Impressions from RWA2012

Before I begin, I want to congratulate all of the Winners of this year's Golden Heart^®. Your speeches were funny and touching. All of the finalists are winners (we truly feel that way), but I know that those of us whose names weren't called were just as thrilled for those who were—as if we were at the podium accepting the award with you.

So, the conference. My experience at this National was skewed by the whole Golden Heart Finalist thing — not that I'm complaining! It was an incredible experience all around; however, I didn't get to very many of the workshops. Between GH events (official and not), not feeling well for most of one day, and preparing to pitch/pitching, the time seemed to fly past. But, hey, that's what the conference recordings are for, right?

First impression, then. National is always abuzz with energy and this year was no exception. I didn't think anything could top the conference in Manhattan, but I have to say there was as much, if not possibly a bit more, excitement in Anaheim. That's due in part, I think, to the opportunities many people are starting to see in the self/indie publishing arena.

Which brings me to my biggest observation. For the first time at RWA National, there were a plethora of workshops relating to self publishing. Just a couple of years ago the mere suggestion of the same would have been anathema. That's how rapid the change from self publishing being relegated to "vanity publishing" to it becoming a valid, and potentially lucrative, form of publishing for authors.

In addition to the excitement of possibilities that self publishing brings to the table, there was a general sense of relief among the unpublished writers I spoke to on the subject (and some of the published writers, too). Relief that there is now a viable publication path that bypasses traditional publishing. Relief that perhaps for the first time, one's writing career is firmly in one's own hands.

I know personally, this relief meant that my view of the pitching process took a 180 degree turn from last year. I was still a bit nervous — after all, I want to do my writing justice when I talk about it — but I was also much more appraising of the person sitting across from me than previously. Was this person someone I felt comfortable with? Comfortable enough to pursue further discussion, if it came to that? It's said that first impressions are key, and I found myself thinking seriously about that, not just from what sort of impression I made, but also my impression of them. It was...interesting, to say the least.

There were some amazing speeches. If you haven't read Stephanie Laurens' keynote address, do yourself a favor and read it now. Robyn Carr's speech at the Awards Luncheon was truly inspiring. Cherry Adair was, as always, fabulous! at the Golden Network Retreat. So many encouraging and inspiring voices, all, ultimately, with the same message: write what you love and never give up.

Have any questions about the conference? Post them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them! In the meantime, I'm going to take that excellent advice and get back to work on my current projects.

Deborah Wright
Website: www.Deborah-Wright.com
Twitter: @DeborahBWright
Facebook: Deborah.Wright.Author

Countdown to Anaheim: 4 Weeks and Counting

One month from today I'll be on an airplane headed for Orange County. This will be my fourth RWA® National Conference, but my first time as a Golden Heart® Finalist. I have to say, I still can't believe it when I type those words. The time since the Finalist announcements in March has passed so quickly, and it feels very much like a dream.

I attended my first National Conference in San Francisco, shortly after I joined RWA. I've spoken about it before, but I have to say I was totally unprepared for the experience. I've attended conferences before--bigger, even--but all of them were related to my previous career in High Tech. I was used to huge, noisy crowds, so the RWA conference should have been old hat. Shyeah, right!

Those other conferences? 90-to-95% male. I was used to walking into a room filled with guys and being one of a handful of women, and I was comfortable with it. I didn't realize how much I'd internalize that experience as the norm until I attended that first RWA® conference! The emotional impact of entering a room filled with upwards of 2,000 women, all there to advance their writing careers, was overwhelming. I'm sure there were men in attendance, but unlike the tech conferences where I could pick out the other women, I had a difficult time seeing them.

I went against all my previous conference experience and tried to cram every minute full. Not surprisingly, I spent a lot of that first conference in a bit of a daze. Thank goodness for the conference recordings! Learning to pace myself was a lesson I've since taken to heart.

