Red Shoes Writing Retreat on Lake of the Woods will inspire your creative writing in a place where the natural landscape and local culture offer both stimulation and serenity. We’ll gather from September 26-October 2 to write, relax, and explore the art, history, and culture of the Lake of the Woods area in northern Minnesota. Ride a tandem bike, take a boat ride, taste walleye, see toboggans and snowshoes made, harvest honey, tour a CCC camp, hike in the state forest, learn about willow basket-making, painting and sweat lodges from Ojibwe artisans, enjoy locally roasted coffee and craft beer, participate in a community storytelling event, and stay in a historic inn or newly constructed hotel. All kinds of writers are welcome. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, memoir, short stories, essays, humor, or poetry, the craft sessions contain something new for everyone, beginners and experienced alike. This is a generative writing retreat where each of the ten workshops will provide you with new lessons on writing craft and challenge you to write something new and original. These  workshops will not focus on criticism and you will not be required to share your work or read aloud. Instead, the format is intended to support and encourage you and provide a safe place to take new risks with your writing.. Each workshop offers instruction, examples from published literature, and an exercise to complete during the session. These workshops are designed to generate new and creative writing and will engage the writer in a…

Publishing, overall, is an industry that pivoted fairly quickly and easily to conducting business during a global pandemic. Despite postponing the release of some books and a logjam at printing presses, publishing is doing business much as usual. Acquisition editors are interested in new book projects. Book sales have been brisk, even with bookstores mostly closed. For many writers and editors, working remotely is nothing new. Getting publicity and promotions for a new book release, however, presents new challenges, but also opportunities. For writers on the path toward publication, the surface of the pavement is changing but the path is not. With author events now booked as zoom meetings, you don’t need to leave your reading chair at home to participate. It’s easier than ever to have a direct connection with an author of a book you’re reading. Writing workshops, classes, and conferences have gone online. No need for a big travel budget to attend. Now you have the luxury of attending virtually. Writers tend to work alone. But authors work with others — and that accounts in part for why they get published. Building your literary community before your book is released is incredibly important to its success. There’s no time like the present to expand your network while working from home. I highly recommend the online course offerings by WritingxWriters, The Loft Literary Center, and Gotham Writers Workshop. Depending on what genre you’re writing, there are lots of opportunities to attend conferences or participate in workshops. Likely for your job or school…

Now that the new year has begun I have been asked repeatedly whether I’ll lead any winter workshops for writers. Since we live where it’s snowy and cold I’ve decided it’s too difficult for me, and likely for you, too. With all the snow in the past week, I am ready for a road trip.  I’m headed to Tampa tomorrow where I’ll offer an intensive workshop, “Writing Through The Tears,” at Camp Widow, sponsored by Soaring Spirits International.  When I return next week I plan to begin a moderated online writing workshops using a private Facebook Group. Each participant posts 500-1000 words once a week for 10 weeks. I post three writing prompts once a week, though you may submit anything from your work-in-progress. Each week you read the others’ work and provide written feedback. This is a small group of writers with whom I’ve previously worked. We’ll start in mid-February and it runs through April. There is room for three or four more participants if you are interested. Please let Susan Tripp know before February 10 if you would like to join this moderated online writing group for $100. Simple rules to participate: Copy and paste 500-1000 words into the status update in the private Facebook Group each week. Read what others have written in the group. Hit the like button if you read someone’s work. (An acknowledgement of getting something written and read.) In the comments: What works? It is very important to know what you have done well. Identifying your…