Behind the scenes at Write by the Sea!
Yolande Essiembre attended last year’s Write by the Sea retreat from Shediac, New Brunswick. Yolande generously agreed to answer a few questions about her experience writing, sharing, and learning in a warm community of fellow writers.
CATCHING UP with Write by the Sea Participant Yolande Essiembre
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Yolande, why did you first decide to attend the Write by the Sea retreat?
I felt called to attend as soon as I read the title. I love to write, I love being by the sea and I love retreats! It sounded like it could meet all my needs.
What were some of the lessons you learned from the writing workshops at the retreat? What were the benefits to your writing?
I am writing my first book so I had a lot to learn. I learned about the technicalities of writing, about structure, process and prompts. But I mostly learned through conversations, and sharing with a wonderful and inspiring group of authors. Trevor asked questions that brought conversations to a level much deeper than thought. I appreciated the discussions about perseverance, intuition and creativity. I loved listening to the inner wisdom of the participants as they shared their work.
In terms of benefits, I understood that I was not to compare myself or my writing to other people. I finally grasped the concept that all books are written in stages… first draft, second draft, third draft and so on until it is ready to be released. I now understand more fully the process of writing a book and the amount of time it may require to have it completed. This helped me to assess where I am presently in my project, where I want to go with my book and the kind of help I would need to move forward. Consequently, I have hired Trevor as a writing coach. My book and my writing has greatly improved, along with my confidence.
I finally grasped the concept that all books are written in stages… first draft, second draft, third draft and so on until it is ready to be released.
Apart from writing, what were some of the highlights of the retreat and your time on PEI?
One of the things I truly enjoyed was meal times. At noon, healthy lunches were prepared and brought to us at the little school house by Joshua Lewis. He also led us through meditation and yoga session during the week which was a bonus. Both Trevor and Joshua made themselves very available to us, also sharing the evening meals (most of which were included) with the group. It was a great time for socializing and sharing tips with other authors. The last meal together at The Hideout —where authors shared their work — was truly a gift.
Any advice for those who might be considering Write by the Sea this year?
I believe that we get from the retreat what we invest in the retreat. Participate in events, enjoy your alone time to move forward with your writing. Appreciate the new friends with their knowledge and wisdom and you will have a week to remember.
What are you working on currently, Yolande?
I am working on a memoir. Long Lost Mom is my story as a mother who gave a child up for adoption. It is also the story of an adult child searching for and finding his long lost mom after 46 years of being separated.
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Yolande is the mother to four adult children and grandmother to two wonderful grand daughters. In addition to accreditation in various types of counselling and coaching, Yolande Essiembre holds a master of theology degree from Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec), a certificate in social work and a certificate in religious sciences from the Université de Moncton (New Brunswick). During the last 15 years of her career, she worked in organizational development and as a wellness counsellor in the human relations field. Since her retirement, she has created and facilitated sessions in personal and spiritual development and is now in the process of writing her book. She is a member of WFNB (Writer’s Federation New Brunswick). You can find Yolande’s website here.