Can I still participate?
This is such a loaded question for so many people. I thought it might be helpful to provide my philosophy on Real Writers and how, for the purposes of this retreat, I define them.
I’ve been writing for quite some time now. I say this only to point out that I’ve met a lot of writers. Each and every one of them is real. And they all have exactly one quality in common: they really sit down and they really write.
That’s it.
Beyond that, I don’t have the moral authority or even professional curiosity to define what a real writer is or should be.
Haven’t written a book? It doesn’t matter.
Not published? I don’t care.
Don’t blog? Not a problem.
Haven’t written anything in months? We’ve all been there.
All the “You’re not a TRUE writer unless…” bizwaz can go suck an egg. Some people write fast, others write slow. Some don’t write for years. Some people write every day. Many people never write at all. The fact that you do is already incredible.
This retreat is not about Being The Best Writer. It’s not a talent show. There are no trophies. You will not be judged. This retreat is intended to give you access to a large chunk of uninterrupted time. You don’t have to be popular or published to want that. All you have to be is willing (and quiet. Y’know, so we can write.)
In fact, it could be argued that, through participation in such an intensive writing weekend, you automatically are defined as a real writer because you really have to sit down and write. And at the end of the day, we can relax with a glass of wine and argue about what real writers do when they’re not really writing -because we’ll all be real by then. Right?
Brass Ring Writing Retreats 