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August 17, 2007
Zoetrope All-Story Workshop
I meant to tell the world to get to this workshop. But many things have interrupted my plans. Here is a LINK. Last year, the workshop happened in September. Much earlier this year. Tomorrow actually. I'll wake up thinking of everyone arriving at the airport, and the long ooh-aah ride, 2 hrs, up into Blancaneaux Lodge. The whole experience is like being inside a film, a movie of yourself as a writer.
The place, the people, the experience -- I went last year -- was totally luxurious. As a part paticipant awoved on their website, I'd go there every year if I could. Going last year was made possible for me when I won The Josephine Ulrick Literature Prize.
I met David Bezmozgis whose book Natasha and Other Stories is a wonderful read. He recommended the work of Leonard Michaels and The Collected Short Stories of Leonard Michaels has just been put out by Farrar Straus and Giroux.
Michael Ray is one of the instructors this year. A wonderful person and editor, he saved my ass when we went walking to the waterfall and I faltered. I was jetlagged. In my first attempt at travelling in twenty years, I flew to LA, then to New York, overnighted at JFK, took Delta to Washington, Dallas, Atlanta, Belize.
I met other writers who I kept in touch with: Angela Coombs who I stayed with in LA, showed me the ins-and-outs of Hollywood, and of screenplays. Nina Antoine who came to join us. Jim Darr (and his wife) who took me out to dinner when I turned up to do an Agni reading in Boston.
I rarely get a chance to do a workshop. Still don't. But I highly recommend this one. Look out for it next year!
Posted by girija at August 17, 2007 06:42 PM