W.R.I.T.E in Honolulu (Retreat) Dec. 6-8 (Update #4)

Aloha,

By now, most Readers know I’m organizing W.R.I.T.E. (Writers’ Retreat Island-Time Escape.)

 

Near Oahu's North Shore, Sept. 2012

Originally announced here, last week's post is here.


As mentioned before, W.R.I.T.E is from Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, which coincides with the 72nd anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the 41^st Honolulu Marathon.


There's only one point in my doing this - and that's the W.R.I.T.E Point: A time for writers to get together, enjoy a piece of paradise - in the middle of winter :) and share some of their work - and experiences.

So, come out and join us for a FREE* writers’ weekend on Oahu, Hawaii.

*It's free because I know how expensive it is to get here, but please know while I've arranged a few things to do and some places to see, there are no bells and whistles attached to the retreat.


The latest, tentative skeleton of a schedule is here, and although no meat was added to the bones this week, I do have one announcement.

As an eternal optimist, I've opened a Linky List to gauge how many people over the next few months are genuinely interested - and able - to attend.

Obviously, there is no obligation if someone signs up - but to prevent time wasting on everyone's part, approval is required (via sharing with me - privately - one basic confirmation such as a flight, hotel or car rental) before the name is added.
(This also lets interested parties gauge how many others plan to attend.)

And there you have it for another week. Update #5 will be next Friday.

Have a great weekend everyone - and if you're looking for a fun BlogFest for St. Patrick's Day... my Got Green? Blog O'hop will happen next Friday, March 15.

Full details and that Linky List is here, (and it's open for business 24/7 - like an Irish pub in Chicago :)

1 for Hawaii, 1 for Ireland - Ford Island, Oahu, Summer 2012

W.R.I.T.E @ Honolulu Retreat this December (Update #3)

Aloha!

By now, most Readers know I’m organizing W.R.I.T.E. (Writers’ Retreat Island-Time Escape.)

Originally announced here, the W.R.I.T.E point is to enjoy a FREE* writers’ weekend on Oahu, Hawaii.

(*How I wish I could arrange to bring everyone who wants to come by winning the Lotto here in Hawaii an-

(whispers…)

oh, there is no Lotto in Hawaii… Well, if I won $1 million on a scratch ca-

(whispers…)

oh, there are no scratch cards either…

OK, I tried… you’re on your own :)

Obviously, you’ll need to pay your way here, find accommodation, a rental car, pay for your own meals, drinks and stuff like that… but the rest – as in locations, I got covered J

As mentioned before, W.R.I.T.E is from Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, which coincides with the 72nd anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the 41^st Honolulu Marathon.

No. 1 Son reads the names of those added to the USS Arizona Memorial

So, with a budget in the range of a big, fat ZERO, I can’t put on anything fancy, but I do have a rough schedule as promised – it will get better… (and don’t laugh :)

 Friday, Dec. 6, 2013

1 p.m.: Opening Meet and Greet session (Conference Room - Pearl Harbor)

Barbers Point Beach

2 p.m.: Travel to Barbers Point Beach (20 mins)

3 p.m. Guest speaker (TBD – don’t laugh, seriously)

4 p.m. read-and-critique session by the beach (until the sun goes down and we can’t read.)

 

 

 

 

 

Sat. Dec. 7, 2013

8 a.m. Breakfast on the bay at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) (Details to follow…)

9:30 a.m. Travel to meeting room (Pearl Harbor – 10 mins)

10 a.m. – noon Workshop (TBD)

Noon to 1 p.m. Non-hosted lunch at base food court.



Bellows AFS

1:30 p.m. Boat ride/tour to USS Arizona Memorial

3 p.m. Travel to beach at Bellows Air Force Station (20 mins)

3:30 p.m.: Read-and-critique session by the beach (until the sun goes down and we can’t read.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013

6 a.m. to 2 p.m.: IF you’re interested in joining me, I’m running the 41^st Honolulu Marathon. (It won’t take me eight hours – maybe seven J  - I’m just blocking the timeframe.

IF you’re not doing the marathon, here’s a provisional schedule:

8 a.m. Breakfast on your own
9 a.m. – 10:30 Workshop TBD (Pearl Harbor meeting room)
10:40 – 12:10 p.m. Workshop TBD (Pearl Harbor meeting room)
12:20 – 2 p.m. Workshop TBD (Pearl Harbor meeting room)
3 p.m. Closing ceremony, non-hosted “early dinner” at Sam Choy’s (beachside) Seafood Restaurant (JBPHH)

 

The schedule is TENTATIVE, but I plan to lock everything down and add more as I can (i.e. I’m looking for volunteer speakers with related expertise – no “little blue pill” salesmen need apply. J.

The schedule will be updated at least monthly through September and then I will update it weekly.

I’m also going to reserve every Monday for the latest news and updates. (Next Monday, I will fill out some of the TBD slots :)

If you have a question, leave it in the comments – and I will respond via comments – or directly if requested.


PS… one other announcement:

The Linky List for the Got Green 2.’0 BlogFest goes live Friday…

Hope you can join me in celebrating all things Oirish… to be shure J

 

W.R.I.T.E @ Honolulu Retreat this December (Update #2)

Aloha!

 

Barbers Point Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, (Dec. 2012)

It’s been a couple of weeks since I announced here that I’m organizing W.R.I.T.E. (Writers’ Retreat Island-Time Escape), which will be a *FREE* writers’ weekend on Oahu, Hawaii.

 As mentioned before, W.R.I.T.E is from Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, which coincides with the 41^st Honolulu Marathon.

One official news item this week:

I spent all week preparing and attending the amazing Southern California Writers’Conference, so there isn’t a lot of news re. W.R.I.T.E (geddit?) but the tentative schedule I promised here will go live next Monday.

