©2007 Sirenland
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Sirenland Writers Conference Blog
This morning the sea is roiling outside my window. There are white caps across the expanse of blue, shifting from the beach to the horizon. All this movement feels necessary, as the Sirenlanders say goodbye, catch planes and trains, and head their separate ways.
Yesterday Peter, Dani and Jim held their last morning workshops. Throughout the week, I've been sitting in, cycling from room to room, and I've seen each group grow closer, playing off each other's strengths. The workshop leaders held the last critiques, and gave parting words of advice. Peter Cameron shared a suggestion he received from an editor, about using structure to bring a reader properly through his work: "You must tap the reader on their sternum, gently but surely." Dani shared excerpts of Joan Didion's essay, "Why I Write," and Jim quoted Saint Augustine, in regards to keeping our fragile writer egos in check: "Do not despair, for one thief was saved, but do not presume, for one thief was damned." The reluctance to leave in the final moments was palpable, and I noticed the students lingering in the classrooms, exchanging emails and addresses, wanting to hold onto the unique dynamic each of these workshops created.
In the evening we had a final reading, with each of the instructors presenting their own work, along with Sirenland Fellow Robin Black, and yours truly. Robin read from her forthcoming collection of short stories, Yesterday's News, Peter Cameron read from his forthcoming novel, excerpted in the current issue of Subtropics, Dani Shapiro read two sections from her new memoir, Jim Shepard read one of his amazing stories, and I read from The Good Thief, then gave everyone in the audience one of the wishing stones I'd collected from down on the beach.
Afterwards, we slipped over to the bar for a celebratory martini, then came back to the dining room, where we were greeted with hundreds of candles and two mandolin players, who moved around the room, serenading each table as we finished course after delicious course. Michael raised his glass and toasted Antonio and Carla, our exceptional hosts, as well as Jim and Peter and Dani, who gave such incredible workshops this week. Karen Shepard got a shout out, and then Emmett Shepard gave his own toast, complimenting the group's dancing skills, and challenging us all to a dance-off.
With those fighting words we adjourned to the bar, the chairs were pushed back, Antonio hooked up his ipod, and the boogieing began. It was a true celebration of all the good work that was accomplished this week, all the friendships started, all the inspiration shared and all the a-ha moments that we will take with us on the journey forward. It's been a fantastic conference, and I hope that everyone will keep in touch through this blog, so that we can try and hold onto some of the magic created here, and bring it back into our worlds, and our words.
Hannah
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