I attended the Washington, D.C. conference the following year and that experience was just as incredible. I made sure to take some time for myself. I'd been to D.C. before, so I took the Metro to the Mall on a couple of afternoons and spent time revisiting the monuments and the Smithsonian. I don't regret a moment spent away from the sessions. My head was clearer when I returned and my energy level was up. I'm a card-carrying introvert, you see. I enjoy the energy of the conference, but I eventually feel drained if I don't recharge with alone time (and alone can mean being out amongst strangers, so long as it's by myself, if you get my drift).

2010 was the year of personal setbacks and heartaches that I won't go into here, but suffice it say, I skipped the 2010 conference. I have, however, listened to the conference recordings. May I say, getting the recordings, especially if you don't attend the conference in person, is a GREAT way to get the workshops and stay up-to-date.

I almost didn't go to last year's conference in New York. I'm very, very happy I did attend. I credit Chapter-mate Barbara Cool Lee with encouraging me to not only attend, but also to pitch to an agent--as well as for all her invaluable advice on preparing my pitch! I'm not sure I would have committed to entering the Golden Heart® if I hadn't gone to New York. And if I hadn't, I wouldn't be here now, feeling as if I were living a dream!

I already know the Conference in Anaheim will be special. I'm one of a group of over 60 other incredible women--my fellow Firebirds*--many of whom I've had the privilege to get to know online since the Golden Heart® announcement. I can't wait to meet them in person. I have a feeling I'm going to have to learn that whole "pacing myself" business all over again!

What about you? Will you be attending the RWA® National Conference in Anaheim this year? Do you have any Conference experiences or advice you'd be willing to share? Or, if you haven't attended Nationals yet, and/or aren't planning on going this year, do you have any questions about the conference?

Deborah Wright
www.Deborah-Wright.com
Twitter: @DeborahBWright
Facebook: Deborah.Wright.Author

* Each Golden Heart® class chooses a name for itself--one which they feel represents the feelings/experiences/etc. of the group. We have chosen the name FIREBIRDS. Our motto is: FIREBIRDS: Forged in fire and flying higher!

Conference Experiences of a Relative Novice

I made the decision a few months ago to attend the RWA National Conference this year in New York City. At the same time made the commitment to make an editor/agent appointment in order to pitch a book while I'm there. Confession time: This will be my first time pitching and, yes, I'm damned nervous about it. Since it is my first time, I don't have much to say about pitching right now. See me later in July, I'm sure I'll have more to say on the subject then. :-)

Conferences, though, are a different story. Others on this blog have already said some of the same things, but there are three things about conferences that I think ring pretty true: 1) you'll get something different out of a conference than I will; 2) not all writing conferences are right for all writers; and 3) not all writers need (or even want) to attend conferences.

Since I'm still a relative novice at conferences, I thought I'd share my experiences so far. This will be my third National Conference and I'm looking forward to this one for very different reasons than I had for attending the first two (San Francisco and Washington, D.C.).

I went to San Francisco because it was close and I was familiar with the area, having just moved to Oregon from San Jose less than a year earlier. I was very curious about the conference experience and thought it would be easier if the first one I attended was in familiar surroundings. I'm not the most extroverted person on the planet and I was at the very beginning of my journey towards publication. I didn't have a finished book to pitch or that I could talk about when asked what I write. I figured out pretty quickly that I probably should have been prepared for questions about my writing, but it honestly didn't occur to me before I left for the conference. There were times I felt a little foolish not knowing what to say, but that was my problem--the people asking were being polite, not trying to put me on the spot. Technically, this conference might have come at a time that was a bit early in my career for me to attend, but I'm glad I did. I sat in on some interesting workshops on the craft of writing, got an understanding of how the conference works, and I had a terrific time.

I came away from San Francisco revved up and intending to have a book ready for the next National Conference in Washington, D.C. Long story short, a year later and that book didn't exist. I'd learned a lot during that year, though, and since things were going good at the Day Job I decided I'd still attend the conference. I was a lot more comfortable that time around since I already had an idea of what to expect. Still not being an extrovert, though, I think I actually had fewer conversations than I did in San Francisco. That might have been because I was doing a lot of people watching (and I think I project invisibility when I do that). It had been years since I was last in D.C., so I'll also confess to spending some of the time on the Mall and at the Smithsonian. As for the workshops, most of the ones I went to were still craft related, but I attended a smattering of career oriented workshops as well.

