Workshops

Why I like workshops.

I don't like all the workshops I attend, and have been known to walk out of them. It doesn't mean the speakers didn't go a good job on their topic, it just means that either I A) had to choose between two (or more) workshops and want to catch the end of another or B) thought it might help in my writing and then realized the speaker and I were coming from two different starting points.

But overall, I respect the people who get in front of others and talk about anything!

The best thing I ever learned in my writing was in a workshop: Every scene must count toward the overall plot. You'd think that, sure, but honestly at the time of hearing that I was still a fan of writing scenes I wanted to write. No longer! I was going to write to the plot, to the end, to the Happily Ever After!

Seriously, it was a revelation.

So even if I only go to a handful or workshops, they all have what I want. To learn more to further my writing. It's an evolving experience!

Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge on sale now at your favorite bookstore. And don't forget my free Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure!

Why I do RWA

There are reasons for and against it, but I'm being positive so will list the reasons why I am doing RWA this year. (In no particular order)

• Meet online friends!
• Have a drink with these online friends that you now know what they look like.
• Meet other writers in various stages of their career and get to know how they're doing, what they're doing, and what their career plans/goals are.
• 
  
• Pitch to an editor or agent! You never know who's going to like your book, it only takes one.

• Workshops-these are the best reason. Other conferences have them, too, so if RWA is too expensive or too far for you, try to go to any writing conferences and workshops. They're worth it.

More on workshops tomorrow as I travel to Orlando.

Today the blog tour is taking me to D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters! Want to read Chapter One of Sex & Subterfuge? Stop on by!

Getting ready for RWA

I leave in a day and am I packed? Nope. I'll get there, it's only a carry on and a few days, and the suitcase is right...there...mocking me with its open emptiness.

RWA: I'm really looking forward to going there, it's been a couple years and there are several workshops I'm looking forward to attending. Plus, it's a great chance to meet up with virtual friends!

Today I'm over at Simply Sexy Stories for Day 12 of Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge virtual blog tour!

What an experience

RWA National was exhausting, exhilarating, and entertaining. I learned a bunch of stuff but the workshops also reiterated 2 things for me:

1. Listen to your gut. If you don't like the way something's going, stop. Take a look at it. Step back if you have to. And rewrite it the way you want it to read.

2. No one knows what they want until they read it. Good writing, a strong, solid plot, and real characters make the book. Don't jump on the bandwagon. Do you know how many vampire books are out there? And I like vampires (it was a Buffy thing...)

I'm currently looking through Birthrite and my Djinn story to cut them down and rework them with what I learned during the workshops.

I'm back!

Had a wonderful time, met loads and loads of great people, most of whom I remember their names. Some of whom I actually got their cards and shall now buy their books. Man some of these authors are persuasive!

Exhausted, plane delay, driving, sleep deprived, starving, but am home and most importantly CLEAN!

After I settle myself, I'll write more about my trip, but it was great.

2 days and counting

I have a thousand things to do between now and my flight Wednesday morning (why is it that EVERYTHING crops up right before a vacation and HAS to be done immediately?), but I'm eagerly anticipating San Fran. Got the guide book, the walking tour plan, the meet up with friends plan, and most importantly the pitch plan. I'm so ready!

Among my sightseeing tours, I plan on visiting the Ten Ren Tea Co., Ltd. and The Great China Herb Co.

And in between walking, talking, and hobnobbing, I'll be practicing my pitch. Wish me luck!

RWA National

I'm really excited about going to a National Conference. It'll be my first one - national that is, I've been to 2 (or 3 maybe?) NJRW conferences. I really like them, smaller scale, closer trip. But National is National. I have an appointment with Lori Perkins and plan to loiter around the editor tables in the hopes someone cancels and I can get a Tor appointment - those filled up faster than I could blink.

In addition to that, I've printed out (new thing this year to save them money but at least I used the 2nd side of some old paper, so I recycled!) a bunch of handouts for the workshops, and am looking forward to going to them. I'm also looking forward to meeting people I've only known online and seeing people I usually see only once a year.

Plus, it's in San Fran! So Chinatown here I come for some nice herbs and hopefully a meeting with a Chinese doctor about headaches and allergies. And I've got friends there I'm hoping to meet up with Thursday night (if I haven't completely crashed) for dinner. And, to top it off, if I have time, am not beat, can see straight, Mamma Mia! here I come, I really want to see the movie. Love the music, even if I haven't seen the play, so hopefully I can fit that in with some friends in addition to everything else.

I'll keep you posted on what's happening there.

Diligence

It's hard to write when so much else sucks up your time. I use this excuse a lot. It's not really an excuse when you fall into bed exhausted every night, but it's still an excuse when I don't write a damn thing any day of the week.

Embarrassing but true.

I'm heading to RWA National next week in San Fran, so I KNOW I won't have any time to write, but maybe I'll have a chance to doddle in the plot department for an eventuality of writing. That'd be something at least.

New week

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I know I did, very relaxing and yet also productive. Just one of those weekends. :)

This week I'm again super busy and don't know when I'll get to any writing but I have a couple books for research to read, and am currently listening to Life of Pi for a book club. Or, I'm about to start it. Any day now. Really.

I also plan on getting ready for RWA National in San Francisco the end of the month, so lots of workshop planning for that and one day of sightseeing.