What a blast this was for the women writers who took part in this first retreat, and what a blast it was for me. I was the worker bee, but I loved it. We had authors Lisa Fugard and Gayle Brandeis do workshops, I did a mini-workshop on the steps to writing a novel, we shared work, we wrote from photographs, we played Balderdash and went for a midnight swim. Such a harmonious, talented, fun group of women. Here are a few photos to give you a sense of what happened and how it was for us.

All photos taken by me except for the group portrait at the bottom, shot by the talented Ellen Bell.

I’ve talked to Chris on the radio a half dozen times in the last 14 years since I started Writers on Writing, but not until today did we meet. Such a pleasure. He’s so articulate, funny, and generous. One of my favorite writers. If you haven’t read Trans-Sister Radio, The Law of Similars, Skeletons at the Feast or his latest, The Light in the Ruins, don’t wait. Buffalo Soldier is another. Or Midwives…loved it but wouldn’t read it when it was an Oprah Pick. I refused to read Oprah Picks while they were picks … the rebel in me, I suppose.

So this time we had our salon at noon instead of our usual Tuesday night. It was the only time Chris had–between events in LA and San Diego–and he was only in Southern California for two days. So glad we could get him. The last time he appeared at an event in Orange County was in 2008.

Top photo: Allison Johnson
Bottom two photos: Adele Peters

Zadie Smith: 10 Good Writing Habits

When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.

When an adult, try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would.

Don’t romanticise your “vocation.” You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no “writer’s lifestyle.” All that matters is what you leave on the page.

Avoid your weaknesses. But do this without telling yourself that the things you can’t do aren’t worth doing. Don’t mask self-doubt with contempt.

Leave a decent space of time between writing something and editing it.

Avoid cliques, gangs, groups. The presence of a crowd won’t make your writing any better than it is.

Work on a computer that is disconnected from the Internet.

Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.

Don’t confuse honours with achievement.

Tell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand—but tell it. Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never being satisfied.

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Weisburger at the Newport Beach Library last Tuesday, June 25. We talked about her new novel as well as her writing process. Listen by clicking here.

I work better with other people’s sounds around me–not all, just some–and now there’s research to support that yes, indeed, ambient sound, like that which you hear at a coffee house, inspires creativity.  Here you can turn on ambient noise from a coffee house, and also read the study that talks about why ambient sound is good for creativity.

I will admit here and now, before the world, that I’m not a Harry Potter fan. I don’t dislike the books; I just don’t love that genre of fiction. But I admire writers like J.K. Rowling, especially writers who are at the end of their ropes and then have a vision and get that vision onto the page and become a raging success. I wish I’d have a vision like that.

So, here is a speech Cheryl Klein, continuity editor of the U.S. Harry Potter books, gave. See what you think.