’t she tumbles and saved myself from falling down the slope. I really must pay attention and not think about my characters while walking or climbing. So know I have visited this blog, it is time for me to get working. Trudi and Paul arrive tonight and I’d like to have a few thousand words under my belt so I can kick back and enjoy seeing them again.

 

Donna

The Perils of being Lazy

First post for the 2012 retreat. The fact it’s 3.30am on the (ninth?) day of the retreat and I can’t sleep might have something to do with me actually posting rather than just thinking about it.

Problem with not posting is that the story of the retreat is largely being told by Donna and Nicole. Actually, that’s not a problem – they are both accurate and entertaining!

Highlights of the retreat so far, for me:

• getting to see my writerly friends after a year!

• Meeting Ian McHugh, a hugely talented, interesting (if musically challenged) and provocative individual.

• feeling guilty over Nicole’s sprained ankle – it’s much worse than she’s letting on. Eight days and the bruising is still coming out. I meant to fill that hole…

• feeling proud while showing the troops around the property. Holy bananas Kylie and I have worked so hard to get this place ready. Already I can feel the end of the retreat looming like the oncoming of darkness.

• looking forward to Trudi and Paul’s arrival.

• a couple of lovely trips away – the second of which went off like a charm. Nice drive, good weather (have I mentioned that this Kerikeri summer has been atrocious? It’s bucketing down as I type this), excellent food at a small roadside cafe and magnificent trees, including the Yakas tree which I’ve not seen before.

• Finishing my novel to the point where I know all I’ll do from now on is tinker. And drafting a query letter to (finally) find an agent.

• Sneakily watching the entire first season of Game of Thrones. It gets better, guys…

All that remains is for me to post a few photos. Maybe in the next post.

- Russell

The changover

Today Ian McHugh left to return back to Australia. Tomorrow Trudi Canavan and Paul Ewins arrive. So we decided we would have a cleaning day today.

As Ian was leaving, the gang decided we would have an evening reading from our WIPs. So we gathered around on the sofa and took turns. Ian wowed us with a newly drafted short story, which let me feeling in awe. Mind you Ian’s stories normally make me feel that way. We also gave him some critique on his story, which was actually quite good (for all of us, including Ian).  Nicole read from her reworked Battle for Odana and again we talked about it, the feminist overtones etc. Nicole continues to amaze me with her ability to write fast and write well. Russell read from his next novel and delighted us with his first sex scene. The character view point he read from is an utter bastard and that came through loud and clear. Kylie read from her Indonesian fantasy, which she has deconstructed. She received lots of positive feedback on it. Such a rich tapestry for the setting. Matthew read from a new tiein novel that he is thinking of pitching. It was short as he had only just drafted it and we all called him a bastard. Yeah it was that good. Me I read from Emerald Fire, the first chapter. Lots of manners and tea drinking. I think the guys liked it. It was a really good reading session. We are all impressed with each others’ work. Pity, Buffy the dog, chose to let off the most amazing fart while I was reading. I nearly choked and we spent a few minutes describing the stink and laughing. The dog let go another one.

We said our goodbyes.

As I mentioned today was cleaning day. We all stuck in on the bathrooms, the laundry, vacuuming, moping and kitchen. It was all done before lunch time. Mind you I’ve been taking it easy and only started back on Emerald Fire this afternoon. I probably have gained more calories on this retreat than I have word count. The amount of chocolate, lollies, fudge, cheese, crisps we consume here and then there are the meals.  Tonight Kylie is cooking a lamb tagine. This is pretty amazing because she’s a vegetarian and won’t be eating it. Right now I’ve had some blue brie and crackers and I’m drinking some lovely pinot gris.

One of the things I like about a retreat or about having writer friends is the critique. Kylie read the beginning of Dragon Wine for me. I’d recently hacked about 40 ooo words out of it and I was interested in what it did to the flow. She pointed out some things and made me question stuff. So this afternoon I trimmed a bit more in line with her comments. I’m still going to print it out and read it myself before I send it anywhere. However, I’m pretty pleased I have two novels ready to do the rounds in 2012.

I’m normally very focussed on writing during a retreat. This time I’m much more relaxed and it is interesting. It is more like a writing holiday this time. I’m writing but I’m not driven, if that makes any sense.

So as we have to share the internet connection and we are all having withdrawals, I will finish up this post so that someone else can webveg for a bit.

Donna