Tag Archives: writing retreat

by | March 16, 2017 · 2:45 am

Episode 72: The 2017 Smoky Writers Retreat Wrap-Up (featuring K.T. Bryski…and even MORE Hamilton!!!)

We’re baaaaaaaaaaaack!!!

Another year, another retreat in the Smoky Mountains. Here’s how it all went down…

00:00 —  Introduction

  • How many times is Pip going to make this joke?
  • First time with new mics? Why, yes — yes, it is!
  • Special Guest — K.T. Bryski who is always writing like she’s running out of time…
  • New drop-in’s from Hamilton: An American Musical…again!
  • So what’s the new gear and what do you all think?
    • Tee’s on a Heil PR781 for the first time, and digging it!
    • Pip is working the Heil PR40 while using a Heil PL2T Boom Mic stand.
    • Katie is the rebel of the three of us, recording on the MXL BCD-1  (which came with a WS-002 windscreen) with the BCD Boom Mic stand.
    • Thoughts and opinions on the new gear…
    • So why the upgrade? Tee Morris and Chuck Tomasi are returning to the stands with Podcasting for Dummies: The Third Edition!

06:48 — Episode 72: The 2017 Smoky Writers Retreat Wrap-Up (featuring K.T. Bryski…now with even MORE Hamilton!!!)

  • What are we taking with us? (Sing along if you know the drop-in…)
  • Always nice to see Stephen Grenade when you get there.
  • A look at the man behind the Smoky Writers Retreat….
  • Great Things about the New Cabin
    • Double the hot tubs!
    • Everyone had beds!
    • Where we found our place to write in Valhalla?
  • Katie is being distracting!
  • Tee starts up a new routine: A Brisk Morning Walk — UPHILL — BOTH WAYS!!!
  • Watch one of the videos from Tee & Tim’s Morning Walk, and laugh at how hard we are working…
  • What we were working on…
    • For Pip: The Illuminal — first draft, now at a 50K word count
    • For Katie: She started off wanting to write a novel, but took a step back to work on short stories.
    • For Tee: Dope, now over 27K deep and running at a good pace
  • If you are not reading Piper J. Drake’s bestselling trilogy, you should be!
  • WHAT WAS THE FAVORITE FOOD?!?
    • For Katie: Salmon and Soba Noodles
    • For Pip: She refuses to choose…
    • For Tee: The Lamb Curry
  • Tee starts taking risks with Sirracha.
  • A Day at MagicQuest
    • How to fix MagicQuest from authors who have never grown up…
    • The Mirror Maze — FUN!
    • Blacklight Pirate Golf, as you do!
  • Smoky Writers is NOT a vacation.
  • Just accept it — we all love M.K.!
  • This year saw the founding of the Smoky Writers Chamber Choir!
  • Thank you M.K. for picking up the official SWR Guitar!
  • The reasons we may be returning to Valhalla…
  • What brings us back to Smoky and how this is Alex White’s show…
    • The waiting list could be a retreat in itself.
    • So how about learning from the master? Read this and this.
  • So…are we there yet?

32:03 — Loot Crate Lookie-Loo!

  • The Loot Crate arrived before we left…
  • February Theme: BUILD
    • The Lego Batman Food Container — MINE!
    • The tee-shirt is Volton …and now it is Katie’s
    • Lego Dimensions: Benny and Benny’s Spaceship
    • Tetris Magnets. That’s a distraction waiting to happen.
    • Secret Order of the Keys…something for later.
  • The BUILD crate marks the one-year anniversary with Loot Crate!
  • What else came in the mail? A special Cards Against Humanity expansion pack!
    • It was M.K.’s first time playing, and we were all worried about how she was going to take it…
    • …well, not all of us were worried. There was “That bitch, Stacey!”
    • And what did Tee pick up? A Mass Effect Expansion Pack.

37:36 — The Wrap-Up

45:03 — Post-Show Groove

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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.

Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.

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by | April 13, 2016 · 6:12 am

Episode 54: The Post-Retreat (with Special Guests Piper J Drake, Matthew Drake, and KT Bryski)

 

TSD-back2back_PJ-Matt-KT

In our previous episode of The Shared Desk, Pip, Tee, Matt, and PJ all looked ahead to a week at the Smoky Writers’ Retreat. Now we jump ahead to the end of the week, and this time we are joined by KT Bryski. Cracking over an hour of word count goals, reflections on the fun, and serious talk about moonshine, The Shared Desk presents the Post-Retreat podcast.

Be warned — This way lies shenanigans!

