Top Ten Things I Learned at this Year’s RWA Conference by Jennifer Spiller
(That’s Romance Writers of America for you non-romance folks)!
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Romance writers across the country are in detox from our yearly insanity of a conference. Many are madly writing after being fired up by workshops and networking. Others are curled up in a corner in the introvert fetal position. And I’m feeling reflective. So, without further ado, here are the top then things I learned at this year’s conference.
- For people like me, who can get lost in a circular driveway, arriving with no time to acclimate to the hotel results in spending five days saying, “Huh. Where am I going?”
- It is impossible to tell from a description in a program which workshop will be a dud and which will blow me away. Try stuff.
- Never be afraid to offer heartfelt compliments or thanks. I’m continuously shocked by how many seemingly confident, accomplished people feel anxious about their performance in either a book or a workshop. I've had people tear up over a compliment.
- The spotlight sessions on various publishers all feel very different, but when a group of editors are genuinely excited about their jobs and love books, and make me feel it, I walk out really, really, wanting to work with those people.
- A combination of scheduled time and time to allow for serendipity works best for me. Too much of one or the other is stressful.
- There’s very little that feels more empowering to me as a woman than sitting in a room with a couple of thousand other women, and hearing them cheer for one another. I get chills.
- It is possible for a hotel to run out of champagne. Who knew?
- The Spanx that only come to your waist are useless. They roll down and create a muffin top. Yes, I’m talking about women’s shape-wear. (What, you didn’t think there could be a blog post about romance writers that didn’t involve clothing, did you)?
- Not only are agents people, too, but they can dread pitch sessions. They don’t want you to cry. Seriously.
- You never know where you’re going to meet somebody. Just because the conference is over doesn’t mean it’s over. It’s still possible to bond with someone awesome in the shuttle to the airport and end up having breakfast with them!
So, if you went to RWA nationals, or another conference recently, what did YOU learn?
