Ellen Sussman

Ellen Susan models what it´s like to put yourself as a writer first, every day, and burst through blockages with the strength of dynamite. One of the best things I learned from her is to stop alternating between my creative and my editing brain, and just give myself over to the creative, generative part of me completely while creating a first draft. This is going to save me huge amount of time. I am committed to the plan: write first without editing, deal with the revision later. The Sonoma County Writer´s Camp gave me exactly what I needed to finish my novel manuscript in the next few months. I am so grateful and highly recommend Ellen, her co-teacher Elizabeth, and the Camp, for which Ratna Ling was the perfect setting.

Dearest Ellen,

Your kindness, your exuberance, your wisdom, humor and wealth of experience create our experience at Sonoma County Writers Camp. Thank you for your devotion to the craft of writing, to teaching, to your students, and to making it so compelling and so fun.

We take home so much more than word count from this retreat. We come away with inspiration, ideas, confidence, skills, and a sense that we are part of something larger and more powerful than the page.

Lisa CW

The day before our retreat began, our dear Ellen received dramatic health-related news. We ALL would have understood if she had completely opted out of the retreat. But she showed up in all her vulnerability AND strength, and gave of herself to a group of writers who were hungry for what she had to offer. She did not disappoint. Her pace was just right, the information, suggestions, advice she offered were challenging but also doable. The writing exercises were fun and rendered surprising and satisfying results. I attended withOUT a "work in progress," wondering if I had another story in me to tell. I had spent 10 years on a memoir about my son's suicide, and was ready to stop writing about that. I discovered that I did have other things to write about that matter to me, and that I had a voice that connected with readers. I left with a plan, which is more than I had hoped for.

As for the group of writers gathered together, I've attended retreats before (not writers, but in other professions), and there is usually someone (or more than one someone) who gets on my nerves, rubs me the wrong way. Not this time. And even with people who were not in my "group" (we were divided into 2 groups for the main "educational" workshops), there were many opportunities during meals and unscheduled periods during the day and evening to get to know everyone at something deeper than a superficial level, which was magical.

Ellen Sussman has been working with writers teaching them techniques and encouraging them into writing the pages to craft a novel or memoir for decades. Many A-list writers have studied with her for good reason--she helps writers write with their hearts and guts to fuel stories that readers can relate to. Ellen will ask you questions that take you deeper into your character or your own life to reveal the truth of your story. Articulate, irreverent, energetic and inspiring.

With her long career in publishing and teaching, Ellen brings practical wisdom, joy, and fun into her writing workshops. I loved the way she guided the discussion about my work, bringing out the helpful feedback while leaving space for lively discussion. I always learn from her, and am grateful for her many useful craft tips. I can't wait to take another class from her.