00:00 —  Introduction

  • The drop-in’s reflect the week, pretty much…
  • It’s a NEW drop-in, just for Foo!
  • What is the name of this event?
  • Matt and Tee are ending the week as they started it — with Ole Smoky Moonshine’s Apple Pie!

03:54 — The Post-Retreat Podcast (with Piper, Matt, and KT!)

  • Only one hit of the shine, and Tee’s off the rails already.
  • What we accomplished at the Retreat…
    • Pip finishes The Silver Pharaoh, begins The Iron Lily, and continues into the Broken Galaxy; and she hit a Lowell! Just over 30,000 words accomplished.
    • Piper J Drake rocks her deadline with the True Hero series. 40,000 words in the can.
    • K.T. Bryski was a short story machine. BE AFRAID OF THE AWESOME!
    • Tee finally wrote Little Red Flying Hood, got handouts sorted for an upcoming RT workshop, and kicked off Blackstar Rising. Over 30,000 words in the week.
    • And now, Matthew J Drake, our accidental author…landing in over 20,000 words in a week!
  • A quick tangent on the Apple Pie Moonshine…and then, back to Matt….
  • Matt’s ascension into a full-fledged writer’s life.
  • Just avoid the dreaded note from KT Bryski, editor…
    grumpy-cat-no-1
  • KT Bryski does NOT care for the new drop-in.
  • The story behind Piper’s new drop-in. (We love you, Foo!)
  • That drop-in and Penny Dreadful…KT’s kryptonite.
  • And now—what happened after hours….
    • KT’s favorite time — the presence of Lauren, and composing music with Starla!
    • Matt’s favorite time — the first group reading
    • Jumping back to KT’s off-hours visit to the Titanic Museum…a surprising find in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and what an experience!
    • Piper J Drake’s favorite time — visiting Ripley’s Aquarium and the somewhat-lubricated, off-hours chatter between authors.
    • Pip’s favorite time — chilling with Alex White
  • The Moonshine of Gatlinburg
  • All the neat touches of our cabin…
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  • Hugh O’Donnell goes WAR BOY on us all!!! WITNESS HIM!!!
  • What a great experience!
  • Bryan Lincoln almost lost his work on account of a cleaning fit from Tee.
  • Let’s talk about the food of Smoky Writers Retreat!
    • Katie’s favorite meal — the Sticky Toffee Pudding
    • Matt’s favorite meal — the handmade Gnocchi
    • Piper’s favorite meal — the Ribs and GROWN-UP Mac-n-Cheese
    • PIPER CHEATS! STEALS TEE’S TASTY-TASTY REUBENS!!!!
    • Pip’s favorite meal — the Beef Wellington
    • Tee’s favorite meal — the Crepes and the Scrambled Egg Sweet Poatoes
    • Scotch Eggs, Chicken and Waffles, Brisket….cue Deadpool.
  • Tee returns to Piper and Matt about the comparison between Smoky Writers Retreat, Writing Excuses Retreat, and other writing retreats.

1:02:0o — Wrapping up

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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
on Tee, or the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences on Periscope
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.

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by | June 3, 2015 · 11:53 am

Episode #42 The Beer with Katie episode

The Shared Desk with Katie

This episode we head on back to March this year, when Katie Bryski was staying. The three amigos talk beer

00:00 Introduction, and a little commentary

  • Tee gets his acting fix in and devours some candy
  • Pip and Tee boogie down to some Canadian music.
  • Pip gets cranky about passing time, but reminds listeners this is probably NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
  • Pip fears the show notes…again…

4:31 We begin with beer

    • Tee and Katie are happy. Pip is concerned she hasn’t drunk anything for this podcast.
    • Katie enjoys her drop-in and claims sobriety.
    • The King’s feast is all about meat

Dogfish Head stein

  • Dogfish brewhouse should be the sponsor of this show
  • Beer is better from handmade steins
  • Katie is impressed with how much meat America has
  • Tee has trouble with his Facebook posts, and Pip is a supportive wife.
  • Katie and Tee wax lyrical about Dogfish Head’s ancient ales.
  • And then wander towards Old Busthead Brewery
  • Apparently Pip is bored by beer, and hands out some side-eye

15:43 The Topic at hand is found!

