Attending the Kauai Writing Conference was a much needed shot in the arm of positivity and hope after a dark period. Partly because I was stressed and tired from work and needed some R&R. Partly because I was losing my motivation to write.
Kauai, Hawaii
I was on Oahu last November and came across a notice about the Kauai Writing Conference, held each November. I had a big birthday this year and low and behold was given a lovely bday pressie of plane tickets and the hotel (I covered the conference). I needed to decompress from a challenging period of work so chose to not take a masterclass during the week, and instead took that time to have an actual holiday.
A very wise choice. The hotel was near Lihue and I had rented a car for three days. After one day of chilling, headed up island and saw Wailua Falls (huge volume of water) followed by Opaeka’a Falls (meh), then headed north as far as I could drive to visit some beaches and towns. Kapa’a had great coffee and a funky, cool vibe and a scenic walkway along the beach. Near the top of the island stopped at Hanalei which I thought would be more interesting but it was more fake funky. Still had great coffee. Stunning primeval vistas all along the way.
Then went to the end of the road at Ha-ena State Park and turned around. On the way back stopped at Anini Beach and had a sweet snorkel.
The next day headed west and north to Waimea Canyon – truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. From the first lookout to the top of the canyon overlooking the Nepali Coast, the entire drive is stunning, and I made sure to get out for a short one hour trail hike ending in a lookout with this view.
The drive back down to the beach was almost as scenic, and was followed by some of the best fish tacos on Earth. Not Elf “best coffee in the world” tacos – this is fresh mahi and ahi ahi tacos that you don’t get in Vancouver, or many places. Worth the wait.
The next day headed west and snorkelled at a couple of beaches (Kiahuna and Poipu) with a Go-Pro I had picked up, then shopped, ate some kick-ass garlic prawns and explored.
By the time the conference proper started on the Friday, I felt better than I had in ages and was completely present and rested.
The Kauai Writing Conference, Royal Sonesta Resort
Friday, November 10, 2023
Which was a good thing as I had two agent pitches first thing Friday morning. But first was breakfast, and not knowing anyone, I sat down at the first of many round tables situated outside by the fabulous gardens and chatted up the guy next to me, Craig Holt, who has lived an amazing life – more on the people I met later.
I wasn’t as nervous about the pitches as others, as this was not my first rodeo. The first agent was a no, the second a yes (asked for 10 pages of my novel), and with my expectations kept low, I felt pretty positive. I then met more great people over lunch, which is really the most important part of these conferences. One of my two current writing groups, which has been going now for some five years, was formed from connections made at the Surrey International Writing Conference in 2018.
Awoke early every day. I normally wake up at 4:30 or 5:00am and write for at least an hour. Kauai is two hours ahead of Vancouver, and I still woke up early – 4:00am or even 3:30am. Would write in the lobby (desks and chairs) then at 5:30am or so move to the outdoor bar where coffee was served at 6:00am – or 5:45am if you were nice and tipped well. And then wrote with the sound of the waves crashing on the beach 100 yards away, then watched the sun come up over the palms that waved above the resort. Pretty damn nice.
The first session after lunch was OK, on point of view, but no earth-shattering revelations. The next session on three writers sharing their respective paths to publishing success was more interesting and insightful, as it included traditional, self-publishing and hybrid models, with lots of details shared by the generous authors. Then Nicholas and Elena Delbanco shared their unique experiences – of her publishing her first novel at the age of 72, and him after publishing over 25 books over a 40 year period. Fascinating perspectives on “Writing that endures”, the title of their talk.
I hadn’t purchased tickets for dinner and the luau, and it was sold out anyway. I had mixed feelings about it, having been to some when I was a kid visiting Oahu in the 70’s. Even back then as a kid I felt it was kind of touristy and put-on, and I thought I might feel the same now, although given the huge level of respect shown to indigenous culture during the conference, I might have been convinced otherwise.
Saturday, November 11, 2023
The morning was kicked off in magnificent style with three powerhouses Scott Turow, Lee Child and John Grisham speaking (via Zoom) on The Art of the Elegant Thriller. Wow!
I wasn’t disappointed, as each author was at once candid, insightful and generous in sharing their respective writing process and feelings. How interesting to learn that John Grisham begins a new novel each September 1. And Lee Child does the same every January 1. And all three were scared their latest novel wouldn’t work as they waited expectantly to hear back from their editor.
Then it was Creating a Sense of Place in Fiction, with James Sturtz, author of Under Jungle. Near the end of the session just before 11am my pen ran out of ink so I pressed record on my phone (trusting it wouldn’t be lifted) and ran out to find another pen.
And of course realized it that it was 11:00am on November 11 and stopped for a moment to remember my dad. He was a vet who fought in two wars and whose helmet with three holes sits above my writing desk as a constant reminder of many things, not the least of which is that he was very lucky in war, and so in life, and I am lucky – call it grateful if you will – to be here. And the moment passed and I was back at the table writing notes again. I think he, and my mom, would be pleased to see me in this place at this time.
