I got this spam email over the weekend:
Critically acclaimed author and anthologist Mitzi Szereto will be conducting a residential erotic writing workshop at
the world-renown Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California in January 2006. Mitzi
is credited with putting the erotic writing workshop on the map in the UK and
Europe, and has conducted them in locations from England’s Lake District to the
Greek islands.
I like to think of my house as a residential erotic writing workshop but my wife doesn’t always agree.
I gave up on Esalen when they had a “Zen of Golf” weekend a year ago. GROSS!
Haven’t been there since the Big Sur Folk Festival in ’69, anyway. I was six and a half.
Never eat at a place called Mom’s.
Never shoot pool with a man named after a state.
Never take an erotic writing workshop from anyone named Mitzi.
“Mitzi is credited with putting the erotic writing workshop on the map in the UK and Europe…”
What map would that be? I haven’t seen these workshops in my “Great Britain Road Atlas 2005”, nor can I find anything like this in my European Road Atlas of similar vintage.
And last time I looked, the UK was a _part_ of Europe. I’m pretty sure it’s on the same continental shelf. Even the English will (very grudgingly) admit to this.
On a completely separate topic…
As an experienced US-based screenwriter, do you have any insights on UK TV writing as it compares to the US? I’ve seen a lot more writing-by-committee serials from the US than appears to be the norm over here, where it’s almost always just one or two writers at most.
Mitzi can’t spell.
It’s renowned, not renown.
Residential Erotic? What an interesting genre. Is it how to write for Martha Stewart, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful and such? I can imagine the panels: “Don’t Let Ecru Defeat You – A Thousand Words for Beige.”
LOL! I am totally going to turn my house into an “erotic investment.”
I wonder if that means I get to write off my new bed? Or the heating bill (have to stay warm if you’re going to get naked). I could probably even write off my husband — that would be great!
Thanks for sharing,
Shanna
Being British I would love to point out to Mitzi that we are indeed part of Europe. I’m not sure I’d take any course from someone called Mitzi. I hear the name and Priscilla Queen of the Desert pops into my head – might just be me!
I will definitely call ahead rather than dropping in on you from now on. . . .
I’m launching a workshop called “Sclerotic Writing.” Any takers?