Novel Writers' SOS at the Saratoga Inn

Photo: Late hydrangeas grow in the front garden at the Saratoga Inn, Langley WA

Writer of thrillers and non-fiction Bob Mayer, with numerous novels currently in print, hosted the Novel Writing Workshop today and will lead the Warrior Writer Workshop tomorrow.

Mystery writer Elizabeth George will come by for an hour or so to talk about her writing process and answer questions.

Today was loaded with practical information about creating the novel; we worked on expressing a story ideas in a single brief sentence, as well as on plot, characters, setting, story arc, point of view and more.

Tomorrow we talk about the business of writing and publishing; today Bob commented on how fast the industry is changing.

Sobered to hear that the past year has brought more changes to publishing than the previous twenty, I was simultaneously encouraged to learn of Bob's optimism about these changes, which he believes are harbingers of opportunity for writers.

Definitely, with the wealth of information available to would-be writers here this weekend, the Saratoga Inn is a great place to be.

After a spectacular sunrise that displayed an even series of white peaks across the water on the mainland, we had a little rain today, and the weather is cloudy. But the rhododendrons are still blooming around the library and the temperatures are balmy in this charming sheltered seaside town.