Finding My Inner Author: My Experience at a Tom Bird Retreat –A Novel is Born

The soft, snow white cottonwood blossoms juxtapose the jagged edges of the painted rock behind them. Shimmering in the morning sun, the flowers seem to laugh as if sharing in a joke. I breathe in the freshness of the mountain air and continue across the street to indulge myself in a cup of my favorite tea and a scone.

I’ve found my second wind! Today I will begin the novel I have carried in my heart for these past four years. I walk slowly back to the meeting room, feeling fully within myself in a way I can’t remember feeling before. Past the medicine wheel, through the pool area, into the meeting room…I am ready.

I can’t type fast enough. It is as if the entire story is mapped visually in my head, impatiently waiting for translation into written text. Not wanting to stop, but needing to eat, I reluctantly close my manuscript. It is lunchtime.

Now, being on a budget (and knowing nothing of the area) I brought a small suitcase of food; I’ve been living off of bananas, trail mix and miso bowls. Today I feel so good I think I will splurge. Reds, the hotel restaurant, has been creating enticing buffets for the group each day. Today I will join them!

Today’s menu is…miso.

For those of you planning to attend on of Tom’s retreats in Sedona let me assure you that you will be within walking distance to anything you might need. The Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa feels like one of those fancy resorts tucked away in the foothills with it’s gorgeous views, walking paths and open courtyards yet it is literally across the street from a Safeway, a Staples and a Walgreens—all the comforts of home! (Yes, there is a Starbucks in the Safeway.)

We mingle before the next session; lowering our boundaries, forming friendships. Interspersed throughout the day are rounds of applause for those who are finishing their books, the clapping also fueling the hope inside of us. Often where there is joy there is also tragedy; one of the participants loses her entire manuscript. The resident techy tries in vain to retrieve it from her hard drive. Our writing time ends far too soon, for tonight is query night!

Tom spends the day reading query letters and offering advice. By the end of the day each of us possesses a Tom-approved query letter. Several of us also posses sick–feeling tummies. I am nervous of my reputation with the professional community, knowing that agents do not appreciate queries for unfinished work. Others struggle with fear of rejection and apprehension at the follow-through. Drinks again are ordered—it is a query party!

Tom offers us the easiest way possible to send our queries. He has a database of agents and a mail system already in place. Copy and paste your letter, click on fiction or non-fiction, see your list of 195 agents you will be contacting and hit “send”. Done. The relief around the room is palpable, we have just graduated ourselves from hobbyist to author. Our books are real. Tom says we should begin receiving replies by tomorrow.

Robyn Chausse

Come with me on my journey to find my inner author at Tom Bird’s Write your Book in 5 Days Retreat at the beautiful Sedona Rouge Hotel. Previous post can be accessed here. Preparing for the retreat: First Post, Second Post, Third Post. Arrival in Sedona. Class Has Begun. Finding My Novel.

Through April 7th you may download a free copy of Tom's Book You Were Born to Publish from his Free page.

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2 comments Finding My Inner Author: My Experience at a Tom Bird Retreat, Robyn Chausse, Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, Tom Bird Method, You Were Born To Publish by Tom Bird

Finding My Inner Author: My Experience at a Tom Bird Retreat- Finding My Novel

It is my first full day at Tom Bird’s Write Your Book in 5 Days Retreat. I awaken at 6 AM to The Star Spangled Banner. I have nothing against the song but it’s a little too much first thing in the morning. Note to self: change radio station before you go to bed tonight.

During class I see other people breaking into tears; the mentors go over to them with boxes of tissues. I don’t understand why they are crying—my problems are more physical. My lower back is in searing pain. I have difficulty sitting, can barely get out of the chair and am terrified that my back will lock up and I will be stuck in the bed at the hotel with no one to help me. Needless to say, I can not concentrate on writing—it’s like pulling taffy. Luckily, Lori is in the next room giving 20 minute sessions. She has been kept constantly busy so apparently I am not the only one having a difficult time here.

Lori squeezes me in at the end of the day. She is trying to help me connect with why I decided I should not express myself. My mind is a blank as I search for a memory. She begins a muscle stripping technique on my leg.

“It’s okay to say ow,” she says.

My hand instinctively lands on top of hers, “F*%# !”

By the time we are finished the classroom is empty.

The next day…

As far as the writing goes, so far I have some kind of download about “feelings” from Thursday night which, I swear, felt like it was channeled to me-- someone was talking to me and I was taking notes. Then yesterday, after much pleading with my muse, the universe, and anyone else who may be listening, I finally began what I hope to be my novel. Tom says I am trying to hard and to just let it flow. So, after spending the entire night crying I have decided to accept whatever comes through and not be attached to an outcome. I dab on some eye cream and head out the door. I look like a hound dog.

We are all milling around choosing seats and fetching complimentary tea from the restaurant downstairs. I take this opportunity to inquire how others are coming with their novels. The consensus is that everyone is struggling with content. Thursday night was Emotional Dump night and Friday was Get Acquainted with the Process Day. A woman walks in wearing sunglasses; apparently her eye cream didn’t do the job either.

The day progresses with the playing of Tom’s subliminal CDs (which everyone loves), our relaxation/meditation exercise prior to writing, and the timed writings. Whenever the room begins to feel heavy and the group tense, our appointed breathing coach will lead us through some deep breathing.

6 PM. We all order drinks from Red’s, the restaurant downstairs. A nice man named John picks up the tab for all 35 of us! Our writing is done for the day, now we all kick back to listen to Tom’s lecture on the world of publishing and how it is changing.

Our homework tonight is to write a query letter. On what? I have 21,415 words of mishmash! Time to talk to Tom.

“What have you got?”

“I have something about “feelings”, a fictional story that I thought would be a novel but ended up a short story, and something else that seems to be about releasing ourselves from our demons.”

“What would you like to write?”

“Well, I have a novel I’ve been toying with for about 4 years now…collecting research notes.”

“Write that,” he says. “You light up more when you mention that one. Put two hours into it tonight.”

Walking back to my room I feel unresolved. I would love to work on that project but the book I envision is more than I could write in the days I have left, isn’t it? Also, I’m not so sure I want to risk this baby… Tomorrow we are supposed to send off our query letters and from what I’ve heard agents don’t like receiving queries for unfinished manuscripts—I’d hate to be blacklisted on this one.

I need to let this set a bit. I think I’ll go take some pictures.

Robyn Chausse

Through April 7th Tom is offering a free download of his book You Were Born to Publish. Find it on his Free page.

Need to catch up with the story? I'm taking you along as I experience Tom Bird's Write Your Book in 5 Days Retreat at the beautiful Sedona Rouge Hotel. Follow these links to my previous posts. First, Second, Third, Arrival in Sedona, Class has Begun.

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