RMC-SCBWI
Writers' Retreat with Author Randy Powell
June 23-25, 2006
Franciscan Center, Colorado Springs, CO

Limited space available. Click here to register for the retreat.

To download a PDF version of the brochure, click here.

THE RETREAT

The emphasis is on moving forward with your middle-grade or young adult novel. Bring what you have, even if it’s only an idea trying to become an award-winning novel.

The retreat begins at 4:30 on Friday afternoon and ends at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon. Over the course of the weekend, you will hear presentations from author Randy Powell on structure, plotting, characterization, revising your work, and much more to help you make your story come alive. In small groups, you’ll be able to brainstorm with your peers. In the inspiring setting, your creative juices will overflow as you assimilate the information to move your story closer to publication.

On Friday night, we will start with an opening lecture from Randy and lay out the detailed schedule for the rest of the weekend. On Saturday, Randy will share more on the art of writing and revising. In addition, small groups will review each person’s novel or idea and offer suggestions. Designated creative writing times will allow participants to work on their novel incorporating what they have learned.

Randy will give another lecture on Sunday, and the groups will meet to review steps taken during the retreat, react to each person’s progress in the writing of their manuscripts, and offer ideas and encouragement to take away from a weekend full of learning and creating. By the time you leave the retreat, you’ll be that much closer to a finished, polished novel ready to submit to an agent or editor.

WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO BRING:

Dress casually and for comfort. There are nearby trails for walking and jogging, so bring your exercise shoes. Consider a jacket or sweater for those cool Colorado evenings.

• Bring work in progress or ideas you want to discuss in small groups
• We will supply notebooks and pens, but if there is something special you prefer to write with or on, please bring it along.
• Feel free to bring snacks to share during breaks. Coffee and cold drinks will be provided.

Cancellation Policy:

You must cancel by May 15 to receive a full refund. After May 15, due to the limited number of participants, you will be refunded only if there is someone to take your place.

To register, click here.

If you still have questions, contact Ceil Boyles, Retreat Coordinator, 303-841-8139

ABOUT RANDY POWELL

Randy Powell has written seven novels for young adults, all published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Many of his novels have been translated in other languages and have been selected for ALA Best Books and other national and state best-book lists. His novel, Is Kissing A Girl Who Smokes Like Licking An Ashtray? was the winner of the 1992 PEN/West award for Chidren’s Literature.

Randy currently has two new books under contract; his eighth novel, The Fish Intern, is coming out in the Fall of 2006. Randy is a former faculty member of the MFA in Writing for Children program at Vermont College, and has taught at the Whidbey Island Writers Association MFA program and the BYU Writing for Young Readers Workshop.

Other popular books by Randy include:

Three Clams and an Oyster, 2002
Run if you Dare, 2001
Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star, 1999
The Whistling Toilets, 1996
Dean Duffy, 1995

Randy receives rave reviews from students and past workshop participants. We are extremely excited to welcome him to Colorado for our 2006 Summer Workshop Retreat!

Directions to the Franciscan Center

We will begin to gather informally around 4:30 . Meet Randy, purchase his books and have them signed, and greet old friends and make new ones. Dinner will be served at 6:00 and we will begin our program around 7:30 .

Feel free to bring snacks or drinks to share!