I am not good enough

...and other chatter from those who sit on the sidelines of life

Most Saturday mornings since the Covid quarantine introduced Zoom into our lives, I’ve logged into a video call with a handful of off-the-charts smart people. Sometimes there are six on the call, other times eight or nine—but always, I wonder what I’m doing in the room with these folks.

The conversation is about current events. I mostly listen. I’m more apt to crack a joke than be able to say with confidence when a certain bill became a law. These are very serious people.

Last week, two in our group were talking about the minutia of passing a congressional budget bill that I dare say was over the head of 99.9% of the population. After five minutes of this, I interrupted saying, “And Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

It felt as thought we needed to smile.

I suspect when this group was growing up, they were the kids who paid attention in History class, and completed homework assignments. Me? I was drawing horses in the margins of my notebook, trying to make it look like I was taking notes.

History and Geography lectures always felt like a blur of wars, revolutions, and inventions that, by the time we read about them, were old news. Even that show Drunk History—which you’d think would be right up my alley—could barely hold my attention for more than a few minutes.

Of course, today, I realize how important history is, and that the times we are living in, could be the end of an era we all took for granted.

One member of this group knows more about the parliamentary procedures of the United States Senate than, quite possibly, anyone on the planet. Senate Majority (some times Minority Leader) Harry Reid relied on him. That’s how deep his knowledge runs.

I won’t go into everyone’s résumés—we’ve got ground rules about keeping things off the record, and it wouldn’t take much to guess who’s who if I shared too much. Let’s just say I’m not sure where I fit in, but I keep showing up, even if out of my depth.

Anyway, there’s a point to all this. I promise I’m getting to it. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see yourself in this story too.

This is a sneaky way to get you to think about coming to the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. Because the biggest obstacle potential participants face when considering enrolling?

They don’t feel (good) (smart) (skilled) enough.

Often, the thing that keeps us finding our voice, is another kind of voice - the head of the self-doubt committee.

Looking at the list of 60+ speakers is daunting. We have an Academy Award nominated filmmaker coming who has written and directed projects that have turned into box office gold. And he’s just a guy who grew up in West Des Moines and had a terrific drama teacher. Below is the video interview conversation I had with

Peter Hedges

last month. I love him, and I’ll bet you will, too.

Most of us have an invisible committee of negative naysayers chattering inside our heads telling us we’re not smart, good, or accomplished enough to even ATTEND a frigging writers’ retreat. We have given our power away time and time again to this committee.

So, what if it’s true? Maybe you’re not good, or smart, or skilled enough.

Yet.

Why not learn for the sake of learning, and see what happens? We do NOT issue report cards. I promise you, every expert, award-winning, so and so, who is coming to teach during this retreat also had their share of self-doubts. But they went for it anyway. Some times, repeatedly hitting their heads against circumstantial brick walls.

Serious question: What’s the worst thing that could happen if you came to the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat?

Now, get out a piece of paper and start making a list under the heading:

What I’d like to gain from attending the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat….

1.

2.

3.

Maybe you can’t come to the retreat for other reasons.

Check out the Story Summit website and explore the myriad opportunities they offer—both in-person and online. I’ve known

Debra Engle

for decades, ever since she hosted a writers’ group around a round oak table in her home on Cottage Grove. A few years ago, Deb connected with film–industry leader

David Paul Kirkpatrick

, who founded Story Summit, and she now serves as Executive Director of this international community of writers.

Deb and I are co-teaching a course called Substack Success, through Story Summit, and I’m thrilled to be merging into this remarkable community through our class. We hold our last of three sessions this week, but stay tuned for an announcement about a repeat class.

I can’t wait to attend their other sessions—these truly are new soul friends.

We share a deep passion: helping you tell your stories.

---

This was all a tee-up to introduce you to Peter Hedges and the workshops he plans to hold during his time in Okoboji.

Peter Hedges

Peter Hedges adapted his first novel, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, for the screen. He has written and directed the films Pieces of April, Dan in Real Life, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Ben Is Back, and The Same Storm. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of About a Boy. Also a novelist and playwright, Peter is married to poet Susan Bruce. They are parents to two adult sons and live in Brooklyn, NY, with their dogs: fifteen-year-old Willy and thirteen-year-old Sadie-Goat. Peter grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Below are the descriptions Peter wrote for his workshops:

---

1. How to Find and Grow Your Original Idea
In this workshop, we will explore a myriad of approaches toward finding and growing your original idea. In the early stages of birthing something new, there is an innate fragility and creative peril. In my experience, how we creatives tend to those first impulses can make all the difference in what we ultimately manifest. Here I will share some of the wise choices and many of the missteps/mistakes that I've made in my 40+ year career. We'll explore how you begin something and hopefully you'll come away with some new perspectives and ways to proceed.

2. Adaptation
What I Learned From Adapting...
I've had the great privilege of writing screenplay adaptations of my own novel (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape), Nick Hornby’s About a Boy, and Jane Hamilton’s A Map of the World. I was also the first (uncredited) writer on the adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. Each experience taught me many shareable lessons. We’ll explore strategies and approaches for adaptation, demystify the process, and provide actionable steps.

3. Is Your Idea/Story a Possible Movie or TV Show—and What Are Some Ways to Make It One?
Bring your ideas, pitches, or synopses and we’ll explore ways to proceed. We’ll discuss how to take your IP and begin to reimagine and reinvent it. As someone who has worked as a playwright, novelist, screenwriter (original and adaptation), TV writer, and filmmaker, I’ve often had to ask: “OK, but could this be a movie or a show?”

4. Community and Resilience: Collaboration, DEI, and Creative Survival
To be in community with other creative people is more important than ever. This post-Covid world left many of us isolated and lonely. The alchemy of others can be invigorating. Topics will include collaboration, the importance of DEI in our work, rewriting, and how to be creatively resilient in a hard, cruel world.

---

Still?

Do you still think you aren’t good enough to attend the retreat with folks like Peter Hedges?

Watch this interview and discover what an authentic, nice guy he is. And why spending time learning from him will be transformational.

Here's the Podcast: Peter Hedges Comes Home

---

Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat Speaker List