Hosting a Perfect Writing Day

Chawna Shroeder, Brenda Anderson, John Otte, Sharon Hinck

Love to write or to encourage other writers? Have I got an idea for you!

Once a month I run away to author Sharon Hinck's house. She invites a few other writerly types as well. In advance, she sends out an email list to those she knows are able to attend, and each person sends out a sample of their writing to be critiqued. It can be anything from a chapter in a WIP to a synopsis or proposal. Before the day arrives, everyone prints out and critiques/edits each others' work.

Here is a sample Writing Day schedule...

9:00 Arrival & Chit-chat

9:30 Prayer
Honestly, if God doesn't show up, what's the point?

10:00 Writing
Everyone spreads out to their own little corner and writes, writes, writes. No internet connections or cell phones allowed.

12:00 Lunch
Each person brings a bag lunch and we eat together, discussing what we've written or sharing what's going on in our writerly lives.

12:45 Game
Ever played Liebrary? What a fun game! The premise of a book is read and each person then writes down what they think the first line should be. The reader writes down the real line from the book. Then the reader reads all the entries and you vote on what line you think is the real deal. Super fun and sometimes wacky.

1:00 Critique Time
Go around the room and give feedback on the pieces that were emailed out.

2:00 Writing
Two more hours of blessed, uninterrupted writing time.

4:00 End

Doesn't that sound like a great day? It sure is. I go once a month. If you know some writers in your area, give it a whirl. You won't be sorry!