edwina shaw

JUST WRITE! – Take me to the April Retreat in Springbrook! FULLY BOOKED

/ Edwina Shaw / 2 Comments

Due to popular demand, we are now offering a FOUR NIGHT, FIVE DAY retreat high in the Gold Coast Hinterland at the beautiful and quite magical Theosophical Society Education and Retreat Centre in Springbrook from Thursday 4th April until Monday 8th April 2024. 

For days now the old Dragon song (vale Marc Hunter) “Take me to the April Sun in Cuba” has been playing non-stop in my head, with a few words changed to take us all to the April Retreat in Springbrook! Who wants to come?! Me! (Dragon will not be joining us!)

Are you desperate for some time out from real life to focus on your writing? Whether you’re just getting started or working on book ten, this retreat is all about YOU and YOUR WRITING PROJECT. Time for you to write. Time for you to relax and just think. Time to daydream, lie on a blanket in the sun and gaze up into the tall trees imagining the next steps of your book, or your life. 

Sound like just what the doctor ordered? I know I’m really looking forward to some time out from all the madness and frantic busyness, to focus solely on my new book (just finished the first draft :)). Even better, doing so in a group of women writers all doing the same thing! 

I left the Retreat with inspiration for my writing, as well as goals with a clear and achievable action plan. And the best part is I now have the support of 16 new writing buddies!

COURTNEY MASTERS – retreat participant 

This retreat is all about WRITING TIME.

We have an initial workshop to help clarify goals for the retreat, making realistic plans about what we’d like to achieve, connecting with others and figuring out which method works best for you. During the days we’ll run a supervised writing room with timed “Pomodoro” style sessions, writing in twenty-minute bursts, followed by five minutes to rest, chat and grab a cup of tea or coffee and some of Gay’s delicious home-baked treats (GF options always available). Or, if you’re a solo writer like me, then every room has its own desk, or you can find a spot in the beautiful gardens and rest your back against one of the giant gums or wander off to the waterfall and write in blissful solitude in nature. 

Edwina Shaw’s Writers Retreat at Springbrook was sensational. Working with other experienced writers and learning new ways of doing things as well as new ways to think, is always mind expanding. Then there were the deep dive conversations with other writers and the sacred walk to the waterfall. It was an extraordinary way to learn and grow.

VICKI BENNETT – repeat retreater

We’ll have Q & A sessions after lunch every day where you can ask as many craft-related questions as you like, and every evening we’ll have guided deep breathing and relaxation to help our busy writers’ minds to slow down and relax. After a delicious dinner you’ll have the chance to share your writing with the group. We’ll finish off the retreat with a final workshop, checking on progress and plotting our way forward, setting goals and making plans for our projects, and ourselves, moving forward.

To be held in a space of such love and respect, through both solitude and interacting with other amazing women, was a real blessing. I found Edwina to be enlightening, welcoming and an amazing source of inspiration and knowledge regarding all aspects of writing, including publishing. I came away knowing that I truly have potential and feeling very excited about my writing journey. I want to share my gift with the world, and now I feel like I can. Wow.

KYLIE DEAN – retreat participant

These retreats do more than just get you writing, they provide much needed time out from the world to reassess what you want from your life and nurture your creative self, so that by the time you return to the big smoke, you’ll be feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to shine!

Come along and you will be treated to a memorable, supportive and nurturing space with laughter and creativity aplenty. These retreats offer the perfect balance of relaxing and writing. From the collective energies of the group as a whole to the care-filled little touches that Ed brings, your inner-goddess and writing muse will thank you! A warning though… once you’ve gone on one, you’ll want to come back again and again! Spoken by a true repeat retreater! 

BIANCA MILLROY – repeat retreater

PRICE INCLUDES:

4 nights comfortable single accommodation with bathrooms shared between two.

ALL MEALS – healthy homemade organic vegetarian meals, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, plus morning and afternoon teas. (All sensitivities catered for on request)

2 Writing workshops

3 Guided breathing and deep relaxation sessions

4 Q & A sessions

A supervised Pomodoro room to keep you on track, 

OR

As much solitary writing time as you like!

Plus: a chance to share your stories on readings nights.

Transport not included.

I have been inspired to work on my writing but also to work on my health. Not only am I motivated but I made so many new friends. 

PEG MACLEOD – retreat participant

COST for this special ALL INCLUSIVE 4 NIGHT RETREAT of writing, fun and feasting? 

Pay your deposit by February 15 for EARLY BIRD PRICES

UNWAGED/ CONCESSION:

EARLY BIRD $750, Normal $790

WAGED: EARLY BIRD $850, Normal $900

All inclusive! 

