Cathryn Brenner is a semi-retired elementary school teacher with a passion for supporting struggling young readers and mathematicians. The James Cross Giblin Scholarship helped her attend this year’s Working Retreat for Nonfiction and Informational Ficton writers, and it was just what she needed to find more tools and confidence for the next steps of her aspiring nonfiction authorship journey.
In Cathryn’s Words
The working retreat format was a perfect next step in my nonfiction writing journey. Everyone’s energy created instant community. There was still plenty of learning from the amazing faculty with also plenty of time to write. I was able to move forward on projects, set some new goals, and get helpful feedback from both students and faculty. I left with an expanded writing community, new tools, encouragement, inspiration, and feeling well set-up for a productive writing summer. I feel [that] my goal to begin querying/submitting this year is realistic! And enough cannot be said for the staff that support our time there and make the campus such a beautiful and welcoming place to be!
My time at the retreat center allow[ed] me to connect with such a supportive community and such knowledgeable and open faculty. I [got] to work and learn in a beautiful setting with time not cluttered with other to-dos. I also came away with new tools for research and organization as well as techniques to find the meat, or focus, of a story. I [left] renewed and inspired and dedicated to continuing on.
Cathryn enjoys classes on nonfiction craft, and has attended Summer Camp in Nonfiction at the Highlights Foundation in 2023, plus several mini courses. Being semi-retired now means more time for writing, and it has a big place in her daily life. She says:
This simply would not have happened this year without your generous support. I feel your support not only in terms of dollars, but also as another affirmation that my writing is worthy of being put out into the world and into the hands and minds of kids. For all of this, thank you!
