Saturday, April 17, 2010

We're going to Chautauqua!

Exciting news!

Michelle and I both applied for scholarships to the Highlights Writers Foundation Workshop in Chautauqua, New York.

We found out this week that we're both going! There was a bit of drama in the whole process. I found out a while ago that I'd been awarded a scholarship. But Michelle didn't hear anything for weeks.

And weeks.

She discovered Friday that her e-mail notification had been sent 12 days ago; she just never got it.

As you can imagine, there was rejoicing all round, as the picture clearly shows.*

Now I know there are some Highlights alumni (hi, Tess and Fran!) out there- and perhaps even some folks who will be attending this year. Please identify yourselves! And I'd love to hear any comments you have about the whole experience.



*I'm the tall one, and Michelle (like all grammar experts) is the cool one with shades.

15 comments:

Rachele Alpine said...

Oh wow...I'm jealous. That workshop looks great. You have some amazing faculty include Jerry Spenelli! How awesome! I'm going to the Kenyon Review Writers Conference this June for the second time. I'm counting down the days. It's like summer camp for adults!

Sarah said...

Rachele, the Kenyon Review Conference sounds wonderful! Small classes, great faculty... Have you kept up with anyone you met there?

TerryLynnJohnson said...

WOW! How awesome you're both going! I've never been - never heard of it, so thanks for the link. Just wanted to say congrats. Sounds like fun!

Lisa said...

Congrats to both of you!!! I'm so excited for you!! I've been longing to go and even got the application this year and looked at it longingly for a week before accepting that there's no way I would be ready to leave my baby for a week by then (she's 8 weeks today).

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Sarah said...

Terry, I wouldn't have known about it if Fran Cannon Slayton hadn't mentioned it.

Thanks, Lisa! Michelle and I are going to have such a good time. Maybe you'll be able to go next year.

Michelle said...

Rachele, I keep saying we're going to writing camp! That's what it feels like at this point, anyway.

And thanks, ladies, for the congratulations. :)

Kristi Tuck Austin said...

Congratulations!

Michelle, after hearing about your novel, I had a feeling Highlights would send good news.

Adam and I are thrilled for you both. I can't wait to read about your experiences there.

Michelle said...

Thanks, Kristi! And hello to Adam too. :)

Tess said...

Hooray! You will have such fun .. going with a buddy makes it EVEN better.

and, my only advice would be to have your questions ready. They have a requirement that the 'staff' mingle at all times ... so you will be eating dinner and Jerry Spenelli will come sit down at your table.

Please don't be like me and go completely mute. I just couldn't think of what to say other than, "good chicken, eh?"

dumb. I should have thought about some good conversation starters and such. It would have been nice.

ALSO - bring lightweight clothes and LOTS of deodorant. There is no AC in the main dining area and some of those group dinners were blistering hot.

Still, it was a great conference. Very inspiring and helpful.

Sarah said...

Thanks, Tess! I thought about you when we found out we were going.

Such a good point about the questions! I do tend to go mute, so it's good to be thinking ahead. Though "great chicken" may be as eloquent as I get, forethought or not.

Good to know about the hot dinners, too! I'm thinking lots of sleeveless outfits...

Michelle said...

Thank you, Tess! Lightweight cotton clothing for sure. I love the preparedness advice. The library website has a way to make lists in your account, and I've already started a "to read before Chautauqua" list. And I find it a little ironic that I won a copy of Eggs from your contest a while back. :)Jerry Spinelli indeed.

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

(Sorry -- glaring typo)

I can't believe Tess didn't tell you to be prepared for the wonderful people you'll meet and remain friends with for LIFE!

BIG congrats on your acceptance. I went a couple years ago and it was amazing. Like Tess, I went completely mute when faced with Jerry Spinnelli and Rich Wallace. But I met seven fellow attendee who are such an instrumental part of my writing life, I don't know what I did without them.

Have a great, great time!!

Katie said...

Congrats! That sounds like a lot of fun!!!

Sarah said...

Thanks, KM and Amy!

I'm already amazingly fortunate to have the Slushbusters. Meeting other great writers at Highlights seems like an embarrassment of riches.