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Castle Rock Has The Write Stuff
Contributed by: Mary Hicks on 10/1/2008

One can almost hear the scratch of pens and sound of fingers thundering across keyboards. All across the Front Range writers are fired up, inspired by the 2nd annual Castle Rock Writer's Conference: Rock-Solid Writing. To say it was a success is a triumph of understatement, which was one of the literary terms mentioned by an outstanding faculty.

Nineteen authors gathered at the Philip S. Miller Library to offer seminars on everything from the fundamentals of plotting to how to finesse media coverage. The 135 attendees took frantic notes. But each author gave more. At the end of every session, and at every networking opportunity, aspiring writers gathered around the "published ones" with questions, and the answers were generously given.

Keynote speaker Margaret Coel, NY Times best-selling author of the Wind River mystery series, set the tone-and the laughter rolling. Recounting a radio interview where she mentioned she dreams her characters, Margaret revealed that the host took a long pause ... and said "Margaret, you know there are medications for things like this."

The conference was a roller coaster of information and inspiration, with a little confusion thrown in on the side. With so many compelling sessions going on at any given moment- it's not surprising that maps and conference schedules were the order of the day.

"Can you tell me where the Great Southwestern Construction Room is?"
With a smile, and a quick consult of her map, the blue-ribboned volunteer complied.

"Douglas County Libraries Foundation is proud to sponsor the Castle Rock Writers Conference. The planning committee, made up of mostly community volunteers, generously gives their time and talents to make this one of the most successful events of its kind in the Denver metro area. This conference just keeps getting bigger and better every year," said Margie Woodruff, Foundation Development Specialist for Douglas County Libraries Foundation.

Success is sweet, especially when it's all about inspiring others. Writers may seem an odd breed to some but they are, both in isolation and in the public eye, our designated storytellers, the chroniclers of our hopes, fears and dreams.

"So many of the participants at this year's Castle Rock Writers' Conference came to me personally to say 'thank you.' So many of them were grateful for the excellent workshops led by established writers and for the inspiring keynote addresses," said Alice Aldridge-Dennis, conference director. "Our planning team is delighted that we seem to have achieved our goal of mentoring and supporting local writers in improving their craft. Some writers pitched their ideas to agents, and others networked with other writers in their genre."

Pulitzer-prize winning author Jim Sheeler brought the conference to a close -- and many to tears. His books, Obit and The Final Salute, speak movingly to the unspeakably unique quality of lives lost in Iraq and elsewhere. He also spoke of normal lives well lived, well away from the glare of Paris/Britney publicity. These were the heart-breaking truths that still inspire us all.

So what, in this full day, was learned?

Sheeler and many of the other authors, asked the participants to find the singular moment, or detail that could open a new world to fiction and non-fiction writers and readers alike.

Perhaps it is this ... a shy library volunteer bursting into tears because the Marine Casualty Notification Unit did not knock on her door. Or perhaps it is in the face of a writer, pitching his idea to an experienced New York agent and getting the green light for the first thirty pages. Or maybe it's much simpler.

We all dream. We all tell stories.

Which begs another question.

Who's telling your story?

The Castle Rock Writers Conference 2008: Rock Solid Writing is underwritten by the Douglas County Libraries Foundation. All donations for the Conference and the Foundation's wider mission of a vibrant literacy for all are welcome. The next conference is planned for September 2009.


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Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Brenda Nesbitt
posted on 10/5/2008 @ 9:15:03 PM
Rated Story
A wonderful capture of the event. And yes I was there and experienced it first-hand. Also inspires me to go back year after year. What a jewel of a writer's conference Castle Rock is putting together. You go! Little Town That Could!
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Mary Hicks

Castle Rock , CO

Mary Hicks has posted 3 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/30/2008. Mary Hicks 's average story rating is 5.
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