As a fellow of the Meadow Brook Writing Project, you're a teacher who
takes writing seriously, and you don't just teach writing, you do it
yourself as often as you can. In the project, you shared ideas and
pieces of writing and immersed yourself in creativity and
collegiality-but now what? Where can you turn to receive feedback on
what you've recently created, engage in thought provoking discussion of
literature with peers, and experience that sense of belonging only felt
in the presence of other writers?
How about the Springfed Arts Writers' Retreat? I attended this year's
session, which ran Oct. 9-12th in Harbor Spring near Petosky, and I can
tell you I'm ready to go again next year. The bonuses? Well, the
setting is gorgeous (we stayed at the Birchwood Inn overlooking Lake
Michigan), right when the leaves are turning color and the air begins to
bite back. Most important, though, is the chance to commune with some
fantastic staff members and receive individual critique. I was teamed
up with novelist Jack Driscoll for a 30-minute session, and I came away
with a number of solid ideas for revision. Jack's comments were cogent,
thoughtful, and honest, and the chapter of my novel he reviewed was
covered with more correction ink than a tenth grader's first thesis!
The $656 cost covers three nights and four days at the Inn and all but
one meal (we did one fancy dinner on our own). The faculty included
novelists Driscoll and Christopher Knight, poets M.L. Liebler, Cornelius
Eady, and Maria Mazzagotti Gillan, playwright Sandra Seaton, and
songwriter Michael Smith. Director John Lamb puts his heart into making
the weekend a productive one, and I learned as much from my fellow
students (some of whom were immensely talented) as from the instructors.
John Jeffire, a 2004 Summer Institute Fellow and MBWP Teaching Consultant, is the author of Motown Burning, a novel set during the 1967 Detroit Riots and its aftermath.
Created by Lori Ostergaard (ostergaa@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Modified by Lori Ostergaard (ostergaa@oakland.edu) on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Article Start Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
