It was a busy weekend with the Datlow workshop and me working four hours early morning both Saturday and Sunday. Not much sleep! We workshopped from nine to four each day and on Saturday night there was a dinner. We critiqued fourteen stories (including mine).

Highlights:

Elmore Leonard's dialog. Ellen mentioned how different each of his characters talk. A good writer to read for dialog.

In fact, dialog was a big issue during the workshop. Most stories critiqued had characters that all talked in the same way, including mine.

Leslie What's Box O' Fun. A swell surprise in every sealed wrapper! Leslie passed a sealed wrapper to each author for every story critiqued. My swell surprise was three miniature people: a doctor, a miner, and a female saluting soldier. Odd mix, but I'll take it.

Dinner at Adam's Place on Saturday night included chicken piccatta milanesse and strawberry rhubarb crisp.

My breakfast at the workshop each morning consisted of two banana nut muffins and lots and lots of coffee.

Lunch consisted of sandwiches. And more coffee. We were well fed the entire weekend.

My critiqued story has similar themes to Terry Bisson's "Macs." Ellen suggested I read it. And I've already found it.

Final Thoughts About The Weekend: I don't workshop much anymore. In other words, I've been workshop-light. But it was nice to spend a weekend critiquing and talking about writing and I learned a few things about my story and writing in general. Onward and upward!