That was two years ago. Last year was the year of many changes for me and I didn't attend the conference in Orlando. I've listened to most of the recordings of the conference workshops. And I can say from those recordings that the workshops just keep getting better. If you can't go to a conference, the recordings are a great way of getting about 50% of the benefit of being there.

I say 50% because I think there's a great deal to be said for attending in person. There's an energy at National that I can't adequately describe. You can feel it as soon as you get to the hotel. It's a buzz that's generated by the excitement of being around other people who are doing the same thing you're doing and love the same thing you love--writing. It's quite an experience.

I have two goals for this year's conference. The first is to get through that pitch. The second is to talk to people. Of the two, I think the second is the harder for me. (LOL) Wish me luck!

As far as tips go, about the best thing I can recommend if you're attending a conference is to relax. Most conferences are designed with multiple things going on at the same time. You can't be in more than one place at a time, so it's inevitable that you'll stress over possibly missing something important. It can't be helped. So enjoy each event you choose to attend, and if it's National and you can afford it, buy the recordings to listen to the things you couldn't be at in person. Don't let the schedule get in the way of your having a great time.

My 2008 RWA Nationals Experience

Be prepared to sit back and read a while!

I arrived at San Francisco on Tuesday an hour late due to plane difficulties. After a wild ride in an airport shuttle van, I found myself standing in a 10 x 10 room with a single bed, sink, and closet. My toilet was down the hall in a small (just a little larger than the toilet) room and the shower was down the hall in another little cubby hole. The toilet and shower were shared with three other hotel patrons. My cousin and her daughter from Santa Rosa came and took me out to dinner in Little Italy. As I waited on the sidewalk in front of the hotel, three people tripped over my feet and one lady hit me in the leg with her shopping bag. And the sidewalk at those times was not crowded! I tell you there were more people milling the streets there than I've seen in my life other than when I've been at Disneyland!

Wednesday morning, I placed my freebies in the goodie room and stowed my workshop paraphernalia in the room where I’d be speaking. Then I headed down to the ballroom to help set up for the literacy signing that night. I folded name tags, hauled books around, and met Yvonne, a nice woman from the Sacramento chapter.

An hour before my workshop, I left the set-up to grab a quick snack and something to drink at the Starbucks in the Hotel. There I met Sarah from Iowa. Her mother lives in Bend. Later in the day as we passed in the hall, she introduced her sister who was at the conference with her.

At my workshop, I plied the attendees with chocolate and filled them with info as well as making them participate in the process. Those who came up with a character trait first received a gift. Afterwards several approached me and said they learned a lot and a couple more stopped me later in the conference and said they enjoyed my workshop.

I spent the afternoon helping with more of the literacy set-up, then in the evening, I attended the signing as an author. I was excited to sit next to Samantha James. I know her and she is a lovely person. Unfortunately, she ended up not attending the conference due to health reasons. However, I was only lonely( I was on the end of a table) for brief periods. Chapter mates Barb, Deb, Jen, Eli and Kendra stopped by. Hearts Through History members Kris Kennedy (who won a Golden Heart – way to go Kris!!) Christine Johnson (who was up for several Golden Hearts), Marline Urso, and Denise MacDonald. And a friend I hadn’t seen since a conference in Vancouver British Columbia, Jenny Anderson stopped by, also Regan Taylor, Joan Swan (also up for a Golden Heart- you so should have won!) Leah Vale and Lisa. And I was visited by Rose City members Darla Luckenbaugh, Maggie Lynch, and Lynn Jordan. Plus Wild Rose Press Editor and Kelly, andWRP authors Helen and Viola. I sold eight books and had a great time! I'm not sure what was up, but when I was down to two books, I borrowed two of Samantha's(You know those regencies are thick and sturdy books) to prop up my book and some man took a picture of me using her books. So Samantha, if he tries to use it to blackmail me, I know you are a sweet person and had you been there, you would have loaned me the books. I rounded out the night with a gathering of MWV attendees.

