6 Things We Learned at RWA

By Cari Lynn Webb and Beth Carpenter

We’ve been blogging together for over a year now, but the two of us met in person for the first time this past week in Denver at the Romance Writers of America conference. Of course, we learned all sorts of interesting and writerly things in the workshops and sessions, but we thought we’d share a few nuggets we picked up outside the classes.


Beth

#1 Roommates are an excellent support system. This was my very first conference, and I learned that whether it’s camp, college, or conventions, it helps to have a familiar roommate to help navigate. Kim Findlay and I have corresponded online for a while and it was her first, too, so we decided to room together. Yes, she’s just as delightful in person.


#2 Romance writers are overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. Finding the various venues in the sprawling hotel was somewhat akin to cave exploration, but everyone pitched in to help, and every elevator ride involved a friendly conversation.

#3 Heartwarming authors can dance. Well, not all of us. A few, like me, are kinetically challenged but most of the Heartwarmers were tearing up the dance floor at the Harlequin party on Friday night. Writers just wanna have fun. 






Cari

#1. Early morning workouts are best accomplished with your friends. Thanks to my buddies, Melinda Curtis and Amy Vastine, I managed to wake up at an unusually early hour each morning to hit the gym. I should mention that I’m not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. But the team effort made working out more fun.

#2. Dining with the Heartwarming crew is always a pleasure and sometimes an adventure. Thanks to Amy Vastine, we ate at a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dive restaurant – the food was fantastic and the company even better. Roz Denny Fox and I were entertained during breakfast by the sidewalk peddling of what is now a legal drug in Colorado. There wasn’t a meal I didn’t share with my Heartwarming sisters that wasn’t full of laughter and great stories.



#3. There’s nothing better than spending several days immersed in the writing world with fellow authors. I look forward every year to conference. I love to reconnect with long-time friends and make new ones. And it’s always wonderful to put faces to names that I’ve only seen on on-line. I’m already looking forward to next year In New York.





Whether you were at the conference or not, you learn something new every day. What's one thing you learned last week?

Comments

  1. I learned that when people see your first timer label and tell you it'll be overwhelming, they're telling the truth. And that it does help to have a good roommate! (waves at Beth)

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  2. It was so great to meet you guys and others who came for the first time.

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  3. Sounds like so much fun! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Good on you, Cari, for making it to the gym! I thought about it. I learned that there was no way I could do everything, so I aimed to do something meaningful at all times. Which sometimes was sitting on my bed and talking deep with my room mate!

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  5. Cari--I missed being your signing buddy. Next year! I'll bring the popcorn cart!

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    1. Jeannie, I was looking for you. I especially wanted to see "the dress" but I couldn't find you at the party. Next time.

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  6. Looks like everyone had a great time!! Loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing. I wish I could have been there to meet all of you.

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  7. I think I have the video working now, BTW.

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  8. Sounds like so much fun! I just love National, so I'm light green with envy. Oh, well, next year in New York! Funny how every account of National I've ever read mentions "the dress" or new fun clothes and how to stuff it all into a suitcase bigger than we'd ever take anywhere else for what is essentially an extended weekend! Thanks for the post!

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    1. You're so right, Virginia. I can usually pack for two weeks in a carry-on, but with all the shoes and stuff, I had a big suitcase completely stuffed, and wished I'd brought a second empty one to take everything home.

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  9. Huh, I posted a reply earlier and now it's disappeared. I'll try again. Ladies, meeting my fellow Heartwarming sisters was such a joy. I'm honored to be part of this amazing group. The Heartwarming get together on Wednesday was one of the highlights of the conference for me!

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    1. It was great meeting you, too, Cathy, and I'm glad you posted again when your first one disappeared. The internet is a mysterious place.

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