  • Pip, K T and PC Haring head to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee
  • The second year of Smoky Writers is held, and organized by Alex White
  • The intrepid travelers meet a white out…not an Alex White out though…
  • When trucks pull over, it’s a good and safe idea for you to pull off too.
  • Welcome to the monastery of writing wherein we find Starla Huchton and Abigail Hilton
  • The joys of a writing retreat—being surrounded by creative people
  • Hugh O’Donnell and Bryan Lincoln
  • There were awards
  • Shout out to Chris Bupp and Renee Chantel White who cooked our meals
  • Mention episode #40 here, live from Smoky Writers
  • Pip has a biffing stone…whatever that is
  • Alex White has a great series of blogposts on how you can do this kind of writing retreat. Part One. Part Two. Part Three. Part Four.
  • Uh…ohhh problems with the cabin, but Alex is still awesome…
  • Outlets, alcohol, food, friends, hot-tub(s)

25:09 What Tee got up to while we were away

  • PJ Schnyder and Matt Ord worked with Tee on a book trailer, and shot in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Tee waxes melancholy on previous book trailers, but admits some faults
  • Thanks to James River Writers and Bill Blume
  • Pip let’s Tee give his deep South story
  • Once again the Proper Pie Company pops up again. Why are they not sponsoring this podcast too??!
  • Pip tries to make a slogan for them.

34:46 Writers Off the Clock- Vampires and Gothic

  • Pip and Tee introduce Katie to What We Do in the Shadows
  • It is now available in the US, on itunes and other outlets
  • So vampires flatting together
  • Everyone does the accent, even the mayor of Wellington (Vellington)
  • Everyone loves Stu!
  • Even the Smoky Writers loved this movie!
  • Katie is now hooked to Penny Dreadful
  • Timothy Dalton reads Keats, and we all get it.
  • Dave Robison reads for Katie’s work at Black Creek Pioneer Village
  • Great cast, and great writing- but also lots of nakedness…
  • Oh dancing so close to steampunk!

46:46 Time to wrap up

  • Apparently they broke their stein
  • Because of time shifting you’ve already missed us in Rotorua, Ravecon, and even Balticon
  • Some Australians did actually come over!
  • Katie hit AdAstra with Eric Buchanan
  • Katie plugs her diabolical plot, but timeshifting means…whoops it has already happened!
  • Katie hates to leave, and Viola doesn’t want her to go. Neither do we…
  • The team heads out to watch Penny Dreadful with a bunch of apologies

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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.

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by | May 6, 2015 · 9:30 am

#40 The Smoky Writers…without Pip or Tee

TSD-what

Are you ready for the the second on time podcast this year? It’s hard to believe but true. This weekend we venture to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, and let you experience a writers retreat…without Tee or Pip. But don’t worry, they do plenty of intro/outro!

0:00 Introduction to Smoky Writers

  • Tee tries not to choke
  • Pip gives the rundown on Smoky Writers
  • Pip searches for a proper descriptor for Alex White.
  • PC Haring whips out the mics even while Pip has to flee the ice, and the White Walkers.

4:26 Live from the Smoky Writers Retreat

  • PC Haring, Lauren Scribe Harris, Foo, and Starla Huchton take over the show!
  • Evil Laugh!!
  • Cabin, food, writing…oh where to start??
  • Food was as always amazing, thanks to our chefs.
  • Renee White made cabbage and brussel sprout wizard.
  • Apologies for any drooling our listeners may experience. *here’s a towel*
  • Hugh O’Donnell joins the merry bunch.
  • Starla missed breakfasts because…BAT CAVE!
  • Renee White accidentally ends up in the podcast, and receives love for all her cooking.
  • We battled snow both in an out.
  • Okonomiyaki is delicious….seriously, even if cabbage pancakes sound horrible to you, try them.
  • Cooking for nineteen people ain’t easy…
  • The alcohol budget might need to be increased. Hemingway would have been pleased.
  • But also writers also drink a lot of coffee and tea.
  • Onto the cabin up the hill of death. The Chevy Volt made it!
  • The cabin looked lovely, but we had power. One hot tub down, leaks, bugs, and a few maintenance issues. You’d think that would bring people down.
  • Alex took care of business, but did not toss any cars.
  • Did the Dukes of Hazard get there before us?
  • Internet pain…oh teh pain.
  • As long as you know there will be no internet, it could be better for productivity.

28:08 Onto the writing

  • Hugh, Foo and Scribe actually shared a desk!
  • Brian Lincoln pops on in
  • Some people staked their claim on a place, some moved around to experience hanging out with other people…even though it was silent. Writers can be funny that way.
  • Everyone has their own method.
  • The group reads! Last year was fewer people, this year we had to break up into groups, and everyone read something they wrote that day.
  • Bryan writes audio dramas, so he got us to read his stories.
  • Musicals were written, What We Do in the Shadows was watched.
  • Discussions over dinner were useful. Basically the best part of a convention without all the stuff don’t want all the time.
  • A writing retreat is a great place to focus, and get those words out! Lack of distractions really help…sorry kids and loved ones.
  • A community feeling of writers, where we are all allowed to suck.
  • Brian recommends going to a retreat with a plan.

