Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
The last few days I’ve been exploring trends in our culture that can inform what we write about or how we reach readers. One idea that’s been around for awhile but seems to be experiencing a renaissance is taking your hobby to new heights by attending a crafting retreat. It’s adults meet camp!
The idea is that you not only get away to enjoy fresh air and a new locale, but you also make something while surrounded by other enthusiasts.Makerie is such a camp.Located in Colorado’s Flatiron Mountains, the retreat consists of workshops in letterpress, food styling, photography and embroidery. Toss in breaks for yoga, hikes and quiet time for this adult getaway.
Teahouse Studio presents workshops on painting, graphic design and writing at an artists’ studio in Berkeley.
Ace Camps, in Vancouver, B.C., offers creative retreats centered around art, photography, food and journaling.
What does this upsurge of interest in doing crafts or pursuing artistic expression with others mean?
I’d say these retreats are a blend of the trend I wrote about the other day–individuals creatively expressing themselves through the food items they make–and the specialized book clubs–the need to be with others who share your interests and want to talk about them and pursue them in a group setting.
What does this mean for writers? That people are very interested in creativity, crafts and being with others who also are passionate about the same activity.
A novel could be set at a crafting retreat; or you could connect your nonfiction book to the reader’s desire not to be isolated in his or her interest. Maybe you could even develop a retreat of your own…just a thought.
How do you respond to the trends we’ve explored this week? Did the discussion help you to direct your thinking about what you’ll write in 2012? Or about how you’ll find readers who would appreciate your work?
I would LOVE to attend one of these! I’d love to be a part of one for Amish readers or WWII lovers. Hmmm, I wonder if something like this would work for 1-day events for those of us who can’t be away from our families for a week.
Another take on this is the inborn urge to create and to surround ourselves with the beautiful (a single perfect morning glory blossom, a hand-thrown pottery mug, hand-knit lace shawl…) also dictates what appeals in our stories themselves. Without throwing a metaphoric lace doily on the backrest and arms of every chair and sentence in my story, if the language itself is unique–like the hand-thrown mug rather than the generic one with no character–doesn’t that draw the interest of those who are trending to reconnect with their artistic and craft-minded bents? Remember when a good rustic loaf of bread seemed coarse and endless loaves of look-alike WonderBread the ideal? Today that rustic loaf is artisinal! Even if it’s a formula romance I’m writing, the artistic touch–the evidence of hand-crafted beauty–should appeal. It refreshes the heart of the writer, too. As for writers retreats…I think I’d shrivel without them.
These posts have really struck a chord with me. I’ve been thinking of a new blog in a crafting niche and how that might lead to novel ideas as well as future novel readers. My husband, tonight, came up with a great book title. Thanks so much for the insight.
Tricia, I know several of the craft retreats are on weekends only–specially designed for moms.
Cynthia, good point about the crafty mug over a generic one. There are so many ways to lace craft work into a novel.
Meghan, I’m so glad these blogs were inspirational to you. And what would we do without our spouses to come up with the perfect title? I guess they have just enough distance from our “babies” to see them in insightful ways.
Sheila Roberts’s book, On Strike for Christmas, had a group of women who were part of a knitting club. Also, I read ‘Tis the Season (Main Street #3) by Ann M. Martin, where one of the regular gathering places was Needle and Thread, a sewing/craft store. I would like to find a way to work that into my writing, but not sure how on my current projects.