Several months ago, I was thinking Bouchercon or Killer Nashville? Then I listened to a podcast called Writing Excuses, and I saw an ad for a Writing Cruise. “Yes! That’s it!” I forgot about other conferences. For one thing, Brandon Sanderson would be giving classes. While I’m not really a sci-fi fan, I loved his class videos from Brigham Young University. For another thing, the cruise was presented as a retreat and a conference—time to write, classes, sight-seeing, pools, sun, fantastic meals. Who can beat that?
Furthermore, the price seemed very reasonable for all that. Of course, by the time I booked the flight, a room alone, a hotel the night before, and excursions, the cost had doubled. But by then I was hooked—and booked. I was going!
Of course, I realized that the other attendees would be mostly fantasy or sci-fi writers and that they would be much younger than I. However, the temptation to be on the water, in the sunshine, and writing with others was overpowering. I wanted to go. My fellow travelers were, indeed, young sci-fi/fantasy writers; nevertheless, they were open, lively, and they loved my blue streaked hair. I enjoyed being with them.
At the hotel, there was a slight snafu. I went out to dinner, and when I returned, I had a roommate. I had booked a room alone, but I decided no big deal. When the roommate returned, he was as surprised as I had been! A roommate was one thing, but a male—uh, no. We worked things out at the front desk without a problem.
The classes were not all I had hoped for. One was fascinating: Brandon Sanderson’s talk about the current state of publishing. He has his own publishing company as well as a trad publisher, and he uses both. The best of both worlds and way out of my league. The other large, formal classes were not valuable to me. Sanderson’s was a rework of an earlier lecture; the other one I don’t remember well—too touchy-feely for me. I wanted craft.
However, the small-group workshop on mind mapping was powerful. Piper Drake was the facilitator, and she is upbeat and full of ideas. We learned by doing. I was completely unfamiliar with the concept, not to mention skeptical about its value. I was wrong because getting out my plot (or characters) on PostIt notes helped me see the gaping holes and fill them. This is the method I’ll use on my third novel, which I’ll work on for National Novel Writing Month this year.
Oh, yes, and the cruise, the ports, the beaches, the vacation spots. We stopped at Belize City, Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. All ports had mini-malls full of upscale shops and hawkers right at the end of the pier. Only in one port—was it Roatan?—was there a walkable town at the port as well. That was a disappointment. I felt like I was at Disneyland, not in a foreign country.
All in all, the cruise was valuable and enjoyable. Next year, though, I think I’ll plan on Killer Nashville.