Then to my third pitch with another agent – she was lovely, asked good questions, and asked for 50 pages. Sweet!
At lunch under a tent a few yards from the beach I was in the food line, and heard someone speaking to an agent across from me so I said something then she asked what I wrote and I gave her my elevator pitch. Nothing came of it, but I thought, “What the hell, you never know,” as I’ve heard enough stories about these kind of serendipitous moments ending in a book deal.
Over lunch the hundred and fifty of us or so then listened to the poet Billy Connelly entertain us. I sat next to Vial, who was writing a novel about the first woman Lilith…but because the character was cast as a vampire, the story not being taken seriously; I suggested she recast it as historical fiction, which she thought that might work. You never know what might be passed on at these meetings of minds.
The afternoon sessions were interesting. Nichalos Delbanco spoke on the Authenticity of Voice. He was erudite, interesting, and offered less less practical advice than other sessions, but that was OK.
Then listened to Elizabeth Rosner speak about the Keys to Successful Revision. As with just about every writing contest I’ve been to (several), I tend to start fading about mid-way through the conference. Too much information and not enough time to process leaves me tired, plus, it’s a lot of ass time (while the pool beckons). But I tried to carry on and took in the Jane Green and Christine Baker Kline talk about Rewrite, Revise Repeat. Then hit the wall. Hungry. So called it a day and went back and changed and went for dinner. Not with the group, as we were on our own Saturday night. Fine by me, as enjoyed a nice dinner and walk and bed early.
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Sunday was even better.
Brunch, served from 9-11am, allowed attendees to connect with each other over coffee and food and get into deeper discussions. And where serendipity happens if you let it. I sat down next a guy sitting by himself and we started chatting and soon relaxed we were both interested in writing about artists from historical periods – what were the chances?
Then met Burton Voorhees, a scientist PhD who had published The Garden Path, a book of limericks based on the Ruby’ait of Omar Khayyam. He was so interesting I picked up his book and had him sign it later.
Then started chatting with another lovely lady who sat down, and her husband joined after a bit, and we had a very interesting discussion about Hollywood (more him sharing some amazing stories), and then I saw his name tag – Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer’s Journey (based on Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey). Curiously, I had bought his book the day before as had a gut feeling it was important. Chris asked me about my story and I gave him my 60 second pitch and he thought it would make a great book AND movie – kind of him to say so. I would be hearing his talk later that morning. A lovely couple, and an inspiring start to the day.
The first session was the best of the conference. Transformative. Priya Parmar, Paula mcLain and Meg Wolitzer shared insights into what is holding you back from writing your best work. And yes, as we probably all know, it is ourselves. They each spoke and gave examples, and then it turned into a bit of a workshop and we did a couple of activities that were transformative for me.
The second activity was writing down in 5 minutes, What would you say today to your self 5 years from now? I jumped into it right away, the words flowing directly down my arm on to the page. This is what I wrote:
“Dear John (pause to reflect on how that could go…),
Keep your heart involved.
Keep it more involved.
You write better from your heart, and less from your head.
Use your head for edits.
Be less afraid each day,
To look into those dark corners and basements and places that scare you,
As I’ve learned that is where you need to go to be a better writer.
Find others to hold our hand as you go there.
You can hold their hand to their dark places.
Write with love, and pain and loss and hope.
Don’t give up.
Keep writing.
It’s good for you, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
And keep building your tribe of like-minded souls who care about such things.
And care about them. And their writing. As they will care about yours.”
I then got up and shared this with the entire group via a microphone, my hands shaking with emotion. Then wrote down the five emotions I felt and shared that with my neighbour – the one I circled as biggest was “heartfelt”. It was odd, as for the rest of the afternoon people who had heard me speak kept coming up to me and saying how much they liked what I had shared. Heartfelt in their responses also. I felt hopeful about my writing for the first time in a while, hopeful because of those who supported my heartfelt reaction, with their own. Felt like I was in the right place with my tribe supporting me.
Then the next session was almost as moving. Joshua Mohr, on voice. Wow, that man has lived hard, and is so passionate about writing, and as he says, “protecting the magic” that we as writers have for others.
Then Christopher Vogler on The Writer’s Journey, and he signed the copy of his book I had purchased the day before.
Then Michelle Brower, Stephanie Cabot and Cherise Fisher spoke on on How Agents Evaluate Your Work.
Then Meg Wolitzer spoke on Write What You Know and Love (and Hate). Already an admirer of Meg from the session earlier that day, I really enjoyed her combination of honesty and humour.
The closing ceremony was bittersweet, with Billy Connelly reading a poem he had composed in the moment, then the organizer letting us know next year’s conference would be November 17-25. My first thought was, “I’ll be back here then.” Now to just trust the path to get there.
