Laura Trentham
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RWA14 from a First-timer's Perspective

7/30/2014

10 Comments

 
 I’m home and a flipping loser, at that. (Don’t worry, I’m not sore, this was a joke between my husband and meJ)  The lovely Lenora Bell won the historical GH category, and as she and I have been critique reading each other’s manuscripts, I couldn’t be happier for her. That girl is going places, and I plan to hang onto the hem of her cute little dresses to the top *wink*.

What I loved

While I wouldn’t call myself wildly extroverted, neither do I cower at the thought of talking to strangers, so I thoroughly enjoyed all the social time. For me, the best part was mingling with a slew of published authors, hanging out with my Golden Heart® Dreamweavers, and meeting two other Badgirlz for the first time.

Another highlight was spending one on one time with my agent, Kevan Lyon. She gave me a to-do-list a mile long, words of encouragement, and generally got me pumped up about my burgeoning career. Hey, if she has faith in me and my writing, I should have the same.

The Rita/GH award ceremony was funny and touching and inspiring. Even my husband drank the Kool-aid! He left totally pumped about romance writing. It was extremely well done, and I would encourage any conference goers to hang out that extra night and attend. It didn’t hurt that I was at a VIP table next to Eloisa James, Sarah MacLean, and Kristin Higgins.

What I didn’t love quite so much

I’ll not sugar coat it—I was very disappointed in the workshops. As someone who thrived in academics, I looked forward to learning new things I could apply to my writing and focused on the Craft and Marketing tracks. Most of the information was geared toward beginning writers or was just plain logical. Maybe I picked poorly.

The novella workshop was motivating, but it wasn’t anything I didn’t already know. “A novella should be the most intense slice of your characters’ lives.” That was my takeaway. Oh, and somehow worm your way into an anthology with a NY Times bestseller if you want to kick your career up a gearJ. Simple, right?

Jayne Ann Krentz and Susan Elizabeth Phillips had a very entertaining chat. The takeaway that stuck—“Your writing voice is like your accent. You can’t hear it, but everyone else can.” Also, I was encouraged by the fact neither one of those women plot their books! Both are panster-extraordinaires.

I learned the most from Laura Kaye’s marketing workshop. Funnily enough, she brought 30 copies of her material thinking no one would come (she was up against Nora). The room was jam-packed. The main takeaway was to use your Twitter and Facebook. And, she covered Tribrr, which I’d never heard of but will be investigating.

My Overall Impression

Because I was a Golden Heart finalist, my convention was probably different from a typical first-timer. I had a ready-made tribe of GH finalists who had already become friends over a Yahoo loop since the announcements in March. I also attended some pretty special functions (Caroline Linden’s cupcake party, I’m looking at you!).

Will I go again? Most assuredly. Will I go every year? Most assuredly not (unless I hit the NYTimes Bestseller ListJ). It’s expensive, people! And, it’s exhausting. I have young kids and working out babysitting is a hardship. (Thanks Mom!) My plan will be to alternate years at the most, and on my “off” years attend the GRW’s Moonlight and Magnolias mini-conference. I’m sure most of you have mini-conferences that are within driving distance.

Side-note

Not being much of a clothes hound, I didn’t really notice much of what people were wearing. Except for the ripped denim shirts of the mingling prepubescent “Cowboys” at the Amazon party. Seriously, did anyone else feel like perv? Anyway, I digress…I do have to give a shout-out to my fellow Badgirl Elizabeth Michels (Sourcebooks author of The Regency series Tricks of the Ton). After a very late night together in the hotel bar, I ran into her smiling self around 11AM the next day dressed in a sparkly sundress and 3-in+ high wedge sandals while I was stumbling around nursing sore feet and a headache. It was impressive.

Any other first-timers out there? What did you think of the conference?

10 Comments
Sheri Humphreys link
7/30/2014 03:09:44 am

Hi, Laura. (waving)
I'm right with you. This was my fifth conference, but I generally had the same impressions as you. It's exhausting, it's fun and exciting. I had better luck with the workshops I attended, but I hit some that were mostly Logic 101, too.

What I'm really yearning for are STATISTICS proving Facebook, Tweeting and Blogs make a statistical difference in sales.

Overall, I love the conferences, but I don't attend every year. I can certainly understand how it opened your hubby's eyes regarding romance writing. It did the same for me, the first conference I attended.

Reply
LauraTrentham link
7/30/2014 04:08:33 am

Hey Sheri!
Were you at the TGN mini-retreat? I sat at Valerie Bowman's marketing chat table, and she's stopped doing huge blog tours for her releases because she thinks it doesn't help with sales.

I agree. I would love statistics, but I think part of the problem is that as authors we market like buckshot. We shoot everything hoping something hits the bullseye. There are too many variables in play to pinpoint what any one thing that might be working. Its frustrating for sure.

