The Morning of the Conference
Writing part two of my adventure at the Mendocino Writes Conference in Mendocino, California, has taken me longer than anticipated. Late summer and fall projects, Thanksgiving, and the holidays got in the way. So much happening, so little time.
Now, at the dawn of 2025, I realize that my creative world is alive with new possibilities.
That morning of the conference, as I stood in the registration line, I took in the diversity of the attendants- many different nationalities and ages, including teenagers. I recognized a few people from a past writers’ group, but most were strangers. The more I looked around, the more I realized that no matter our ages or our backgrounds or anything else, the one thing we all had in common was utilizing the written word to create magic.
In fact, as we all enjoyed breakfast in the large conference room, the conversations started.
“What do you write?”
“What workshop are you in?”
“Have you published anything yet?”
“What are your writing goals?”
The answers were as diverse as the attendees, from never published to several stories or books written. As for me, my answer was that I had published four short stories, had won some short story writing contests, and was currently working on a novel. Today, I answer that I have published four short stories, completed my 62,000-word novel, and am in the preliminary stages of editing. Now, I can say with certainty that the reason I was able to finish my novel, which was around 30,000 words or less when I attended the conference, was the three glorious days.
Speculative Fiction Writing Shop
When I walked into the classroom for speculative writing, I immediately felt at ease with the small group of about eight sitting at joined tables. After introductions and a brief yet informative lecture from the instructor on the nuts and bolts of speculative fiction, we began workshopping each other’s writing. This is when you receive feedback on the precious piece you have spent hours crafting, and you also provide feedback on other authors’ work. This process can sometimes feel brutal, even when feedback is delivered with kindness, and other times it validates our creative decisions, making you feel as if you’re walking on clouds.
The most important thing about attending a workshop is to listen and take notes while others talk about your work and give their honest feedback on what worked and what did not. You will have plenty of time to answer questions once your work has been fully dissected and everyone has provided their feedback.
When my two chapters were on the table (pun intended), I loved how everyone engaged with the character and her motives, as well as the tension I had created in the scenes. Much of the story revolves around church dogma and a centuries-old spiritual practice rejected by religion, so it was essential for my prose to be believable.
An important aspect of a creative writing workshop is the critique of your work. This critique is not criticism but rather suggestions for improving your writing. During this time, you must keep your ego in check and listen attentively while taking notes. If someone asks a question about your story, answer it, but keep your response brief. As mentioned earlier, questions are addressed at the end of the discussion for good reason: you hear more when you listen.
Finishing Up
My big takeaway is the value of reading other writer’s work because it allowed me to step outside of my own world and into another’s. I become immersed in stories that are not my own. Also, seeing what does and does not work in other’s work informs my writing regarding technique, character, and structure. During this workshop, I did not read one piece that I did not find valuable.
This workshop also inspired me to finally finish my novel. When I attended the conference in August, I had reached around 30,000 words. On November 10, 2024, I typed “the end” at 61,211 words. That’s over 30,000 words in a little over two months! Last week, I started editing my work, which can be frustrating and exhilarating at the same time!
Have you ever engaged in a writing workshop? What did you learn?
Flows. 
Stroking the Pen 