RWA Nationals to Moonlight & MagnoliasAll Conferences Big and Small: How to Navigate the Romance Writers of America’s National Conference, Georgia Romance Writers’ Moonlight & Magnolias, and other One-Day Writing Conferences.Nicki Salcedo is a graduate of Stanford University where she majored in English and Creative Writing. She has served on the Executive Board of Georgia Romance Writers as Recording Secretary, Vice President – Conference, Vice President – Programs. She has been the Moonlight & Magnolias Book Fair Coordinator, Maggie Award for Excellence Historical Category Coordinator, and Assistant Web Administrator. She has contributed to her chapter newsletter, The Galley, and the Romance Writers of America's PROspects. She has served as the Literacy for Life Raffle Chair, and on RWA Leadership, PRO Advocacy, and PRO Steering committees. She is currently the Book Review Editor for the Journal of Popular Romance Studies. In addition to the stuff above, Nicki also has a real job by day (one that pays her money) and at night she is a writer. She has three kids under the age of five (the monsters), a cat (named for a baseball player), and a husband (what’s-his-name). She is tired, but can be found blogging with Petit Fours and Hot Tamales and online at 8headedhydra.com The RWA National Conference is an exciting time for any member of Romance Writers of America. After my first conference, I could only describe it as summer camp for grown-ups with my new 2,000 best friends. The event runs from Wednesday to Saturday. Earlier if you are a board member and different events are available if you are a librarian or bookseller, PRO member, or belong to a special interest chapter having events at Nationals. Barbara Vey (Publisher's Weekly) and Sherrilyn Kenyon (#1 New York Times Best Selling Author )  Wednesday is the night of the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing. You don’t want to miss this event. All of your favorite authors, tons of energy in the room, and raffle prizes.Thursday - Saturday are the workshops, editor/agent appointments, PRO retreat, and special speakers. You’ll really need to plan your time in advance to maximize the conference. Some people attend for the free books (yes, publishers have free signings throughout the conference), but do you really want to miss the all important craft workshops? Bob Mayer recently blogged about this topic, and I thought his comments were right on the mark. National ends on Saturday night with the prestigious Rita and Golden Heart Awards. RWA puts a lot of time and energy into this event; you’ll feel like you are at the Academy Awards. It is a great way to end the conference. For more on RWA go to http://www.rwanational.org The same year I went to my first National conference, I also attended my first Moonlight & Magnolias. Georgia Romance Writers  has put on one of the most successful regional conferences for over
twenty-five years. It has all of the perks of Nationals – editors and
agents, keynote speakers, author signing, and Maggie Award ceremony –
but instead of 2,000 attendees there are 300. Instead of 50
editors and agents there are 10. If you do the math, the ratio of time
and access to published
authors and publishing professionals can’t be beat. Last year,
attendees came from 23 different states and Canada. 70 published
authors were in attendance for the conference and book signing. It cost less than half the price of Nationals, but it can be double the fun. Go to http://www.georgiaromancewriters.org/mm-conference for more. One-day events are a valuable to way to gear up for bigger events. Deb Dixon, Margie Lawson, Dianna Love and Mary Buckham, Bob Mayer, and Michael Hauge are well-known presenters and experts on writing. One-day events are just that, one-day and possible a hotel stay the night before or after. If you aren’t sure about spending your time and money on a full week or weekend conference, try a one-day workshop first. I absolutely love RWA National and Moonlight & Magnolias. Every year I go, I feel that my money is well spent. I also like one-day events to give me a quick boost to my writing during the year. Why Go? Why Spend the Money? Why not Stay Home and Write? Going to a conference or one-day event is a great idea for a few reasons. It will:
Here are some suggestions for making your experiences successful. Goody Room at Moonlight & Magnolias  How to packBring
clothes and toiletries of course, but also bring your business cards.
Some people swear by business cards. I have some, but I don’t think
everyone has to have them. I’ve met plenty of wonderful people at
conferences without business cards, and I just wrote their contact
information in my notebook!
A name tag holder with an extra pocket can come in handy. Remember
you’ll be carrying your phone, pen, notebook, room key, cash, and
credit card. Going to take pictures? Don’t forget your camera. Travel
light and smart during the conference hours and secure items in the
hotel room safe when you don’t need them. Leave space in your suitcase for goodies, books, or raffle prizes. Want to get really organized? Print it out my conference packing list! What to wear This is a professional organization and a business conference. Business casual attire is recommended. A sweater or wrap would be a good idea. Workshop areas may be cold. For the award ceremony, anything from professional to dressy is acceptable. Be kind to your feet at all times. Be ready for walking, standing, and dancing! A dear friend once mentioned to me that we are writers and we should be able to dress any creative way we like. I agree. She loves purple, and would never wear a business suit. Hey, neither would I! Allow your personal flair to shine through, too. What to do professionally Have a goal in mind. Are you there to learn? Are you there to pitch? Are you there to promote yourself? Create a plan based on the conference schedule. Attend the autographing. Organize your time. Plan for some down time. What to do socially Volunteer. Much of RWA’s success (and any local chapter) is built on the strength of its volunteers. Help and network at the same time. Be friendly. I know you’d rather be in your cave writing, but pretend you are outgoing and make a new friend. Talk to someone you see standing all alone. Sit at a table with strangers and introduce yourself. Ask other writers about their work and listen to what they have to say. Act like the world is watching you. This is not the time to be funny or strange or unprofessional. People are watching and remembering what you do and say. Be positive in all of your interactions even if the editor or agent isn’t interested in your manuscript. You don’t know who might be listening. Don’t talk too much about yourself. You should listen, too! But don’t be so quiet that you go unnoticed! Remember to smile and have fun. More Hints
 What to do post-conference?Send thank you notes to authors, editor/agents, and presenters who you made connections with. Send emails to new friends. Fill out the workshop and conference surveys. Note what you learned, what you liked, and what you would do differently next year. Have fun at the conference, and then get back to writing! Conference tips? Add comment with your suggestions. |
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