The first day of our summer yoga and writing retreat began with an excellent workshop from our guest lecturer, David Shields. Shields presented a lecture on the art of brevity. This was to help our participants practice writing less words than they normally would, but still managing to be effective with what they did write. After reading some examples from authors like Amy Hempel and Jerome Stern, the participants took some time to try and write their own brief pieces before sharing them with the group.      
Later that evening, our participants gathered at Shakespeare and Company, one of the oldest and most famous bookstores in Paris. There, Shields read excerpts from his most recent book, I Think You’re Totally Wrong, a novel he co-wrote with his friend and former student, Caleb Powell. Reading for Powell was Charles Recourse’, Shields’ French translator. The two were introduced by CWW director Rita Banerjee, and answered audience questions following the reading. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcKF8TsRgtg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWY2JLLX9uU The event concluded with some complementary wine from the Shakespeare and Company staff and an author signing by Shields.