<a href="http://www.prestonchild.com/" target="_blank">Douglas Preston</a>, author of that wonderful real-life crime story <em>The Monster of Florence</em> and a string of fiction bestsellers, doesn't do workshops often. He'll be at Thrillerfest this year, but if you really want to hear Doug at length -- and he is one of the most thoughtful writers of popular fiction around -- here's one hell of an opportunity.

Later this year he'll be <a href="http://abiquiuworkshops.com/schedule/the-writers-vision/" target="_blank">teaching a workshop at Abiqui</a> in New Mexico. It's aimed at both writers and photographers, and will be jointly hosted with the renowned photographer <a href="http://www.walterwnelson.com/" target="_blank">Walter Nelson</a>.

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This is the idea, in Doug's own words...
<blockquote>The workshop will teach writing skills, but it goes beyond the mere technical. This is not a traditional workshop and there will be no ‘critiquing’ of work in classroom-like settings. The goal of the workshop isn’t so much to teach participants how to write but how to see. To do this, the workshop will engage body, mind, and spirit in a retreat-like atmosphere at a remote ranch outside Abiquiu, New Mexico. We will work mostly outdoors, in the heart of the high desert country where Georgia O’Keeffe painted her famous landscapes. The workshop involves intensive creative exercises, isolation in the landscape, close observation of nature, and mindfulness. We will employ various techniques to sweep away blockages and overcome fear—with the aim of helping participants achieve a profound creative breakthrough. But the heart of the workshop is something entirely new: the innovative use of photography to push participants into seeing the world in a fresh and original way. (My most influential writing teacher once said to me: You want to be a writer? Then you must become a photographer.)</blockquote>
Doug also adds...
<blockquote>This workshop is open to all. It involves some hiking in rough, high-desert country, so participants should be in good physical condition and ready to meet the challenge of a high-desert environment. You will be challenged physically and mentally and you should be ready for unusual and surprising occurrences.</blockquote>
There are just ten places. I just wish had the time to be one of them. The event runs from September 1 to October 1. If you're interested I suspect you'd better book soon.