Reply
Jillian Lark link
7/30/2014 03:33:04 am

Hi, Laura! I'm thrilled for the adorable Lenora Bell's GH historical win, too. Since you and I are RWA conference / 2014 Golden Heart finalist first-timers, some of our viewpoints were similar.

I was only nervous once, but it had more to do with a possible wardrobe malfunction than with meeting authors, agents, editors, or online friends in person. I wanted more flexibility in my schedule, so I only attended two historical and one agent / author relationship workshops. Tried to get into Sarah MacLean's workshop, but it was full. My Austin RWA chapter purchased the RWA#14 flash drive, so I wasn't worried about missing information.

Most of the time I went to publishers' spotlights, meet and greets, and book signings. I made 1:1 personal connections with most of the authors and other industry professionals on my targeted list. I also loved the unexpected encounters with authors, agents, and editors. I kept running into the same agent and author throughout the conference. Eloisa James and I had several conversations in hotel hallways and while waiting for the awards ceremony to begin. So gracious of her to pose for a photo with you and me!

As for special, non-GH related events, I had the same impression of the Amazon / Kindle cowboys. Wish more of my fellow GH finalists could have attended my AustinRWA chapter party. Free margaritas, some agents, and great conversations! Loved catching up with my chapter mates, seeing agent Emily Sylvie Kim (and sleeping baby Phoebe) again, and meeting agent Jessica Faust. Jessica and I had fun sharing our conference misadventures.

My flexible plan for RWA#14 was enjoyable and productive. I have lots of new friends in my network and submission packages to prepare and send. Not sure I'll make it to New York next year, but I hope I can afford to go. Loved meeting everyone, especially you and most of our 2014 Golden Heart / Dreamweavers sisters. Miss you already. Hugs! ~Jillian










Reply
LauraTrentham link
7/30/2014 04:12:23 am

Hey Jillian!
I think you were smarter than I was! I wish I had attended more publisher spotlights and signings. But, I kept my focus on the actual workshops. I'll know for next time.

As someone who is chapterless, I was happy I knew all the GH's. That really helped me. Your Austin chapter sounds awesome!! I wish I could have gone, but I had another meet/greet.

Reply
Piper Huguley link
7/30/2014 03:39:36 am

Yes, that's just about what it was for me last year when I first attended in Atlanta. I had a more realistic view of things this year, I think. I hope that you go to M&M though, Laura! I would love to see you there!

Reply
LauraTrentham link
7/30/2014 04:16:49 am

Hey Piper!
It's not in the cards for me this year, unfortunately. Besides the money, my husband pointed out to me that's our anniversary weekend (whoopsie:) and my son has a soccer tournament in NC that weekend. But, I will be there hell or highwater in 2015. I've heard raves about M&M, not the least of which are that the workshops are better and that its easier to get to know everyone on a deeper level since its smaller. I won't go to NYC, even though I heard that's a great place for conference.

I am going to try to get my Greenville girls to make another roadtrip to GRW for a regular meeting. We came to the January meeting this year, but its an all day roundtrip for us. So, hopefully, I'll see you again sooner rather than later!

Reply
Carrie Padgett
7/30/2014 09:11:36 am

As a first-timer, my impressions are very similar, Laura. I didn't get much out of the workshops I was able to find a seat in, but I did enjoy the chats with Nora and Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jayne Ann Krentz. I think next time I'll focus on the publisher spotlights as well.

It was great to meet you in person and I'm looking forward to your upcoming releases!

Reply
Suzanne Kalb link
7/30/2014 11:38:26 am

Hi Laura, it was great to meet you in person! I've only been to 2 conferences, and I find the value is in making connections more than anything else. You can always get a gem or two out of the workshops, but it's really about the relationships you form--and that goes for friendships, critique partners, marketing, etc.

Reply
Marnee Bailey link
7/31/2014 12:38:21 am

Hi Laura! *waves*

It was really awesome meeting you!! And it was great that our hubbies had company post awards ceremony. :)

I agree with you about the workshops. I ended up skating out of a few of them. Especially Q&A sessions. I wanted more craft and more grow your career advice. I thought there were a LOT of workshops geared toward self-publishing and, while I find the topic interesting, I'm not interested... at least not right now. I would have liked more geared toward the burgeoning career, not newbie or self-pub.

Besides that, I agree about the ceremony and the quality time with people. I really feel like I networked my tail off and I got a lot out of it. It was awesome to put faces to some people I only knew online. (And to reacquaint with people I haven't seen in a long time.)

Marnee

Reply
Lenora Bell link
8/1/2014 02:37:34 pm

Hi Laura! Seriously, my money was 100% on you :-) You are AMAZING and talented and I am so honored to be CPs with you. I loved your summary of the conference. I'm so glad you were there! I actually liked the workshops I went to, there were a ton to choose from and I think it was mostly the luck of the draw.

Hilarious about your husband. Maybe if my hubbie had shown up, they could have bonded. Another time!

Big hugs!
Lenora

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    Laura Trentham

    Author of Historical and Contemporary Romance


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