About Ink & Paper

It all started when…

…I went to my first writers’ conference. It was a small conference in Sioux Center, IA put on by Kate Brauning. The things I learned there and the people I met changed my life. I discovered the power of an impactful event for writers. Suddenly this thing I had been doing alone for years was something I had in common with others. I grew as a writer, and met some wonderful and generous local authors who showed me what was possible. I’ll never forget the energy I had as I left that conference.

However, I was soon disappointed by the lack of options in the midwest. I’d been spoiled by my first conference, which is no longer being held (though I highly recommend Kate’s new program, the Breakthrough Writers’ Boot Camp). There are so many conferences and retreats that look amazing, but cost a lot of money, require significant travel, and require vacation and time away from my new little family. The events I’ve been to since have felt like something was missing, and for years I daydreamed about the kind of event I would love to go to.

The day I finally decided to stop daydreaming and make it happen, Ink & Paper was born.

the mission

My dream is to provide an intimate, budget-friendly, yet high-quality writing retreat right here in the midwest, to give the amazingly talented writers in this area a place to write, to improve their craft, to see what is possible, and to connect with others. I hope everyone who attends an Ink & Paper event finds their people there and leaves with some new friends or writing partners.

The first Writing Retreat will be held on November 16th, but I don’t plan to stop there. I have big dreams. If you’d like to be kept in the know about everything I’m cooking up, please sign up for my emails below.

about me

My name is Tara Waddell, and I write Young Adult contemporary and fantasy and Adult thrillers. My current project is a YA Sci-Fi novel. Between book club, books for work, and my own TBR list, I’m usually busy reading. I love hiking, traveling, running, binging Stranger Things, and finding new forms of chocolate to try. I work in Product Management for an international software development company.

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