Recorded on the final night in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, writers of different backgrounds, interests, and works waiting to become works-in-progess gather around the microphones and look back on an amazing five days of food, booze, words, and hut tub soakings.
Welcome to the Smoky Mountains Writers’ Retreat of 2014.
Wear earbuds or send the kids and your mom out of the room. The authors are hitting the sauce, so we get saucy…
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00:00 — Introduction
- Yes, two shows in a week! How about that?
- Tee’s appetite is still adjusting to realistic standards.
- Trust me — Chuck Wendig is right about living a lifestyle…
- The Shared Desk steps back to the last night in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee…
02:36 — Reflections on the Smokey Mountain Writers’ Retreat
- And here is the origins of The Shared Desk and getting Pip to the mic
- The participants of #SmokyWriters2014 and what they were working on…
- Philippa Ballantine (Y.A. novel entitled The Silver Pharaoh)
- Rosemary Tizledoun (short story entitled “Snap Dragons”)
- Lauren “Scribe” Harris (high fantasy novel entitled Song of the Heretic)
- Hugh O’Donnell (urban fantasy novel entitled Changeling and superhero short story)
- Bryan Lincoln (high fantasy audio script)
- Tee Morris (urban fantasy novel entitled Wolf in the Fold) who gives a special “thank you” to his eight-day employer…
- AWKWARD MOMENT [REDACTED]
- Alex White (the man behind the long weekend and dark comedy novel entitled Domains.)
- Picture The Office set on Mount Olympus.
- We call it CubicalPunk.
- The goal in getting writers together under one roof
- Alex wanted to have a setting where people would get along.
- Alex wanted people to produce.
- Rules were set to maximize productivity.
- Meals were seen to.
- Hopes & Realities for Rosemary
- Hopes & Realities for Lauren
- A break in Lauren’s assessment to quote our mantra: Food. Booze. Words.
- Hopes & Realities for Lauren (continued)
- Hopes & Realities for Hugh
- Feeling as if he was stepping in the house of the “Big Dogs” in his mind.
- In praise of Hugh’s short story featuring the Spirit Animal of Smoky Mountain Writers’ Retreat
- Meeting expectations and intimidating those around them…
- Hopes & Realities for Bryan
- “Drinkin’ Lincoln” in college…and in the Smoky Mountains
- Writing audio scripts and the challenges within.
- Hopes & Realities for Tee…and putting his put in his mouth in the process.
- And now…THE FOOD.
- OMNOMNOMNOMNOM!
- Alex White…a sneaky culinary bastard…
- Eating like Mother F-ing Rock Stars
- Bryan’s favorite meal — The Salmon with Spinach Artichoke Orzo
- Meet Cookie! (His favorite meal — the Steaks. Those fantastic steaks…)
- Hugh’s favorite meal — the Ruben with Butternut Squash
- Lauren’s favorite meal — the French Toast and Bacon (with strawberry compote)
- “I don’t usually like [insert dish here] but this…”
- Rosemary’s favorite meal — the Strata (with props to the Flan dessert)
- Alex’s favorite meal — Okonomiaki (Japanese Pancakes)
- Cookie’s favorite dessert — the Jameson Bread Puuding
- Pip’s favorite meal — the Salmon dinner
- Tee’s favorite meal — the Ruben with Butternut Squash
- Pip offers the most awesome segue to the weirdest conversation we had…
- Tee’s going on the grill.
- Pip’s a lovely rack…
- Hugh Stew
- Pip’s survival instinct kicks in with an interrupting stinkbug.
- Improving #SmokyWriters2015
- Planning around con season…
- More people?
- Lauren asks for more time.
- Planning the trip
- Will Hugh dare to stay with the Morris clan?
- Tee proposes a full week with a field trip set aside one day.
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee — “Myrtle Beach in the Mountains”
- Pip’s concerns about the number of participants.
- Tee also suggests more games, especially Cards Against Humanity and Poker Night.
- Breaking up into other Reading Groups and Brainstorming sessions
- Congratulations, Alex White — you did it. And he totally brain-dumps his heart on the retreat…
- …and Tee goes for Pip’s jugular….
- Returning to Alex’s heart-felt reflection.
- How do you throw a writers’ retreat?
- Look for a place.
- SmokyMountains.com
- HomeAway.com
- Consider hiring a chef.
- Find people who will pay their share.
- Be prepared to use the credit card.
- Lay down Rules and Expectations for the weekend. Get. Work. Done.
- Pip’s expectations for next year…
1:02:41 — The Wrap-Up
- Congratulations, Alex White — you did it. And he totally brain-dumps his heart on the retreat…
- …and Tee goes for Pip’s jugular….
- Returning to Alex’s heart-felt reflection.
- How do you throw a writers’ retreat?
- Look for a place.
- SmokyMountains.com
- HomeAway.com
- Consider hiring a chef.
- Find people who will pay their share.
- Be prepared to use the credit card.
- Lay down Rules and Expectations for the weekend. Get. Work. Done.
- Pip’s expectations for next year…
- And yes, Tee’s got his ending memorized and ready for this remote recording…
RELATED LINKS
Find us on Twitter at either
Tee’s or
Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at
703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.
Filed under Episodes
Tagged as 2014, advice, Alex White, answering challenges, booze, camaraderie, Drinkin' Lincoln, drinking, expectations, explicit, food, goals, hangover, Laser Dick, mountains, productivity, Smoky Mountain Writers' Retreat, words, writing
