Are you looking for a way to give your writing a boost and give new life to stories that have been rejected? Are you ready to work at your craft and hone your writing skills? Are you willing to work hard for a solid weekend under the guidance of a skillful teacher? Then attend a Darcy Pattison retreat or workshop.

Twenty-five writers, including myself, gathered at Anna Myers' house in Chandler, Oklahoma on a balmy weekend in early February to attend Darcy's Picture Book Retreat. But not much attention was paid to the weather outside because the atmosphere inside was infinitely more electric. From three o'clock on Friday till noon on Sunday the rest of the world went away. We lived in a world where Darcy had us turning our stories upside-down and sideways; writing, cutting, revising, looking at them this way and that.

Friday and Saturday topics included finding ideas, picture book components, focus and structure, forms, rhythm and rhyme, read-aloud qualities and finally making a dummy of our stories. Our stories. What an amazing array of stories, all read aloud at Saturday night's open mike session. And even though most of our stories were not necessarily finished and ready to submit to an editor, the hard work of the weekend showed as the stories were read. We all stood a little taller, smiled a little broader.

On Sunday the discussion turned to marketing picture books and making a career as a picture book writer. With Darcy leading the discussion ideas came from many of the participants, particularly Anna Myers and Darleen Baily Beard. Darcy made it clear that you can't just write one story and expect a career to happen. It takes writing and rewriting and learning and even after you are published more writing and rewriting and learning. The current economic atmosphere and the trends in the industry make it tough right now, but the opportunities are still there for those who are willing to work hard at their craft.

When I first heard about Darcy's picture book retreat I wasn't sure I needed or even wanted to attend. After all I've read tons of books on the craft of writing, attended lots of conferences, critique sessions and smoozes, and received advice from editors and agents in personal rejection letters. What could Darcy possibly tell me that I didn't already know? But a friend had attend Darcy's novel revision retreat and recommended her highly so I decided to give it a try. I am very glad I did. I feel renewed, refreshed, inspired and for the first time in a long time excited about getting up and writing every day.

Thank you Darcy Pattison. And thanks to Anna and Johnny for being great hosts.