The Floating Island Workshops

Write Your Life

Everyone has a story to tell. Perhaps you’ve just started writing your personal experiences or are ready to write a memoir but need help finding the heart of your story. Through assignments, lectures, and workshops, craft your stories and make them compelling. You will also learn how to use the nuances of plot, character development, setting, theme, and dialogue to drive the narrative of your story.

We will meet each morning for a session focused on craft and again in the afternoon for a workshop session. There will be free time each afternoon for writing, cooking with guest chefs, and seaside activities. Each writer will have at least one manuscript workshopped with other writers and one individual session with Kim.

The sessions conclude with information on how to find an agent, sell a book proposal, and promote your work.

During the workshop you will

• Find your voice
• Use your memories
• Discover the heart of your story
• Implement effective story structure
• Learn how to approach literary agents
• Learn why (and how) to sell a memoir before you have finished writing it

Session Schedules

SESSION I : May 30 to June 4, 2010

Sunday, May 30: Meet & Greet Sunset Cocktail with chef Suvir Saran

• Sign-up for individual evaluations (upon arrival)

Monday through Thursday: Elements of Craft—10 a.m. to Noon

• Exclusive Cooking Demo & Lunch with chef Suvir Saran—Monday: Noon to 2 p.m.
• Writing/Beach Break
• Workshop—4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: Wrap-up and Celebratory Lunch: 10 to 12 p.m.

SESSION II : June 6 to June 11, 2010

Sunday, June 6: Meet and Greet Sunset Cocktail

• Sign-up for individual evaluations (upon arrival)

Monday through Thursday:  Elements of Craft—10 a.m. to Noon

• Exclusive Cooking Demo & Lunch with chef James Lewis of Bettola—Monday: Noon to 2 p.m.
• Writing/Beach Break
• Workshop—4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: Wrap-up and celebratory lunch: 10 to 12 p.m.

Workshop Fees & Details

• Session Fee: $900
• Includes individual evaluation, group workshop sessions, hand-outs, a cooking demo, and breakfast.
• Session I: Guest chef Suvir Saran. Session II: chef James Lewis
• Session + Lodging: $2,000
• Lodging Supplement available for those staying at the Writer’s Residence (very limited), includes 5-day intensive workshop, and 5 nights room and board. Additional weekend nights available after Session I
• Sessions limited to 10 writers

To apply, complete this form by March 25, 2010

A nonrefundable deposit of $450 for Session, $1,000 for Session + Lodging is due upon acceptance

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Fly?

Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS): 20 mi
Service by American, Continental, Delta/Northwest, and U.S. Airways

Panama City Beach (ECP): 31 mi
Service by Delta Connection and Southwest Airlines

Pensacola Airport (PNS): 100 mi
Service by AirTran, American, Continental, Delta/Northwest, and U.S. Airways

Airport Shuttles (by reservation only)

• Sunshine Shuttle: 850/650-6333; sunshineshuttle.com
• Seacoast Transport: 888/822-6278

Should I drive?

View Larger Map

Seaside, Florida is within driving distance from many cities in the South.

• Atlanta – 6 hours
• Birmingham – 5 hours
• Mobile – 2 1/2 hours
• New Orleans – 5 hours
• Tampa – 7 hours

Where is the good food?

Someone will always be in the kitchen but for great meals outside the Residence, Seaside and surrounding villages offer a number of excellent local restaurants and markets as well.

• Bud & Alley’s, Seaside
• Fish Out of Water, WaterColor
• Goatfeathers Seafood – Santa Rosa
• Modica Market, Seaside
• The Red Bar Grill, Grayton Beach

Where should I stay?

The ease and elegance of staying in Seaside cannot be overstated, but feel free to look at other rental agencies throughout the area. Be advised that you will need transportation to get to and from workshops if staying outside Seaside. Also note that many of these surrounding communities are well within walking and biking distance.

Seaside: cottagerentalagency.com
Rosemary Beach: rosemarybeach.com
WaterColor Beach: watercolorvacationhomes.com
WaterSound: watersoundvacationrentals.com
Vacation Rentals: vacationrentals.com
Panhandle Getaways: panhandlegetaways.com

Testimonials

“Kim’s memoir-writing course is fantastic. Her eye-opening assignments, lectures, and comments helped me get back on track. After the course I signed up for a month of private coaching with Kim. She read my chapters in depth and offered perfect advice and encouragement.” — Jann Huizenga, Sicily