13 Workshops on my to-do list at RWA Nationals

I just bought my plane tickets!!! I’ll be in San Francisco MONDAY, July 28 at 6 pm, and I fly out SUNDAY, August 3 at 7 pm. This will be my very first romance conference. Last summer I attended the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference, which I’m attending again this July even though it has half the workshops offered last year. I learned a lot, and I’m really looking forward to RWAcon so that I can bask in the glow of my idols. ;)

The 2008 Romance Writers of America National Conference will be held July 30 through August 3 at the San Francisco Marriott.

Here are 13 workshops that I’m thinking of attending. Until Hermoine lends me her time toy, I won’t be able to attend all of them. Why I picked each is in red.

1. Dialogue: Writing Between the Lines (CRAFT) — Elizabeth Hoyt
   Writing fantastic dialogue can lift your book from good to sold. This workshop will cover the mechanics of dialogue, how to tell if your dialogue is working, and how to show what your characters are thinking when they’re not speaking. Dialogue is the hardest part of writing for me, and I’ve been told to read The Raven Lord more times than I can count. I’m making a new TBR pile – one with an end of July deadline!
2. How to Layer and Texture Your Novel for High Impact (CRAFT) — Cherry Adair
   New York Times best-selling author Cherry Adair explains why there has to be a balance of dialog, narration, research, and description in your novel, which can be achieved by adding layers and texture. (2 hours) Cherry is a Seattle author. I’m still learning the craft of writing.
3. Writing the Best Seller: Six Magic Words (CAREER) — Susan Elizabeth Phillips
   Learn from New York Times best-selling and RITA Hall of Fame author Susan Elizabeth Phillips the six magic words that lead to bestsellerdom. I heart SEP and my critique partner told me not to miss her workshops cuz they are fabulous.
4. Writing the Unputdownable Novel (CRAFT) — Joan Johnston
   New York Times best-selling author Joan Johnston shares eight ways to “hook” your reader so she can’t put your book down. Another TBR author, that several DIK girls have rec’d.
5. Make ‘em Scream: How to Write Amazing Romantic Suspense Editors Will Buy (CRAFT) — Hilary Sares
   Editors are always looking for a hot mix of tough stuff and true love. This Kensington editor presents an insider’s guide to breaking in and staying the course in romantic suspense—covering pace, atmosphere, plotting, technical elements, and romance. I’m not writing romantic suspense, but fast pacing and keeping your readers hooked are good to know for any genre.
6. The 21st Century Heroine: How Far She’s Come and Where She’s Heading (PUBLISHING) — Michelle Monkou, Kate Duffy, Caridad Ferrer, Tracy Montoya, Monique Patterson, Candice Poarch, and Francis Ray
   A panel of editors and authors facilitate a discussion that will highlight the past, focus on the present, and analyze the future of the romance heroine. This sounds like an excellent blog post topic. How can I refuse? And The Kate Duffy herself is speaking. I’m intimidated already.
7. World Building: Creating Your Own Universe (CRAFT) — Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush
   New York Times best-selling author Lisa Jackson and author Nancy Bush discuss how to build a believable, fictional world. I heart world building. The more I learn the more I want to jump head over heels into my next paranormal project.
8. Writing for the Historical Market (PUBLISHING) — Elizabeth Boyle, May Chen, and Laura Lee Guhrke
   The historical market is a vital and wonderful opportunity for new romance writers, but the ins and outs of selling and continuing to sell can be baffling without an insider’s perspective. Join best-selling, award-winning authors Elizabeth Boyle and Laura Lee Guhrke and HarperCollins editor May Chen at this workshop to discover the opportunities that abound by taking a step back in history—without making costly missteps. Elizabeth is a Seattle author. I’m writing a regency, so this sounded important to know.
9. Bad Boys and Naughty Girls (CRAFT) — Allison Brennan, Jordan Dane, Cindy Gerard, C.J. Lyons, and Lucia Macro
   Best-selling authors, debut authors, and an executive editor discuss the seductive nature of villains and anti-heroes. Discover how authors create the darker characters we love to hate and who’ve become our guilty pleasures. Another great blog post topic. Anti-heroes are on the rise. Drake Vireo anybody? And more TBR authors than I could shake a stick at.
10. Secrets of the Best-selling Sisterhood (PUBLISHING) — Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jayne Ann Krentz
    Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jayne Ann Krentz reprise their very popular workshop on what it’s like to be New York Times best-selling authors. SEP and JAK, need I say more?
11. Writing the Hot Historical (CRAFT) — Janet Mullany, Helen Breitweiser, and Pam Rosenthal
    An agent and two authors guide you to creating a convincing historical world (while turning up the heat), with a glance at the market today. Like I said, I’m writing a historical. Would be nice if it were hot. or Hawt.
12. Writing—and Selling—Crossover Fiction (CRAFT) — Eileen Wilks, Ann Aguirre, Catherine Asaro, and Cindy Hwang
    The panel, including a newly published author in urban fantasy, an established paranormal romance author, a best-selling science-fiction author, and an editor who buys and publishes crossover fiction, will present a variety of viewpoints on this timely topic. More TBR authors! This time on the dark paranormal side. Fun, fun, fun! And another great blog topic too.
13. Take Five! The Agent Cartel Reveals Its Top Five Pearls of Wisdom for Career Success (PUBLISHING) — Kristin Nelson, Pam Ahearn, Roberta Brown, Natasha Kern, Lucienne Diver, Elaine English, Carolyn Grayson, Pam Hopkins, Jennifer Jackson, Patti Steele-Perkins, Deidre Knight and Michelle Grajkowski.
    A dozen agents offer five pearls of wisdom for success in publishing. (2 hours) Sounds like something I need to know. Agents intimidate me even more than published authors.

Are you going to the 2008 RWA National Conference? Have you picked out the workshops you are going to yet? What looks good to you? On which workshops would you like me to go and report back? I take fantastic notes, if I do say so myself. ;)

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Tags: Romance Writers of America, RWA National Conference, Thursday Thirteen, writing, writing workshops

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