RWA Nationals by LeAnne Bristow

Can you feel it? The excitement in the air? The chatter on social media? It's the most wonderful time of year for romance writers. The national conference for the Romance Writers of America is next week in Denver, Colorado.



I started a diet six weeks ago that promised to have me looking fabulous in time for the conference. Less than a week away and I still can't fit into my dress.  I've downloaded the RWA app, added events to the electronic schedule and glanced at the workshops. And today, I even went shopping for some new clothes. They weren't the size I wanted to be, but oh, well.

The first conference I attended, I was a new writer and my goal was to pitch a story to Heartwarming and learn as much about Harlequin as I could. I was so nervous I prepared for weeks for what I wanted to say. I didn't know very many people and I often felt like a fish out of water. This year's conference for me will be about networking, reconnecting with writing friends and taking a few workshops to help me refocus, but I haven't forgotten the thrill of that first conference or how nervous I was. Last week I met a friend for lunch who is in that boat. She's participating in a speed pitch event and wanted to practice. After we ate, she pulled out a large binder. It made my  scatter-brain explode. It was beautiful and so well organized. She had sections for events, publishers & agents (complete with what was on their wish list), workshops, speakers...oh my. It was amazing. I wish....how I wish....I could have been that organized at my first conference.

How about you? Are you one who schedules every detail or are you more of a fly by the seat of your pants person? Or are you like me, a little combination of both: Schedule important things, but leave yourself time to enjoy it.


Writing conferences offer authors a chance to re-energize themselves and refocus on their writing, to learn new things or find new opportunities. But mostly, it gives us a chance to get together with our peeps. Because really, no one else really understands us. You can speculate the best way to cover up a murder over cocktails and no one even bats an eye. During dinner, we gleefully devise ways to destroy a character's perfect world.

Unfortunately, I don't get to attend the national conference every year even though I would love to. I am a kindergarten teacher at a year round school district. Most of the time, RWA schedules the conference the same week I start school. As it is, this year, I will arrive home on Sunday and report to school Monday morning. It doesn't leave me a lot of time to reflect on all the things I learn during the conference, but at least I get to attend. Unless the schedules change, I won't be able to attend another conference until 2021. So I plan to make the most out of my time in Denver this year.

Conferences offer something for everyone. You can pitch to editors and agents during scheduled pitch events or the industry open house. You can attend open houses by publishers and learn more about their company and what they are looking for. Workshops are geared for many different levels of writers and many different interests. While I look forward to learning new stuff, the thing I'm looking forward to most is getting together with writing friends who I rarely get to see.






So what about you? Do you attend work related conferences? What is your favorite thing about them?

Comments

  1. Like you, LeAnne, I remember my first RWA conference so well and how in awe I was of the quality of the workshops and the friendliness of the attendees, not to mention the fun! It was a long time ago and those conferences offered me as well, many travel opportunities. I’ve met some Harlequin authors who are now mainstream - Iris Johansen, Tess Gerritsen, Debbie Macomber and more - and they were all so welcoming to me, the newbie in the crowd. Have fun, be inspired!

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    1. Hi Janice! RWA is the best excuse for travel, isn't it? My first conference was in NYC. I had never been there, but I had so much fun and everyone was so nice. Are you going this year?

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    2. Sadly no, LeAnne, but hopefully next year!

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  2. Heading to Denver as a conference virgin next week, but looking forward to meeting everyone! (Not literally everyone, of course, since I don't have superpowers.)

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    1. Oh Kim! You'll have so much fun! Can't wait to see you there!

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  3. I haven't been to a National conference in 20 years. Even when I plan to go, life gets in the way. I'd love to be there JUST to meet the HW sisterhood face-to-face. (And glass-to-glass.) I hope you all have a great time.

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    1. Hi Liz, I'm sorry that you won't be there. My long time critique partners are all members of the ACFW and get together every year at the national conference. Because of the timing (school) I can never go to that one. I admit, I'm a little jealous when I see pictures of them all together. I want to go, not for the conference, but just for the company.

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  4. Can't wait to see all of you there! I love the RWA conference. Going to be so much fun this year, my first as a Heartwarming author (but I've been in the Harlequin family for 14 years). LeAnne, you'll look beautiful, I'm sure :)

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    1. Thanks Cathy! I'm just so tickled to have you with us! And now that I'm out of time, my scale has finally started to move. :( Too bad I'm dealing the diet to suck it while I'm in Denver and will gain what little I've lost right back.

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  5. I can't even remember back to my first conference. Sad to say many of the writers I met there are no longer writing, but some are. I was in Debbie Macomber's chapter and she was one of my early mentors. I was so lucky back then to have met and known many of the Seattle writers. I still enjoy the energy and get back to as many National conferences as I can. It will be a treat to see first-time writers from Heartwarming there.

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    1. Roz, I love getting together with you and hearing some of your memories! My favorite part of the San Diego conference (besides getting to meet the Heartwarming group for the first time) was when you and Laura came to our room and chatted. It was so much fun!

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  6. Have a wonderful time in Denver--I so wish I could be there to meet you in person. I know you'll have a great time. My first conference was in Denver many years ago, and I have great memories still. My best to all of you attending this year. Hope to see you in NY next year. (And, yes, I'm sure you'll look wonderful no matter what you wear!)

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  7. Wish I could go. It usually doesn't fit with my other job. Hope everyone has a safe and productive trip!

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  8. I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming! As a newbie but not with a binder--one sheet madly scrawled on. I went shopping yesterday too, Leanne, and found the best HQ party dress with the right price tag. I'm soooo looking forward to meeting you all!!

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  9. This is my first! I can't wait to meet you in person! I've been looking at the schedule and marking the workshops I want to attend, and I keep marking three that happen at the same time. I'll decide on the day which one to choose I guess. I may start packing today.

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  10. Yeah! I'll be there:) Rooming with Heartwarming author Cathy McDavid. I can hardly wait.
    Leann, you are beautiful as you are. I too promised to diet. Epic fail.

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