PAY YOUR DEPOSIT HERE

OR by Direct Deposit PREFERED:  CONTACT EDWINA FOR AVAILABILITY AND BANK DETAILS.

If you have more dash than cash but would still LOVE to come, just email Edwina and we’ll work it out.

ALTERNATIVE EXTRAS ALSO AVAILABLE AT EXTRA COST:

One on one sessions with Edwina to give direction or advice on your project.

Body work treatments with the deeply knowledgeable and gifted healer, Monique DeGoey of Reconnect BodyWork.

If you’ve been promising yourself some time out for your writing and would love to connect with like-minded writing women in a stunningly beautiful location, far from the madding crowds, then this is the retreat for you!

Come along and be nurtured and supported by a kind and gentle group of women and leave all your worries behind as you immerse yourself in the beautiful natural environment, lovingly cared for by the Yugambeh people for millennia.

GET ALL THE INFO HERE

If you’re looking for more workshops to guide your writing and to get your head around aspects of teh writing craft, then check out all the other retreats available in 2024! Really looking to escape? Join me and my dear friend, the wise and witty Kerstin Pilz author of Loving my Lying Dying Cheating Husband, in Bali for our Relax and Write Your Journey BLISSFUL BALI RETREAT July 11 – 17 2024.

But first, sing along with me, Take me to the April Retreat in Springbrook, oh ho ho!

Feel free to drop me a line with any questions or to check availability.

Lots of love 

Edwina xx

THE INTROVERT PARTY-GOER’S GUIDE TO WRITING A SCENE!

/ Edwina Shaw / 2 Comments

What does an introvert party-goer know about writing scenes? A lot it seems.

  1. ARRIVE LATE

First of all, just like our party goer, don’t arrive too early in your scene (or your whole book for that matter). Arrive as late as you can at the party – ie just before the candles are lit, the speeches are made, all the important stuff happens. Same with scenes/stories/books. Don’t make the reader wade through a whole lot of unnecessary small talk/backstory. Instead cut right to the chase. Enter the scene just when the really big thing is about to happen. In fancy terms this is called In Media Res -or as I like to call it – CUT TO THE CHASE. Get rid of any unnecessary lead up and get us to the most important moment, that inciting incident or plot twist or heart-clutching moment as soon as you can. 

  • FIND THE HOST

Much as the introvert needs to survey the party’s landscape to find a route to the host, the writer needs to ground the reader in where the scene is taking place and show us who our host is for the scene. Who is the Point of View Character? Make it clear early whose perspective we’re in. The easiest way to choose your POV character is by choosing the character who has most to lose. Make sure the reader knows whose side we’re on and get that introvert over to the host so their presence is registered.

  • DANCE

Now introverts aren’t exactly known for being the life of the party, but getting out on the dancefloor makes your presence very visible and everyone will remember you being at the party. When writing our scene/story, we want some ACTION, no just hanging around the backstory or hiding out in the kitchen/interior monologue. Instead move straight into some action. Dialogue is action. Your characters interacting is action. Movement towards plot goals or against them is action. Leet your reader know you’ve arrived at the party.

  • LEAVE EARLY

Yes, that’s the ultimate introvert party goer trick. You’ve turned up, found the host, made sure everyone knew you were there by dancing, then, as soon as the candles are blown out, you’re off! Same with your scene/story. Once you’ve hit the climax or key turning point in your scene, don’t wear out your welcome by overanalysing the action or rambling on about the deeper meaning for paragraphs. Just leave. Readers are intelligent folk. Let them figure out what it all means themselves. So writers, hit your climax, then get out of there fast! Move on to the next scene and apply the same rules.

Early on in my writing career I was lucky enough to win a mentorship with esteemed editor Judith Lukin-Amundsen who has worked with Kate Grenville and Tim Winton. The first task she assigned me was to go through the whole manuscript and cut at least 10%. Then she made me go through and examine each paragraph and cut the first and last sentences! I tried to be good and do exactly as she said and mostly it made those paragraphs sing, but sometimes I kept my darlings, the precious ones. So, as with any advice, follow your own gut instincts. Try out the advice, see if it works for you and if it does, then BINGO! If it doesn’t, fiddle around with it and adapt it to suit your purposes.

So party goers and writers all, try out this method for parties, and writing, and see how you go. Let me know! Did it work for you?

Keep smiling fellow writers. The world is still a beautiful place and stories are valuable and important. Your voice is valuable and important.

Lots of love,

Edwina xx

PS. Would you just LOVE a weekend away in paradise to write, relax and connect with other writing women and non-binary folk? Check out my RELAX AND WRITE RETREATS! Places for Magnetic Island June 2- 4 2023 available now!