I also have an awesome announcement about what happened during SCWC, so I hope you can stop back Wednesday :)

 

There will be several (many:) “TBD” open slots, but at least you’ll have an idea where I’m thinking and what I want to make this event a success J

The schedule will be updated monthly through September and then I will update it weekly.

I’m reserving every Monday for the latest news and updates.

If you have a question, leave it in the comments – and I will respond via comments, so check back within 24 hours – the hammock should have stopping rocking in the trade winds by then (I wish :)

 

W.R.I.T.E. on this December at the Writers' Weekend (Update)

Aloha!

***UPDATE*** 11.24.13
There was a *lot* of interest in this, but due to lack of participants, I'm going to cancel W.R.I.T.E and try again in 2014 :)

It’s been a week since I announced here that I’m organizing a *FREE* writers’ weekend in Hawaii and the idea appears to be a hit!

Who would have thunk it… a trip to Hawaii… in December… genius J

Thanks to everyone who's commented so far, As you can see/read here, there is a fair bit of excitement, so I am moving forward with the planning phase.

Within the next two weeks, I will post a tentative schedule, which may resemble a piece of Swiss-Hawaiian cheese – there will be several (many:) “TBD” open slots, but at least you’ll have an idea where I’m thinking and what I want to make this event a success J

I’m also going to reserve every Monday for the latest news and updates.

The schedule will be updated monthly through September and then I will update it weekly.

One official news item this week.

Yes, I am certifiably nuts, (does that mean there are two official news items?)... however, if you read my original guest post over at Cassie Mae’s, I’m working not on a New Year’s Resolution, but a New Life Resolve, so my goal is to pay it forward and make this weekend a fun, relaxing time to escape.

Some non-hyperlinked chap called Alex suggested my idea sounded more like a retreat than a conference, and I love that :)

Therefore, the Writers’ Weekend will forever be known as:

The Writers’ Retweet

…er I mean the

Writers’ Retreat Island-Time Escape

(I swear I wrote “Retweet” first… is someone perhaps partaking of too much social media?)


I’d love for W.R.I.T.E to become an annual event, but that’s going to depend on you J

(Personally, I could do with arranging a poetry session…)

If there’s a need, I’ll be there indeed.
If there’s not, I’ll feel like a snot.

As mentioned before, W.R.I.T.E is from Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, which coincides with the 41^st Honolulu Marathon.

If a weekend amongst friendly faces and caring critiques wasn’t enough, here’s a chance to visit the USS Arizona on December 7, the 72^nd anniversary of the “date which shall live in infamy.”

Plus, if running a marathon is on your bucket list, you can join me as I run my tenth and last (official) 26.2 mile raceJ

If you are seriously interested in attending and want to lead a read-and-critique group or host a workshop, please let me know via the comments – or feel free to send me an email via mark.koopmans@yahoo.com

And, please let me know if there is something, some session that you’d love to see on the schedule – I’ll see if I can make it happen.


Cheers and aloha :)

PS…. Would you rather be here in Winter?

No. 1 Son in Rhode Island, January 2011

 

Or here?

No. 1 Son in Hawaiian Islands, January 2013

*Free* "Writers' Weekend" in Hawaii - Dec. 6-8, 2013

Aloha,

A few weeks ago, I guest-posted over at Cassie Mae’s and wrote about the Spirit of Aloha.

One of my points was I had skipped a New Year’s Resolution in favor of a New Life Resolve.

Then I had this crazy idea: How about paying it forward for my fellow writers?

Is anyone in the community interested in meeting outside of Utah J  - like say, here in Honolulu, Hawaii?

I’m not suggesting I can arrange an official Writers’ Conference, but I do have access to a block of meeting rooms, and with enough interest, the rooms could be used for round-table discussions, read-and-critique groups and even workshops – if participants volunteered to share experiences.

As I am a multi-tasker with OCD tendencies to do more than one thing at a time, (didn’t I say the same thing in three different ways?) I’m setting this up to coincide with several important dates on the Honolulu calendar.

Best of all, the entire event would be FREE – I’m thinking “mental camping” where everyone pitches in to help in non-financial ways.

Sure, you need to get to Hawaii and have a place to stay, but my goal would be for this to be a weekend to relax, rejuvenate and run.



"A race of 26.2 miles begins with a single step" - Zen (sorta)

 

Oh, I didn’t mention the running, did I?

 

The Writers’ Weekend (as I’m calling it for now) is from Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, which coincides with the 41^st Honolulu Marathon.

 

 

 

But, if a weekend amongst friendly faces and caring critiques wasn’t enough, here’s a chance to visit the USS Arizona on December 7, the “date which shall live in infamy” and if running a marathon is on your bucket list, you can join me as I run my tenth and last (official) 26.2 mile raceJ

If you can help with some logistical stuff like an official button (maybe a simple website down the road?) or are seriously interested in attending and want to lead a read-and-critique group or host a workshop, please let me know via the comments – or feel free to send me an email via mark.koopmans@yahoo.com

(I’d *heart* some promos and retweets of this post via Twitter and Facebook, too, if that wouldn’t be too much troubleJ)

I’ll have my people get in touch with your people – especially if you’re an agent or publisher and would like to be involved.

To recap, I currently have no speakers, no schedule (but think of the possibilities…) and no in-place system to make this happen, but I promise – I’ve got ten months and the will to pull this off – if you can find a way to get here!

UPDATE: (02.07.13) Starting next week, Monday's will be my regular updates on the Weekend :)

Plus.... there is this to look at while I figure out a schedule :)

 

Peace...

 

 

Relaxation...

 

And even a bit of silliness...