Read the whole thing here. But the money quote is thus:
“Big Sur was all about making connections with other writers and professionals in the publishing industry, and making improvements in my work. If you write anything from picture books to YA, and you’re thinking about attending a writing workshop, please consider going. You won’t regret it….”
The next workshop will be Dec. 6-8, 2013 in Big Sur, CA! Click here to join our mailing list and be the first to know when we open registration!
“A penny for your thoughts” people keep telling us.
And can you blame them? We’re sitting here with a Cheshire Cat grin and whistling Johnny Mercer tunes.
Why?
We’re basking in the soft afterglow of the Big Sur Writing Workshop!
Yep, it wrapped up on Sunday, and it was one for the ages. Don’t just take our word for it; here are some honest-to-goodness comments from participants. To further prove their validity, we’re presenting each of them in gentle colors.
- “Thank you for putting together a wonderful weekend. I absolutely loved this workshop. I will recommend it and plan to return.”
- “I loved the workshop – it was the best experience I’ve had at a writer event. I’ve never had so much time with editors before and I really feel they helped elevate my work.”
- “I thought the whole weekend was terrific. I came back home tingling with excitement, the urge to write, a much better sense of who I am as a writer and full of hope!! Thanks so much!!”
We have that “Carol Channing Feeling!”
So if you missed out, fear not. The next workshop will be Dec 6-8, 2013 in Big Sur! And/or be the first to know by signing our email list HERE.
Until then, if you need us, we’ll be jumping and clicking our heels mid-air.
Today is the FINAL day to register for the greatest children’s and YA writing workshop in the world: the Big Sur Writing Workshops! March 1-3 in Seaside, CA. Click the link or call 831-667-2574 before we close the proverbial doors (sorry.) Click here: http://bigsurwriting.wordpress.com/register-2/march-1-3-2013/
If the Big Sur Writing Workshop for children to Young Adult fiction were a parent, we’d be a bad one. That’s because we’re compassionate by nature – to fault, actually – and hate being the enforcer, the “bad cop,” if you will. We’d rather leave that job to your mother. (That and the “where do babies come from” talk.)
Case in point: we already extended the deadline to submit to our March 1-3 workshop in Seaside (near Monterey) CA. And that’s because as a loving parent, we know what’s best for you: the workshop is the best of it’s kind in the world.
Andrea Brown, president of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency
It’s co-sponsored by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. You could get discovered by one of their agents and land a publishing deal (proof here.) And at the least, your manuscript will be magnificently transformed and you’ll make amazing friendships and professional connections. Proof here.
But this is life, and life is hard. And we can no longer extend the deadline. The workshop is right around the corner. We have things we need to do like go to the dry cleaners, pick up your sister at soccer practice, and go “big” food shopping. So the final-final-final deadline is February 20th.
As in TOMORROW. There are a few spots left, so register here or call 831-667-2574.
As much as it pains us, we can’t extend it forever.
This is some classic tough love, and though you’ll curse us and wish you were never born and/or never asked to be born, much like the saxophone lessons, we sincerely believe you’ll thank us in the long-run and will come to understand once you have kids of your own (if that’s what you decide, if course. It’s your own life; don’t let our irrepressible need for grandchildren convince you otherwise. Although did you hear Patti Conway’s daughter Allison is having twins?)
We live in what my friend calls an “ipod ADD” society. That is, you’re driving around, listening to your iPod, and a song comes on, and you’re like, “eh,” and shuffle to the next one. And the next one. And the next one. And so on. You never spend more than 2 seconds on a song. Your attention span is shot. You, my friend, live in an ADD society.
Big Sur, March 2011. L-R: Jan Elfman, Mrs. Adams, Laura Rennert, Eric Adams — with Laura Rennert.
So when people get overwhelmed by the sheer quality and quantity of our Big Sur Writing Workshop testimonials – honest-to-goodness raves from previous alumni – on our site, we tend to be forgiving. It’s a lot to process. A lotta words. As we say in Big Sur, “Hate the game, not the player.” (?)
So to make things easier we’ve gone ahead and extracted key quotes from these testimonials on one page.
The goal? To get you to register for the world’s-best writing workshop for children up to YA fiction before the Feb. 20th deadline. It’s March 1-3 in Seaside, CA.
If you’re a novice with a gleam of a germ of an idea, it’s an ideal venue to watch that germ blossom (ewwww.) If you’re already published but want to take it “to the next level?” also ideal. If you wanna score a publishing deal? Ideal, ideal, ideal.
Here’s the summary of quotes. Register here today or by calling 831-667-2574.
And when you’re done reading, walk away from the computer, put down the iPod, and for god sakes, do some light gardening or something.
- “Was it worth it? Definitely. It was fun, it was invigorating, and it’s given me a heck of a lot to think about.” – March ’12 alumni Becky Allen. Read the whole thing here.
- “If you are considering going and you are like me (shy), all I can say is GO. The critique groups are very small (no larger than 5), so you get a lot of individual attention (I workshopped with a literary agent and an editor). – Sean Byrne; Read the whole thing here.
- “The professional for my first and third sessions was Eric Elfman. It would have been worth the cost of the trip and the workshop just for those two sessions alone. Eric demonstrated an amazing ability to zero in on a problem.” Read the entire testimonial here.
- “I was addicted to the Big Sur Writers Workshop put on by the Henry Miller Library and the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I’d go every year. If I missed a year, I’d start jonesing.” Aaron Ritchey; Read the whole thing here.
- The workshop also helped me get a better understanding of the publishing world. I came home with a world of information that helped me put the finishing touches on my first book and plenty of ideas for the next 4 books.” E. Lina Echeverria
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; more testimonials here! Register now!
Just announced! Deadline for the March Big Sur Writing Workshop is extended until February 20! Call 831-667-2574 or go here: http://bigsurwriting.wordpress.com/register-2/march-1-3-2013/
Big Sur, March 2011. L-R: Jan Elfman, Mrs. Adams, Laura Rennert, Eric Adams — with Laura Rennert.
We all know the trope: writers procrastinate. They wait till the last minute. They thrive on deadline-induced adrenaline.
It’s a comforting trope.
But sometimes it pays to be punctual: the deadline to register for the March 1-3 Big Sur Writing Workshop for Children to Young Adults is February 6th.
Waiting to the 11th hour is bad news because the thing will sell out and people will be left holding their manuscripts wondering what went wrong (answer: you waited too long.)
The workshop rules. Participants get constructive feedback on their manuscripts and some get publishing deals from Andrea Brown Literary Agency agents in attendance. It happens quite a bit actually – see?
So register today – click here!
