Hello and welcome to a slushy yet sunny Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is March 19th.
Is anyone else as surprised as I am that we are already halfway through the third month of the year? The muddy dirt road in our subdivision unveiled itself as the ice and snow melted away. And daylight savings already! Of course, there's that requisite Wannaskan spring blizzard that we, as hardy northern Minnesotans, just know is on the horizon. But for today, let's enjoy the sun and blue sky, remove one of our winter layers, and dream about possibilities.
The thing I'm dreaming about is my upcoming Red Shoes Weekend Writing Retreat, April 21-23rd, in Fosston, MN.
It’s so easy to let life get in the way of one's creative passions and pursuits. This happened to me when the older kids were little. It still happens to me. With having five kids come all the activities associated with each stage of childhood: playdates, piano lessons, swimming lessons, summer camps, children’s theater, church school, 4-H, cross-country, Speech Team, Knowledge Bowl, Robotics, Driver’s Ed., high school graduations, kids off to college, and - the one I'm still getting used to - dating.
This is why I became interested in organizing creative retreats. They helped me take the time I needed to get away to focus on writing while helping other creatives do the same.
I'm very excited about this upcoming retreat. I'm partnering with the Fosston Community Library & Arts Association (FCLAA), and we've got a high-quality weekend packed with writing workshops, one-on-one consultations (so you can talk with a pro about your writing projects), and, of course, time for writing. Whether you're interested in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or memoir - we've got something for everybody. Our talented guest writers include Marcie Rendon poet, author of the Cash Murder Mystery Series and 2020 McKnight Distinguished Artist; Erin Soderberg Downing who has written over one hundred children's books; and Fosston-area favorite Eric Bergeson who's nonfiction gardening books are a must-have for any northern gardener. Wannaskaland folks might recognize Monique Duray from Warroad Summer Theatre, who will be leading Yoga for Writers. I'll be there too, as retreat director, moderating the author panels, hosting a few of the workshops, and participating in the consultations.
It won't all be "work", though. We have an Evening with Elisa Korenne scheduled for Friday night. Elisa will be sharing her songs and stories and will be part of the Saturday morning author panel and workshop sessions. Saturday night features a storytelling event and dinner for retreat participants to share their own stories based on the theme "There's No Place Like Home." Because we'll be in Fosston - a small town that likes to dream big - we invite folks to "Celebrate Small Town Stories."
Like many small towns in our northwestern Minnesota corner, Fosston is a charming place that is known for its welcoming nature, cute downtown, parks, and a fit trail that has fitness stations right along the trail. There's also a walking trail from one end of town to the other.
If you've been hankering to spend some time with your creative project and meet other creative people, I encourage you to sign up and join me. Partial scholarships are available, as well. Please email me kim@redshoeswriting.com to inquire. Residents of the seven-county service region of the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (Polk, Pennington, Marshall, Kittson, Red Lake, Norman, and Roseau) are also encouraged to apply for a Quick Turn Around Grant. That includes Wannaska!
See you in Fosston!
On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
Remembering You
Kim
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