47:27 Recommendations for those going to a writing retreat

  • “Try to arrive 15lbs under weight…”
  • Sync all your Dropbox files just in case.
  • Have an idea of what you want to achieve, and an outline might be a good idea.
  • Bring comfortable clothes, maybe pjs…
  • Rosemary joins the conversation. Don’t depend on the internet. Be comfortable with your software, so you don’t lose time to finding out how to operate it. Extension cords can provide freedom.
  • Isolation means having a backup strategy.
  • Bring enough projects just in case…
  • Bring something to reward with yourself
  • Car pooling can be awesome.
  • Stay healthy!
  • Make friends!

60:00 Sign off

All these links are above. Click on them…click on them!!

61:03 Pip and Tee sign off too.

  • If you want to plan your own retreat, do check out Alex’s blogposts on how to set one up. Part One and Part Two
  • Next year, we’re moving to a little later in the year, but Tee will be there!
  • Look for Pip in RT in Texas next week
  • Tee sings…
  • Then look for us at Balticon, and come to the meat and great on the Friday at the Marriott Residence Inn.
  • Capital Con is in our backyard…but not literally.
  • We’re importing kiwis apparently…
  • Pip and Tee thank Paul for doing all the work!
  • Doing all the things, but how long can we last!?!

 

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.

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by | January 23, 2014 · 2:00 am

Episode #27: Talking about Works-in-Progress

TSD-overtheshoulder

It’s taken us a while to get back to the miss but get back to the miss we did! Pip and I took a few minutes before a Writers’ Retreat to fire up the studio and let loose their tongues on works-in-progress. What’s coming down the pike? What will be percolating while in Pigeon Forge? And is it a good idea to talk about works-in-progress? It’s back in black for Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris on this, the first show of 2014!

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00:00 — Introduction

  • Working to get back your trust…
  • The Shared Desk returns! (And what do you know — more drop-in’s!)
  • Nine years ago, MOREVI went live. Where did the time go?
  • Tee laments on the lost “new” job.
  • Vinnie over at Trinity Manassas Church gives Tee a little perspective
  • A Writer’s Retreat is now in our future!
    • Organized by Alex White
    • What Pip is looking forward to.
    • Living like rock stars for five days!
    • Woah! Tee’s sleeping with his new boss!!!
  • A promise of recording audio at the Writers’ Retreat….and other audio that we captured…
  • Big thanks for the writing keeping us sane…
08:11 — Talking about Works-in-Progress 
  • Tee reflects on The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy.
  • Pip and Tee disagree on revealing works-in-progress
    • Pip likes teasing her audience.
    • We have found a new favorite drop-in for Pip.
  • Talking about works-in-progress is good.
    • Shows the audience you have new stuff in the works.
    • Actually delivering on an idea as opposed to just talking about it.
    • Pip’s new work-in-progress — The Immortal Prodgeny
  • Talking about works-in-progress is bad
    • Tee Morris and Billibub Baddings
    • How the Powerpuff Girls worries Tee about returning to the Billibub Baddings Mysteries
  • Tee’s work-in-progress — Wolf in the Fold
    • Has Tee done urban fantasy before?
    • Will this be a spoof or will Tee turn tropes on their head?
  • Another idea from Tee — Villainy LLC
    • No, this is not Playing for Keeps. It’s more like The Tick…taken to the next level.
    • In this story, Tee goes after Richmond and Social Media douchebags.
    • If NYC and the agents pass on it, Tee can always go the self-publishing route.
  • Anxieties on sharing works-in-progress
  • Pip’s attitude on sharing works-in-progress with the readers: FOLLOW THROUGH!
  • Another idea taking shape for Pip: Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven in The Mystery of the Silver Pharaoh.
  • And to add to the retreat’s schedule — Tee and Pip’s next idea: Broken.
  • Continuing to look ahead with the Ministry in 2014…
  • Upcoming news on Pip’s latest Pip blanks on her special New Zealand day…

30:30  — The Wrap-Up

  • Keeping it simple on account of the upcoming road trip.
  • Pip gives Tee a truly “Bazinga” moment….but Tee doesn’t play that drop-in.
  • Write by the Rails is holding a blog tour! Come join us!
  • What’s coming soon…
  • Thank you, everyone, for the kindness and support through the false start that was Tee’s “new” job.
  • And Tee pulls out a flawless ending. Not too shabby after nine years….
 
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.

 

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