Table Rock Writers Workshop was a fantabulous experience again this year, not that I doubted for even a moment that it wouldn’t be! I remained under the tutelage of Denton Loving, this year in the Poetry for Beginners class. We had ten astonishing poets in our class, and we learned so much from each other and from Denton that week. In typical Denton fashion, he gave us line edits for each poem we submitted, even though we only had time to go over one poem each in class. The workshopping from my classmates was also invaluable. I just can’t say enough great things about the whole Table Rock experience. It truly is “the Song of My Soul” to be in that space with those fine folks.
Here’s a run-down of how the week went.
Because there were about 100 people there this year – about 25-30 more than usual – many people carpooled because the parking is limited on a good day. My wonderful friend Misty Yates drove me over and dropped me off, then drove Bruce back home to wait for me to come back home at the end of the week with my friend Sharon Waters, who lives in Beckley, WV. I ran into my roommate, M. Lynne Squires briefly, then headed off to run a few errands – I’d brought goodie bags for several newbies who were friends through Hindman and Tennessee Mountain Writers and needed to deliver those to make room to lie down to sleep on my bed that night. At 4:15 p.m. on Monday, August 26, we kicked things off with the splendiferous Wine & Cheese tradition on the patio. Everyone met, mingled, hugged, and started catching up, as well as meeting new friends. An hour later, we had Orientation in the Auditorium. Then our first dinner together for the week. At 7:30, we had an hour-long session with our workshop group. After that, we were free to do what we wanted. Sharon Waters and I ran into each other while I was trying to catch a cell signal – it’s truly almost nonexistent at Wildacres Retreat, the grounds where Table Rock Writers meet – and ended up sitting down to chat until almost 10 p.m.
On Day 2, there was breakfast, then our first three-hour meeting with our workshop group. Denton did a dazzling job of mixing craft with workshopping and generative exercises. My brain was about to explode. I still need to go back and finish all the exercises because I just couldn’t get it all done during the week. When it comes to poetry, I have a certain process, and my process greatly involves surroundings. And I have to have a dictionary by my side. Even if I don’t open it, I need it there for security. So, I had a few really rough drafts, but I tried to spend most of my time and energy on workshopping and giving feedback to my classmates. That afternoon, we had faculty readings in the auditorium. This is always a favorite activity for me because I truly enjoy hearing the leaders talk about their work and read excerpts or poems from their impressive manuscripts. That was followed by Wine & Cheese Hour, then dinner, and then our first round of participant readings. I was signed up to go SECOND that first round of readings and had practiced the piece I was reading; I’d worked really hard to get it down to the allotted three minutes. And then I got to the auditorium, ten minutes before the event was to begin, and couldn’t find my printout with the piece on it. I rushed back to the room and grabbed a couple of poems I had brought in case I changed my mind that I hadn’t rehearsed at all. I was so bummed because I was going to read from “Tickets,” which is a pretty funny story from the short story collection I’ve been working on for the past year. And instead, I read poems, the last of which choked me up. But I read and it was received well – everyone is so encouraging and positive at the participant readings. I might have been disappointed, but no one else seemed to be.
Wednesday – ah, the Wednesday’ness of things – we’ve just started getting into the routine of it all and then realize it’s halfway over already! (That’s a George Ella Lyon expression, btw – she used it at Hindman one year many years ago, but it holds true in any good week-long workshop scenario!) Breakfast, workshopping in class, lunch, another round of participant readings. A little free time to work on our homework, hang out, walk around, etc. Then Wine & Cheese Hour, dinner, and the last participant readings that evening.
Thursday was the last full day of activities. Breakfast, final three-hour meeting with our workshopping classes, then lunch. At 1:30, Elijah Burrell, part of the group that came with Eastover Press Publishing, gave a talk on “Never Say ‘Love’ in a Poem.” He did a great job – and even said “love” in a poem. At 3:00, we tried something new and had a designated space and time for people to sell their books, a makeshift bookstore, and I loved it! I only had six copies of my books with me, but I sold all of those almost immediately and even sold a couple of the anthologies I’m in. Typically, all the book sales take place on the final day as everyone is trying to leave the auditorium. I thought this was far better organized and it gave all of us a chance to slow down and get to know our neighbors a little better, too. I hope we’ll do it again that way in the future. Next was the Wine & Cheese hour – and beforehand, I was helping Susan Campbell put out items for it and discovered that the Bond Ost (Swedish cheese) I’d brought from Chicago exclusively for Table Rock’s Wine & Cheese Hour was still sitting in the refrigerator. So we put that out on the table and it went over very well. I was quite pleased! I love spreading the Swedishness around! After dinner, we had the annual concert performed by SoLaTiDo Songwriters and Table Rock Faculty. It was, as always, a lovely and moving event. After that, everyone went to hang out on our final night together. I’d busily worked that afternoon to get as much of my stuff packed up and into Sharon’s car for the last day as possible so I could relax a little with friends after the concert.
On the final morning, we had breakfast but had to be out of the rooms with the beds stripped and our luggage in vehicles before 9:30, when we had our final class meetings, which lasted only one hour. After class, we went back to the auditorium for “Appreciations, Learnings, and Regrets,” a tradition of self-expression for the week we’ve just experienced and the highs (and lows, if one cares to go there) you’ve shared amongst this amazing group of like-minded friends. By 11:30, we were on the road and heading home, sad to see another year on the mountain end, but already looking forward to next year. Sharon and I stopped at the Switzerland Café in Little Switzerland (at the bottom of the mountain up to Wildacres Retreat) and had lunch on the way home. I lovingly call it Diagon Alley, because, to me, it seems like the place where all the Hogwarts kids (the Table Rockers) stop to hang out before and after that amazing time together.
Beyond the schedule of events, though, I loved seeing so many of my friends there this year from other groups, folks I haven’t seen for so long or got to know a lot better this year (Keith Stewart, Donna Crow, Natalie Kimbell, Kari Gunter-Seymour, Becky Brothers, and others). It was also great to be with my roommate and the two Sharons – Sharon Shadrick and Sharon Waters. It was nice to meet and mingle with other Table Rockers this year I’ve spoken to in passing, but had never had classes with, so hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know very well – especially Judy Dearlove, who sold books beside me. And I can’t say enough wonderful things about the people in my class – all of them were so amazing – Dee Stribling, Laurel Ferejohn, Sharon Shadrick, Ben Weakley, Gary Phillips, Matt Parsons, Natalie Kimbell, Suzette Clark Bradshaw, and Sarah Sandman. Also, the highest thanks and appreciation to Georgann Eubanks, Donna Campbell, and Susan Campbell for all the hard work they put into making Table Rock such a phenomenal experience for everyone there.
Like I said, I’m already looking forward to next August. It’s always on my list!
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