Back from Ox-Bow, One Novel Heavier

I’m back after a two-week writing residency at Ox-Bow! And I’m happy to say that I have a rough draft to my new novel as a result.

Affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Bow is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and offers 115 acres of inspirational space: pristine natural forests, dunes, a lagoon, and historic buildings.

This was my second time as a writer-in-residence at Ox-Bow. I was there in 2010, working on the novel currently with my literary agent: Womb.

This time, I plunged into a new novel and actually completed a full rough draft. Setting the Family Free is 319 pages and about 83,000 words in its current state. Half if it may end up on the cutting room floor when revision time comes, but for now the novel draft will simmer on the back burner for a few months.

Ox-Bow reminded me of how productive (and yet relaxed) you can be when you’re given an opportunity to focus only on your art, without worrying about other obligations. I get more fiction down on paper during a two week writing residency than I’d normally write in half a year of stolen hours and days at a time.

Ox-Bow’s residency program is all about immersion, commitment, freedom, and focus. Founded in 1910, Ox-Bow is celebrating 102 years as a haven for artists, writers, and thinkers.

Learn more about Ox-Bow by visiting their online campus.

www.ox-bow.org

For more about my most recent novel in progress … just keep tuning in here!

Gone Writing: The (Second) Ox-Bow Residency

This weekend, I’m headed for my second two-week writing residency at Ox-Bow!

Affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Bow is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and offers 115 acres of inspirational space: pristine natural forests, dunes, a lagoon, and historic buildings.

Writers at this artists’ colony are provided with a small apartment, private lodge with inspirational views, three gourmet meals a day, and snacks around the clock — all from local farms.

Last time I was in Ox-Bow, as I prepared for Tracks to be published, I was working on a revision of my novel, Womb.

This time, I plan to plunge into a new novel: Setting the Family Free.

I also plan to take some appropriate reading material to start and end my days: Thoraeu’s Walden, O’Brien’s In The Lake of the Woods, and Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven.

Ox-Bow offers the opportunity to meet other artists from around the world, and (most importantly) uninterrupted time to write. Not to mention gourmet meals three times a day using local, organic food.

Ox-Bow’s residency program is all about immersion, commitment, freedom, and focus. Founded in 1910, Ox-Bow is celebrating 102 years as a haven for artists, writers, and thinkers.

I plan to live by the bell for the two weeks, leaving my watch behind. I may spend an hour a day online, but plan to spend most of the two weeks unplugged, and writing.

If I stay the course and manage to get in a full day of writing each day, maybe I’ll even have time to partake in other writer-in-residence duties, such as eating, hiking, canoeing, and carousing.

Learn more about Ox-Bow by visiting their online campus.

www.ox-bow.org

Ox-Bow's New Writer-in-Residence

News on the creative writing front: I’ve been selected as a writer-in-residence for Ox-Bow!

Affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Bow is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and offers 115 acres of inspirational space: pristine natural forests, dunes, a lagoon, and historic buildings.

Writers at this artists’ colony are provided with a small apartment, private studio with inspirational view, three meals a day and snacks around the clock all from local farms, an opportunity to meet other artists from around the world, and (most importantly) uninterrupted time to write. Ox-Bow’s residency program is about immersion, commitment, freedom, and focus.

Founded in 1910, Ox-Bow is celebrating 100 years as a haven for visual artists, writers, and thinkers.

Learn more by visiting their online campus at www.ox-bow.org.

Check this link for more about the writing residency.
http://www.ox-bow.org/residency/artists/index.html