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a gathering of Christian writers
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
TRACK 1: Thursday, July 30th—Monday, August 3rd, 2009
(begins 5:00 pm Thursday, ends noon Monday)
TRACK 2: Friday, July 31st—Sunday, August 2rd, 2009
(begins 5:00 pm Friday, ends Sunday afternoon)
"A word aptly spoken is like
apples of gold in settings of silver."
--Proverbs 25:11
Mark your calendars now for the Writing Academy's Writer's Weekend, 2009, to be held at the beautiful Mt. Olivet Retreat Center, just south of Minneapolis.
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 30th) through Monday noon (August 3rd). You can even come a day early (Wednesday, July 29th) 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 at Writer's Weekend, 2009.
Coming Soon:
to view or print the conference schedule, click here
Featured Speakers and Workshop Leaders
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Tomaline
Lenox
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Tomaline Sharpe Lenox is the author of Crying in the Wilderness: a Voice for America's Children. As a teacher, principal, consultant, videographer, speaker and author, her life has been committed to helping children at risk. And she also loves helping students of the craft of writing to realize their dreams of publication.
Tommie's topics for this conference:
- Crying in the Wilderness: A Voice for America's Children -- Past, Present and Future
- Birthing a Book: the Ins and Outs of Self Publishing
- Awakening the Poet Within. Meet Your Muse!
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Sheryl
Van Weelden
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Sheryl Van Weelden and Ruth Otto are leading a workshop on "Telling Our Stories." Learn colorful, creative ways to tell the story of your life--for family history, for education, for gifts, for ministry, for delight. Come prepared to share your own ideas and adventures in telling your story.
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Connie
Scharlau
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Connie Scharlau has given our worship series the working title of "Finding God in the Stories of Our Lives"--but reserves the right to change the name. She says that procrastinators do better when the deadline is upon us.
Connie, retired from lab and public relations work in a small hospital, is now a professional volunteer. She likes to read, write in her journal, go for walks, play with her grandchildren, bake bread, learn new things, and do sudoku puzzles.
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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 is helping Sheryl with the Story Workshop. Ruth, a church musician and piano teacher, currently serves as our 2nd Vice President.
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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 Connie Sharlau 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. . . . .
2009 Writing Contest
Apples of Gold is the theme of Writer's Weekend, 2009. This year's contest asks you to tell us about a time when someone spoke just the right word to you--or a time when you were given the right words to say to someone else. Word limit for prose: 500 words. Length for poetry: 32 lines or fewer. Click here to read the complete rules.
Location: Mt. Olivet Retreat Center
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
Prices for Writer's Weekend 2009 are itemized on the registration form. 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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