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Jul 22, 2016

Writing Retreat – Day 8

Melissa Petro - Writer/Coach

Melissa Petro – Writer/Coach

If you’re currently working on a writing project or are considering this art form in the future, I highly recommend that you find a great coach to work with. After several days of working on my revisions for Chapters 4 and 5, I met with my coach, Melissa Petro, today via zoom.us, a platform similar to, but preferable (for me, anyway) to Skype.

I’m able to record our calls and go through them a second at a time to scoop up each suggestion and comment Melissa has made. That way I can edit page by page specifically what Melissa has explained would improve my work. I used to take notes during our coaching sessions, but knowing that they’re being recorded now keeps me fully present while Melissa speaks.

To get ready for our time together today, I had reserved the tutorial room at the Kilton Library in Lebanon, VT. I wanted to be sure we had a perfect internet connection, which we did. I got there early to set up. Once ready, I simply continued working on the next chapter until it was time for us to speak.

I’ve now been in my cabin at the end of a dirt road here in VT for a week. I’ve written at least 50 pages so far including the revisions and additions to the pieces we reviewed today. With nothing to distract me, like a convention or something, I’m pedal to the metal all day. I have one more week to go. I set a goal with my accountability team to come home with 100 pages. I don’t think that’ll be a problem. I’m going to take most of tomorrow off, but I’ve got plenty of momentum, and a complete change of scenery will make me all the more excited to get back to work.

During meals, although I know it’s better to just sit, chew and enjoy my food, I’ve been reading, either the news or one of two biographies I’ve got on my devices. I’m almost finished with the Charles Schulz biography (the creator of Peanuts) which accompanied me on the trip here via audible. Before I fall asleep I set the timer for 30 minutes and listen some more. Intrigued by his life, I checked YouTube to see if there was a video clip of an Emmy presentation they described. Instead, I discovered a full-length documentary of his life which put faces on all the players and illustrated many points with strips of Peanuts characters emotionally acting out what Schulz was unable to express personally.

I’ve also got Brooke Shields memoir on my iPhone to keep me occupied at meals out. Totally enjoyable!

Even though it was over 90 degrees today, it’s not unpleasant. I used the owner’s outdoor shower before heading to the library late this morning which felt fantastic. No one was on the property then, and I felt like Nellie Forbush in South Pacific.

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