Do you know what I did today? I spent the afternoon thinking about the 2008 Romance Writers of America National conference in San Francisco.
Yes, you heard that right. I spent today preparing for a conference that won’t happen for another 9 months yet. Why? Because deadlines for RWA workshop proposals are due on Nov. 1, 2007.
I have to admit that I let out a huge groan because didn’t we just finish with RWA 2007?
But I have to say that RWA puts on one heck of a conference and part of the value is the excellent panels, workshops, and seminars that are presented. This means that possible presentations need to be evaluated for inclusion right now.
Since I had pretty much forgotten about the deadline until this moment, I was lucky to have my assistant Sara put together the application for workshop we did together last year and think would still be of value for this coming year (which is how to create the perfect pitch paragraph for your eQuery).
Phew. One down—a couple more to go. A client had asked me earlier this year to do a workshop with her, which I was of course game to do. So today when we discussed it, she asked me what I thought about a workshop on creating emotionally scorching love scenes.
Uh… you remember I’m an agent, right? There’s a reason why I do the business side. I haven’t a clue as to how to teach a good workshop on writing craft! Luckily we were able to generate a new topic that played to both our strengths…
So why do I highlight this? Because you too might have forgotten about this fast approaching deadline and yet you might have a really wonderful and unique workshop or seminar that’s worth sharing with your fellow romance writers.
If that is so, now is the time to be preparing and submitting. And new to this year, you can do it online right here.
So get to it.
No related posts.
Oh, great timing… I was thinking about RWA vs The Romantic Times Conference.
If you were a (about to be) published author, not looking for an agent or publisher, which would be the “bigger bang for the buck?”
Or is there another conference that I should consider attending?
Yeah, newbie question but hey, that’s what I am.
RWA vs RT is sort of apples and oranges. When you say “biggest bang for the buck” you need to really consider what you want the “bang” to be.
RWA is an industry conference for networking. This is the place to go if you want to connect with other authors, attend the PAN workshops (which are fantastic), and generally get a better grip on what it means to be a published author. This is where you take the pulse of the biz, and celebrate with your peers.
RT is a convention for readers mainly (and a place for them to meet their favorite authors). This is the one you want to attend if what you want to do is meet readers, but be aware that the RT event seems to be geared (from what I’ve seen) to the rabid fans of really BIG authors and more and more to the ePublishing world of Romantica a la Ellora’s Cave. So depending on what you write, RT may not be for you. My friends who write for EC (and to a lesser extent other ePubs) love it.
Personally, I consider the RWA conference a must. I’d have to be hospital bound to miss it.
Submit one’s MSs online? Cool!
Thanks Kalen.
LOL I do want to meet up with you (and a bunch of my other online buddies) at RWA.
And I know its apples and oranges but I only have so much time to allocate to conventions next year (being part of the blog, business, investing, and writing communities, I could go to a conference every week). Maybe RWA in 2008 and RT’s after?
Wondering what choices other new authors made?
Oh, just checking and RT is in April.
My book launches in May
so decision made.
Why was I thinking it was in the fall?
The only writers I personally know who go to RT are erotic romance writers and/or paranormal romance writers (and most of them are EC authors or Aphrodesia authors). What with the “fairy ball” and the “vampire ball” and all the stuff sponsored by EC, this makes sense (at least to me). None of my friends who’ve been newly published in the past 3-5 years have ever gone (and we’ve discussed it extensively, we just haven’t been able to come up with enough pros to make the cost worth it).
I think if it was within driving distance, I might be tempted . . . I don’t know.
Great to know Kalen.
Not a paranormal or erotic romance writer here so I’m not in those preferred groups.
And you’re absolutely right.
I was asking around.
Seems most romance writers go to the RWA conference
but RT is viewed as optional.
In 2009, RWA is in Washington (I believe)
so that is a for certain for me
(drivable).
San Fran, I’ll have to fly to.
Maybe I can tie it in with some business meetings.