Although all the preceding days of the workshop were great, today was a day of big events.
It was our last workshop, and I think everyone submitted some of their best work so far. Besides workshopping everyone’s manuscripts, we also had a lively discussion about publishing, discussing the current state of the industry, the outlook for authors, and how technology is impacting publishers, authors, and readers.
Adding to the magic in the atmosphere was the fact that not only were these great discussions, but also I think everyone’s personality was showing more, since we had worked and lived together for a week and so felt comfortable around each other. There seemed to be a slight roller coaster of emotion in the air because we had survived all the writing challenges Tom posed for us, and we had survived all the living challenges the island tossed our way. And we were also coming to the realization that most of us would be leaving this idyllic environment and heading back to the mundane world the next day.
Here are Don and Beth exhibiting a little of the final workshop spirit:
After workshop, lecture, and lunch, Rob took us all on a boat cruise around the island.
Here we are, heading to the boat:
Here’s the view from the boat–Norton Island to the left, Infinity straight ahead:
As we were cruising along we also got to see some seals. Here are a few sunning themselves on the rocks, though some are also in the water–you can just make out their bobbing heads as they tried to figure out just who we were:
In the evening Tom, Santa, and Rob cooked up a big Maine lobster feast:
And here’s the 2010 Norton Island Writers Workshop gang, in toto:
And a final farewell to the bonfire:
After everyone migrated back inside, for the final entertainment of the evening everyone read selections from their work (and Gina sang too!). I had been to a couple readings before, but this was the first time I got to do a reading.
Here’s Dick’s reading:
Next up: departure!
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Norton Island Writers Workshop post series: