Relax with Adel's Recipe for Cactus Pear Margaritas

By Halie Rosenberg/Adel Aschenbrener

Picture it: You have just spent the day hiking Joshua Tree and writing beautifully. The desert sun is setting, and in your hand, is an icy margarita made by Writing Pad's genius Executive Chef, Adel Aschenbrener. You sip from it, so happy that you've given this gift of writing and relaxation to yourself. In your short stay, you have accomplished so much great work. The story ideas that you once struggled to express, now flow easily into your notebook. You close your eyes, content with the knowledge that the only thing left to do today is make your way through a wonderful dinner and fall into bed.

What is the best part about this dream? It can be yours, simply by signing up for the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before it is full. Only 2 spots are left!

And to tide you over until October, Adel has been gracious enough to share her fabulous margarita recipe that she plans to make in 29 Palms. Thanks, Adel!

Cactus Pear Margaritas (Serves 4)
Tart, refreshing, and perfect for beating the heat, this hot-pink libation pays homage to the ultimate desert survivor - the humble cactus.

8 oz. 100% agave silver or blanco tequila (Adel likes Herradura and El Tesoro)
8 large or 12 small fresh limes
2 oz. agave nectar
2 oz. cactus pear juice (also called prickly pear juice)
plenty of ice

Halve the limes and juice them into a cocktail shaker or large glass (if
you roll the limes firmly under your palms against the counter or
microwave them for 20 seconds before juicing, you'll get more juice). Add
the juiced limes to the shaker along with the tequila, agave, cactus pear
juice, and a couple handfuls of ice. Muddle the limes and other
ingredients together for a minute or two to extract the flavorful oils.
Shake or stir for another minute, then strain over ice into 4 cocktail
glasses.

And if that didn't make you drool, then check out Adel's sumptuous sample dinner menu for the retreat. It will certainly inspire the best writing you've ever done!

Sample Dinner Menu
grilled marinated steak
roasted potatoes with jalapeno butter
nopales salad
cornbread
local fresh fruit tart for dessert

(vegetarian options available)

Hope to see you at the retreat!

Writing Prompt 8/26/2010: Best Vacation

By Marilyn Friedman

Want to have the best mini-vacation of your life? Go to the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat on the weekend of Oct. 22-24! It's 2 nights/2 days of relaxation, top notch writing classes and one-on-one consultations, gourmet food, and fun!

Make some significant progress on a writing project or get your writing practice going. Call 323-333-2954 before the retreat is full! Only 2 spots left! The deadline to RSVP is September 5th.

Writing Prompt:
Make a list of your 5 best/most memorable vacations. Pick one of the vacations and add two sensory details to it (smell, taste, sound, touch, sight). Write for 10 minutes about that vacation. What specifically made it so wonderful? Make sure to include at least one of your sensory details and then post your results in comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! Write about your best vacation. The best mini-story of August/September will win a free class!

Digging into the High Desert Retreat

Interview by Halie Rosenberg

With only 2 spots left, space for the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat is going fast! Chris DeLorenzo of Laguna Writers will be leading the retreat along with Marilyn of Writing Pad. This week, he answered a few of my burning questions about what's in store for those lucky enough to snag one of the limited reservations!

How did you and Marilyn choose the 29 Palms Inn as the location of this retreat?

We both thought the desert would be an inspiring place to write, and Marilyn had been to the 29 Palms with her husband and found it comfortable and charming. It's very close to the state park, so it's a very unique place. Also, it's easily accessible, but it feels far away from everywhere.

I love it too! Can you give me a little background on yourself and what kind of a teacher you are?

While doing research for my senior college thesis on writing communities, I met Pat Schneider, who had developed a method called the Amherst Writers and Artists Method (AWA). She invited me to one of her workshops, and I loved it so much I decided right then and there I wanted to do that kind of work my whole life. I have been teaching for over eleven years now.

I like to use a Goethe quote to describe my method of teaching, "Criticism does much but encouragement does much more." I think that when people feel safe and encouraged they will take risks and explore ideas. This is what I aim for in every class and retreat I teach.

You can also read about what some of Chris's students say about his teaching style here: http://www.laguna-writers.com/testimonials.html.

In a nutshell, what is the Amherst Writers and Artists method?

The AWA method is about taking the academic model for teaching writing and turning it on its head. Traditional writing classes and workshops usually involve writing something, bringing in copies, and letting everyone tear it to shreds with criticism. While there is plenty of room for helpful, constructive, manuscript feedback in the AWA model, the focus is on producing new writing through spontaneous writing exercises, and sharing it with the group if you so choose. When we read our work out loud, we acknowledge it's a raw, first draft, so people in the group only offer feedback about what's working, what they like, what they hear. No criticism. It's a way of building confidence as a writer, but also a way to begin exploring ideas for narratives in a safe space. The AWA method helps us return to the joy and wonder of creating writing, something we lose around third grade, when it becomes all about grammar and syntax. It's a very empowering feeling, and it generates some amazing writing that often surprises the writer.

Oh, so it's totally like Writing Pad! Will the classes at the retreat be similar to what we do in class here?

Yes, we will write together in a group with writing prompts meant to help you focus on dialogue, setting or characters. The great thing about a retreat versus a class is that we have longer to write. The free writes at the retreat tend to be between 15 and 20 minutes. You can really delve deep into ideas during that time. Also, at retreats I like to make my prompts thematic. Some of the trip's prompts will be related to the desert surrounding us and the objects we collect on our hikes. I think it will really be inspiring.

Me too! How much time do you spend writing at a retreat versus other things?

That's really up to you. We spend three to five hours a day in group writing classes but people spend time outside the group writing too. The other time is spent eating, relaxing, walking and gathering ideas.

Ooh what a wonderful sounding day! So is that the benefit of a retreat versus a class?

Yes, a retreat allows you to really sink down deep into your writing, and to imagine your writing in new ways. Most importantly, it allows us time to relax, to stop running errands and checking our email. A successful retreat is one that allows enough structured workshop time to write and work on writing projects, but also allows enough down time to contemplate, to dream.

What have student's achieved at your retreats?

I've had students write and edit a complete short story over the course of a retreat. I've also seen people return to a piece that they had been avoiding. Others choose this time to tackle a tough scene that they couldn't wrap their brain around before. Then environment can really stir things up for people creatively. I think the one on one meetings help with productivity too. Everyone has different goals for their time at the retreat and we work together so that they achieve them.

What if a person doesn't know anyone on the retreat?

I've seen a lot of friendships blossom on these retreats but I've also noticed that some people prefer the solitude. If you are a person who likes meeting new people, there will be plenty of time to socialize and a group of fun, interesting people to socialize with. If you want to be more contemplative and reflective, I think that you will find the group to be very respectful of your wishes.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the 29 Palms retreat?

Collaborating with someone you respect and care for is always a privilege, so I'm really looking forward to working with Marilyn this way. And she has an amazing caterer, so I have to admit, I'm also really looking forward to the food! But ultimately, it's the writing that I most look forward to. This method generates beautiful, powerful, sometimes hilarious writing, and it's such an honor to sit in a room of writers and listen to their first drafts. It feels sacred in a way. I really have the best job in the world.

To learn more about Chris, visit his website. If you are interested in reserving a highly coveted space at the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat please contact marilyn@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954.

Writing Prompt 8/19/2010: Superpower

By Marilyn Friedman

The Writing Pad High Desert Retreat is now shorter and more affordable! It is now over a weekend. Partake of 2 nights/2 days of a mini-vacation in a rustic wonderland where you can indulge yourself, relax, get a ton of writing done and just have fun!

Make some significant progress on a writing project or get your writing practice going. Two tracks are available: Beginner/Intermediate and Master. Isn't it time to take your love affair with writing to the next level? Call 323-333-2954 before the retreat is full! Only 5 spots left!

Here are the details:
Instructors: Marilyn Friedman of Writing Pad and Chris DeLorenzo of Laguna Writers
Where: The chic 29 Palms Inn in Joshua Tree, CA
When: October 22-24, 2010 (Friday Night to Sunday Afternoon)
Cost: Tuition, Lodging at 29 Palms Inn, Gourmet Meals Prepared by The Writing Pad Executive Chef, One on One Consultation, and Activities for 2 nights, 2 days:
$800 single room/$700 shared room
(To add a 3rd night with a Monday a.m. class: $270 single room/$170 shared room. This is optional.) A $500 deposit will hold your spot.
Deadline to RSVP: September 5th
To RSVP or for questions: Call 323-333-2954.


Writing Prompt:
If you had a superpower, what would it be? Make a list of 5 superpowers. Do you wish you could fly or shape shift or stop time? Let your imagination go! Now pick one superpower and write about it for ten minutes. Then post your mini-story in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! If you had a superpower, what would it be? The best mini-story of August/September will win a free class!

Writing Prompt 8/12/10: Favorite Book

By Marilyn Friedman

Take a class at Writing Pad in August! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll before these classes are full:

• So You Want to Be A Writer (Starts Wed. August 18)--1 Spot Left
• Finishing School (Starts Wed. August 18)--1 Spot Left
• True Fiction (Sun. Aug. 22)--Full, Waiting List Available

And--don't forget about the fantastic Writing Pad High Desert Retreat (Oct.22-24)!

• Writing Pad High Desert Retreat--6 Spots Left

Writing Prompt: What were your favorite books as a child? Make a list of 3 of them. Then pick one and write about it for ten minutes. Write about it in detail! Where did it take your imagination? Then post your short write in the comments of this blog.

Comment on this blog! What was your favorite book as a child? The best mini-story of August/September will win a free class!

Winner of May/June Comment Contest

The winner of the May/June Comment Contest is Emmanuel Bergmann. Emmanuel, please contact me at marilyn@writingpad.com to collect your class.

To read Emmanuel's wonderful story, click here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/05/writing-prompt-51210-childhood-junk.html

You can read the other wonderful stories here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/06/writing-prompt-62410-scared.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/06/writing-prompt-61610-summer-fun.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/06/writign-prompt-6210-pet-peeves.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/05/writing-prompt-51910-vacations-gone.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/05/writing-prompt-51210-childhood-junk.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/05/writing-prompt-5610-this-la-life.html

Thank you, everyone for participating!