In Praise of RWA Nationals, Pitch Wars, and Immersing Yourself in the Writing Community
Ah, RWA Nationals, how do I love thee? This will be my fourth consecutive RWA. My writing career, she has evolved in leaps and bounds over those four years, and I'm compelled to stroll down memory lane. Now, bear in mind that throughout all of this, I've been regularly attending workshops, looking for contests and pitch opportunities, retreats, and regularly exchanging my work with my local critique group (love you, Stoni Alexander, Andy Palmer, and Magda Alexander!). But this is what working a conference, taking advantage of the learning, and leveraging that learning--and the networking lessons--throughout the year looks like. These contacts and social networking opportunities, though? These people become your friends, your cheerleaders, your confidantes--and I couldn't be happier about it.
I'm not sure if this is helpful to anyone else, but I felt compelled to document the progression...
2015: New York. My first conference made me feel like a sophomore-year transfer into a really awesome high school. Meaning, I could tell that I would love these folks, but I needed the opportunity to get to know them (and let them get to know me). An introvert at heart, I pushed myself to chat, and be friendly. I started with some Maryland Romance Writers buddies with who I'd ridden the Bolt bus from Baltimore, and I'm so very glad I did! Toward the end of the conference, I sat in the Marriott Marquis bar area with M.D. Waters and Tracy Dawn, word-sprinting, and finished a manuscript I loved but knew needed some polish. I ended up entering that manuscript, "The Reluctant Princess," in Pitch Wars. It was selected! And the polishing began in earnest, under the guidance of my mentor, now-friend, Lynnette Labelle. I also started to exchange messages with my Pitch Wars 2015 peer group, and we cheered each other on, commiserated with each other, and generally enjoyed each other's company. Too many novels to count have come out of my cohort, and many writers I respect and adore. 2016: San Diego. I had been querying "The Reluctant Princess" since November, 2016 (the Pitch Wars agent round), and had gotten some great bites, but hadn't landed with an agent yet. During RWA week, over email, I started chatting with an agent, Barbara Collins Rosenberg, who struck me as savvy, kind, and good-humored. Still, I pitched to agents and editors to see what might strike a chord, and found that the second novel in my intended Charm City Hearts series struck a chord. I also met a bunch of the Pitch Wars mentors, who were all outrageously smart, witty, and so very generous with what they'd learned about publishing. Again, being in the company of that many like-minded people who were all open to sharing, and learning, and having a good time together was inspiring. Plus! I roomed with my pal Lynnette, who is a master at networking and bringing people together for social occasions. 2017: Orlando. By this time, I'd signed with Barbara Collins Rosenberg, and we'd gone on submission. We hadn't heard back from all the editors yet, and I used this conference as an opportunity to learn a bit more about these particular editors. Chatting with some of the other authors represented by my agent (squee! always such a thrill to say!) was lovely, and assured me I had found the right agency home. I roomed with Lynnette again, and my wonderful friend had been nominated for a Golden Heart in Romantic Suspense for her fabulous manuscript, "The Fire Beckons." We attended the Golden Heart luncheon together, and I got to know some of the other nominees. I also spent several workshops seated next to my local writing date buddy, Christi Barth, who has become a friend. I mean, we watched the Royal Wedding together before 6 a.m.... She's seen my in my PJs, folks (and dispenses invaluable advice). Lastly, I volunteered to help with the Literacy Event and ended up chilling with Kristan Higgins and a load of other lovely authors.2018: Denver. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS CONFERENCE! I am officially a writer with a publishing deal, and Champagne Book Group is publishing my first novel, "The Reluctant Princess," in September of THIS YEAR. While some of my pals can't make it, I have the chance to meet some of my Pitch Wars 2015 pals! (Shout-out to Suzanne Baltsar, Laura Elizabeth, and Lissa Linden!). There are lots of other events and social soirees I'm planning to attend, but there's also So. Much. Learning. to be done.So, I'll let you know how it goes, but if history is any guide, I'm marching forward in this career o'mine, and RWA 2018 in Denver will open up new doors.
I'm not sure if this is helpful to anyone else, but I felt compelled to document the progression...
2015: New York. My first conference made me feel like a sophomore-year transfer into a really awesome high school. Meaning, I could tell that I would love these folks, but I needed the opportunity to get to know them (and let them get to know me). An introvert at heart, I pushed myself to chat, and be friendly. I started with some Maryland Romance Writers buddies with who I'd ridden the Bolt bus from Baltimore, and I'm so very glad I did! Toward the end of the conference, I sat in the Marriott Marquis bar area with M.D. Waters and Tracy Dawn, word-sprinting, and finished a manuscript I loved but knew needed some polish. I ended up entering that manuscript, "The Reluctant Princess," in Pitch Wars. It was selected! And the polishing began in earnest, under the guidance of my mentor, now-friend, Lynnette Labelle. I also started to exchange messages with my Pitch Wars 2015 peer group, and we cheered each other on, commiserated with each other, and generally enjoyed each other's company. Too many novels to count have come out of my cohort, and many writers I respect and adore. 2016: San Diego. I had been querying "The Reluctant Princess" since November, 2016 (the Pitch Wars agent round), and had gotten some great bites, but hadn't landed with an agent yet. During RWA week, over email, I started chatting with an agent, Barbara Collins Rosenberg, who struck me as savvy, kind, and good-humored. Still, I pitched to agents and editors to see what might strike a chord, and found that the second novel in my intended Charm City Hearts series struck a chord. I also met a bunch of the Pitch Wars mentors, who were all outrageously smart, witty, and so very generous with what they'd learned about publishing. Again, being in the company of that many like-minded people who were all open to sharing, and learning, and having a good time together was inspiring. Plus! I roomed with my pal Lynnette, who is a master at networking and bringing people together for social occasions. 2017: Orlando. By this time, I'd signed with Barbara Collins Rosenberg, and we'd gone on submission. We hadn't heard back from all the editors yet, and I used this conference as an opportunity to learn a bit more about these particular editors. Chatting with some of the other authors represented by my agent (squee! always such a thrill to say!) was lovely, and assured me I had found the right agency home. I roomed with Lynnette again, and my wonderful friend had been nominated for a Golden Heart in Romantic Suspense for her fabulous manuscript, "The Fire Beckons." We attended the Golden Heart luncheon together, and I got to know some of the other nominees. I also spent several workshops seated next to my local writing date buddy, Christi Barth, who has become a friend. I mean, we watched the Royal Wedding together before 6 a.m.... She's seen my in my PJs, folks (and dispenses invaluable advice). Lastly, I volunteered to help with the Literacy Event and ended up chilling with Kristan Higgins and a load of other lovely authors.2018: Denver. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS CONFERENCE! I am officially a writer with a publishing deal, and Champagne Book Group is publishing my first novel, "The Reluctant Princess," in September of THIS YEAR. While some of my pals can't make it, I have the chance to meet some of my Pitch Wars 2015 pals! (Shout-out to Suzanne Baltsar, Laura Elizabeth, and Lissa Linden!). There are lots of other events and social soirees I'm planning to attend, but there's also So. Much. Learning. to be done.So, I'll let you know how it goes, but if history is any guide, I'm marching forward in this career o'mine, and RWA 2018 in Denver will open up new doors.
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