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a gathering of Christian writers
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TRACK 1: Thursday, July 29th—Monday, August 2nd, 2010
(begins 5:00 pm Thursday, ends noon Monday)
TRACK 2: Friday, July 30th—Sunday, August 1st, 2010
(begins 5:00 pm Friday, ends Sunday afternoon)
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Photo by Bill Menter
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"Let us be silent and listen to
the whispers of God."
--paraphrased from Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our Quaker friends treasure silence. At Writer's Weekend 2010, we have put time for silence into our schedule--time to listen to the whispers of God. And with guidance from keynote speaker Margaret Garrison, we will rediscover "The Joy of Writing."
TRACK ONE: If you want to soak up all the info you can, if you enjoy extra time for fun and fellowship with other writers, then consider Track One: a full seminar that runs from Thursday night (July 29th) through Monday noon (August 2nd). You can even come a day early (Wednesday, July 28th) for a personal writing retreat before the seminar begins.
TRACK TWO: If you're busy with work and family and it's hard to get away for the full seminar, then consider Track Two--the faster-paced middle of the full conference. Track two runs from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. It's the meat of the sandwich.
Either way, you'll be welcomed into a caring community of writers for education, inspriation, and encouragement. We'd be delighted to have you join us for Writer's Weekend, 2010.
To view or print the conference schedule, click here
Speakers and Workshop Leaders
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Margaret
Garrison
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Margaret Garrison--a teacher at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina--will help us rediscover The Joy of Writing in these interactive presentations:
- The Joy of Language
- The Joy of Words
- The Joy of our Writing Ministry
Margaret has spent over forty years in higher education, including twenty years in marketing and communications. She was founding editor of Kelley business school magazine at Indiana University, where assignments included interviews with the CEOs of Cisco Systems, Dow Chemical, and PetSmart. She has taught writing at Indiana-Purdue in Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the University of Indianapolis and has freelanced for Home and Away magazine and Indianapolis Woman.
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Kathleen
Bolduc
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An important part of Writer's Weekend 2010 is taking some time apart to listen to the voice of the Spirit within us. Kathleen Deyer Bolduc, author of Autism and Alleuias, will lead us in exercises designed to help us listen to the whispers of God and write what we hear.
Kathy writes and speaks in the field of disability ministry, concentrating on disability's impact on the family system, and ways in which churches can become more welcoming of families that live with disability. Kathy holds a master's degree in religious studies from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her articles have appeared in Guideposts, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Family Ministry: Empowering Through Faith, The Journal of Religion, Disability and Health, Quaker Life, Youth!, DreamWeaver, and Fellowship in Prayer.
Get more information: Kathy's web site.
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Robyn
Whitlock
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There are great publishing credits to be earned and money to be made by writers who can target online publications. Robyn Whitlock, creator of the popular parenting blog Llama Mama, will show us how in "Writing for the Online Market."
Robyn has been writing stories ever since she can remember. She has a B.A. in English from San Jose State University, and has published numerous essays and articles in various publications, including: Hearts at Home, MOPS, Focus on the Family, and Welcome Home. She works from home as a freelance editor and mother to three boys. When she's not running to carpool or scraping dried up macaroni off the floor, she writes.
Get more information: Robyn's blog.
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Ned
Clark
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Ned Clark is senior pastor of Chesterfield Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ fellowship in East Central Indiana. Pastor Ned has served since August, 2007, in the same church his father--Harold "Pete" Clark--pastored for 38 years. Ned has been in the parish ministry for thirteen years, and he served as a hospital chaplain for five years.
For Writer's Weekend 2010, Pastor Ned's morning worship series invites us to experience "the multiple whispers of God."
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Margaret
Steinacker
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Margaret Steinacker plays the piano and directs the Writing Academy choir for our worship. Margaret, who has a master's degree in music, currently serves as an accompianist at United Methodist Church in Delphi, Indiana. Do you sing or play an instrument? You are invited to join Margaret for choir rehearsal in the chapel, one half hour before breakfast.
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Ruth
Otto
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Ruth Otto serves as "cruise director" to keep things running smoothly during Writer's Weekend. She's in charge of our welcome and entertainment, and she serves as a creative consultant for seminar planning. Ruth, a church musician and piano teacher, is the author of an intergenerational curriculum for use in VBS, Bible studies, camps, and retreat settings.
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Special Features of Writer's Weekend
What have you been writing this past year? Bring a manuscript to share with others working in a similar form (poetry, novel chapter, etc.). Share critiques, ideas, and encouragement.
Coffee House: we read from our writing of the past year OR writing we've been doing in the workshops. Coffee House is open mic. Everyone may participate.
Morning worship led by Pastor Ned Clark and featuring the music of Margaret Steinacker and the Writing Academy Choir. Meet a half hour before breakfast if you want to be in the choir. Everyone is welcome.
Movie night--We've laughed and we've cried together while watching and discussing movies--Shadowlands, Chariots of Fire, Finding Forrester or Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptations of novels by our speakers. Jerry Elsea is our host for movie night at the Writing Academy.
Picnic: On Sunday night, we have a party! Think Picnic. Bonfire. S'mores. . . . .
2010 Writing Contest
The Marion Fairman Writing Contest for 2010 draws on our conference theme of "listening to the whispers of God." For complete rules, click here.
Location: Mt. Olivet Retreat Center
Marsh Bridge, Photo by Bill Menter
The Mount Olivet Retreat Center, in Farmington, Minnesota (near Minneapolis), is a peaceful, relaxed setting for a writing retreat. In summer, Mt. Olivet has a profusion of flowers, and there are scenic paths for walking or cycling. It is located at 7984 257th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024.
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Click here to view a map and directions to the retreat center.
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Prices for the Writers' Weekend
The registration form for Writer's Weekend 2010 is now available. The expenses are itemized on the form--but if you are trying to estimate, the cost for the full seminar (tuition, room & board--for double room) is about $475 - plus travel expenses.
Please note that page two of the form gives you directions for using the shuttle service from the airport to the retreat center.
 (Display/print registration form.)
To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here.
- Please note: There is a very limited availability of private rooms. Late registrations cannot be guaranteed choice of room.
- Due to limited facilities, it is first come, first served.
- All registrations must be made through the Writing Academy;
the center will not accept individual reservations for this conference.
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After the deadline of July 15th, please contact
our registrar, Nancy Remmert.
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Writing Academy Treasurer
Nancy Remmert
312 St. Louis Avenue NE
St. Louis, MO 63135-2756
314-522-3718
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Back to the Writing Academy Home Page
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