Thursday started bright and early for me with the Hearts Through History breakfast and annual meeting. I was a guest author on their panel. I enjoyed talking about what I write and the house I write for. Afterwards several people told me it was an inspirational talk. I spent the remainder of the day attending the PRO retreat. They had a panel of agents and I was glad I was there. Four of the five agents on the panel are actively looking for westerns. Woo Hoo!

Friday morning started with an agent appointment and finding out my editor appointment had been canceled because the editor couldn’t attend the conference, BUT those who were scheduled to meet with her will be given directions on how to get a full to her. Anyway, my agent appointment went well. She was nice, easy to talk to and loves horses! We had a bond immediately! I told her about my publishing history and briefly the two genres I’m working on. She told me to tell her about the project I was the most passionate about and I, of course, launched into the historical western series. She exclaimed, “I love mysteries!” So… I tweaked the pitch to sound more mystery, which it is as the heroine is looking for someone and she requested a submission. I slid her an Outlaw candy bar which she thought was quite clever and her parting shot. “Now I miss my pony from when I was a girl.” Because my editor apt. didn’t pan out they let me select another open appointment. I selected an agent from someone’s proclamation she likes historical and you’ll find out how the Saturday appointment went after Friday is over. The only entertaining or interesting workshop I attended on Friday was the Dorchester Spotlight. Leah Hultenschmidt and Chris Keesler, editors at Dorchester, are a crack up and thoroughly amusing! That evening a group of Wild Rose Press editors and authors met, visited and some even hung out long enough to have dinner together. It was enjoyable. And after a glass of wine was the first night I slept half way decent.

Saturday, I attended some valuable workshops- Save The Cat! A workshop by Blake Snyder, screenwriter, about writing for screen plays and how the structure fits writing a novel and one on “Theft of Creative Property with Nora Roberts, an attorney, Jane Litte, and Dr. John Barrie who has built a computer program that scans university papers and finds plagiarism. It was a interesting topic and should have had a lot more people in there.

My agent appointment this day didn’t go so well. Yes, the agent does represent historical, but not westerns. She doesn’t even like them. But we had nine minutes to chat about other things and I gave her a candy bar at the end and she thanked me profusely, saying she could use the energy. I went to the nearest mall and had lunch at the food court and who should stand next to me waiting for her food, but the agent I pitched to the day before. I made a comment about them letting her out and she pointed at me and said, “I visited with you yesterday and you made me lonely for my pony.” Then we talked about other things, her food arrived, and she left. But I scored one more time to make an impression. After she left, Linda Needham showed up and we sat and chatted while I finished and she ate her lunch. Then we walked back to the hotel together and had a lovely chat.

That afternoon I ditched workshops and bought Ghirardelli chocolate for the dh and my friend Karen, sour dough bread for another friend, and a couple shirts at Old Navy. I walked into the Fourth Street Deli and Bar for dinner and Patrice, Vicki Lyle’s daughter, and her friend, Viola, were sitting at a table and invited me to join them. We had a great time visiting. Then we realized the time and hustled to our rooms to get beautiful for the awards ceremony. I met Deb and we stood in front of the doors waiting when Kendra and friends arrived. Kendra’s friends disappeared and Eli showed up saying she’d save seats for us since she was sitting with the Golden Heart finalist, Joan Swan. We found the reserved seats and had a wonderful time watching the recipients and the funny Powerpoint presentations between groupings. There were only two finalist that were westerns. I told Deb- I think it’s about time a western won a RITA- so you know what my next goal is! As soon as the ceremony was over, I hightailed it to my motel as I had a 4 am wake up call to get to the airport for my 7am flight. But of course, I didn’t sleep well and ended up with three hours of sleep, getting up at 3 am and writing this blog in long hand on a pad because I didn’t want to use the energy to open up the computer!

But that my friends is my conference experience in a nut shell- and I am proud to say, I talked to more people than I usually do and felt I put myself out there more. Which was my goal. If you went to Nationals how was it for you? If you didn't go what would be your goal when you do?

Oh, and I schmoozed with Pat Pritchard/Alexis Morgan. She likes road trips and is open to speaking to our group at a meeting. So when Lisa gets back, remind me to tell her!