International writer’s workshop enriches area resident

Workshop held in Sarasota, N.Y.

By:Arlene Bice
   Editor’s Note: Arlene Bice is the owner of the By the Book shop in Bordentown City. In addition to being an avid book collector and column writer for the Register-News, she is also a writer, holding writing workshops at her business. The following is her account of a late-summer attendance of the Annual International Women Writers Guild Conference in Saratoga, N.Y.

   Shrieks of joy erupt here and there all over the room.
   Women from as far away as Australia, Switzerland and Israel, from 16 to 86 years of age and of many races and religious beliefs are represented. Electricity fills the air.
   Excitement builds as friendships are renewing. Anticipation is high as the schedule for this year’s classes and activities are doled out.
   "Remember the Magic" is the theme for the Annual International Women Writers Guild Conference.
   Magic it is, for the 500 women who have gathered to teach, learn, nurture and just plain enjoy life.
   We’re at Skidmore College for a full week, located in the beautiful Victorian town of Saratoga, N.Y., known for its popular summer Thoroughbred racing season.
   My excitement began to crest two weeks before D-Day. I loaned my responsibilities out to my friends and family. I doubled up on work and prepared to go for my second year. Now I was here.
   As soon as I reached my assigned room in the dormitory, I unpacked to place my "stuff" around and make the room truly mine for a week.
   I soon noticed I had plenty of notebooks, pens, pencils, books to read, articles I’ve written (for critiques), journals and sketchpads. I overlooked bringing enough slacks and shorts. Oh, well — that’s typical. I can always wash something out by hand.
   A total of 70 different classes a day are offered. It’s really difficult to choose which ones to take. Since I met and was impressed by Rainelle Burton last year when she did critiques of my work, I selected her class to begin the day.
   Her subject was "Time & Place," finding the soul of a time and place for a story. Good choice. She started each day playing a different song from Nina Simone’s "Central Park."
   "Close your eyes; let this music get under your skin and then write about the place you chose, using the soul of the music to guide you," she said.
   As Rainelle talked, her own personality shone through. A fascinating and intelligent woman with her debut novel "The Root Worker" in print this year. Need I say that I bought a first edition — signed?
   Lucy McCauley’s "Finding the Travelogue in Your Journeys" was my second class of the day. There was no way I could bypass this class.
   I was as totally delighted in everything I learned about writing of my travels, as I was of the reading she suggested on the travel stories of others.
   Breaking for a lunch that I didn’t have to prepare — always a treat, even if it isn’t good, but it was — along with the great conversations with whoever happened to sit in the chair next to me. Never at a loss for something to say because we all have a love of the written word.
   Back to class with Sandi Stromberg, a Texas woman, teaching "Writing to Nurture Our Souls."
   Talk about cleansing the inner self! Sandi started each workshop with a gentle poem or brief story. Then she presented us with a thought, such as, "What event happened in your life to alter its course? Now write about it. Just let the words flow without care of grammar or structure."
   Then she invited us to read our writing if we wanted. Many essays were tear-evoking, either from laughter or pain.
   During this exercise, a realization came over me. Now I knew why we remembered each other after a year’s absence and only knowing each other for a week-long period last year.
   This was a very bonding experience. Hearing a woman’s personal story even alters their physical appearance in your eyes.
   On to "Biographical/Memoir Writing Creatively" with Pat Carr. Pat has 10 books in print and happily announced another will be coming out in 2002.
   This class gets so crowded that whoever isn’t early gets to sit on the floor. That is just what happens. Some drag in chairs from other rooms, some simply stand for an hour and fifteen minutes.
   Pat teaches nuts and bolts, dos and don’ts. She states that Edith Wharton would have been an even better writer if Henry James had not encouraged her to write from a man’s point of view.
   The last workshop of the day was another struggle to choose. I narrowed it down to "Psychic, Telepathic Powers and Spiritual Guides," "Open Critiques" and "Sacred Bellydance." — none of which would require homework and all of which would be interesting.
   I decided on the psychic course taught by Jenna Catharine who has appeared on "Philly After Midnight" and "The Other Side".
   An interesting subject, Jenna led us to go "within" for guidance, answers and healing.
   Well, this rounded out my days. After supper, which I also did not have to prepare, open readings were conducted in the auditorium.
   One woman read her beautiful poem, paused and said, "I must announce, that at 67 years of age, I have become a ‘Calendar Girl’. My poetry will be published on (an upcoming) calendar. Alas, they have not asked for my photo."
   I found Hilda E. Ward at her table in the lobby outside the auditorium where the different authors and artists set up their wares to sell to people like me. This is perfect for people who crave good books, reasonable and as a special bonus, signed by the author.
   They all are happy to talk to you with encouragement.
   "Congratulate me," Hilda tells me. "I’m 69-years-old and just cut my first CD." How could I not be impressed and inspired?
   Waiting for the closing ceremonies to begin, I watched the women filtering into the auditorium. All week most of us wore no make-up, dressed in T-shirts, sweat pants and shorts.
   Tonight the audience was a landscape of color, beautiful flowing caftans, wraps, feathers and scarves worn with chic, headdresses that shone with inner passion and Dorothy Randall Gray’s blonde dreadlocks hanging below her waist with a stylish turn of the hand.
   Tonight was theatrics, sparkle. Bubbles began floating upward. Tears of the week were dried up. Joy abounded. Women transformed.
   Alas, all wonderful times must come to an end. E-mail and snail mail addresses are exchanged.
   I say goodbye to my young friend, Topaz, who I first met last year. After hearing her read portions of her book, I predicted that she will replace Danielle Steele as the popular fiction writer. I still believe it.
   That is such an important part of this entire experience, stating our belief in each other.
   Remember the magic!