Why Go to RT? by Leia Shaw

As a follow up to last week’s post about the fun of RT, I’m going to talk a little about the business side of it. Many romance authors wonder, is it worth it to go? It’s expensive. And unless it’s close to home, paying for airfare, hotel, and the admission adds up to a small fortune.

I’ve been two years in a row now and what I’ve found is there’s no burst in direct sales from having been at RT. If you buy your ticket because you’re expecting to sell a ton of books, meet people who are going to immediately buy your books, and jump up the bestseller lists all in one week, you’ll be very disappointed.

But if you’re going to meet some fans, hang out with other authors, schmooze a little, make connections, pitch to agents then you’re on the right track.

RT isn’t about selling books, it’s about selling yourself. And while a lot of it is parties, there’s also important people there. Bloggers who you want to review your books, authors you want to trade favors with, street team members who’ve been dying to meet you. Professional connections. These are the things we often underestimate, but everywhere I’ve gotten in my career has been through connections.

So while you party, sample the local flavors, and drink your weight in alcohol, you’re also doing work. No, that’s not just a line I feed my husband. It’s true. If you’re looking to go places, expand your career, and stick around long-term, then yes, I do recommend going to RT. If you want to earn back there what you spend on your ticket, well, good luck with that.

Filed under: romance