Rosie | August 7th, 2008
Yes, I know you are probably sick of hearing about RWA, but I thought I’d share some observations about the conference from one reader’s POV.
First, my disclaimer, these thoughts and opinions are just that thoughts and opinions. They are not meant to be gospel or represent anyone else’s experience but my own. I share them because I was curious and wanted to know every last detail about RWA in Dallas last year.
So, you might wonder why RWA. Well, I attended an RT reader event some years ago in San Diego and pretty much made up my mind then that RT run events were not for me. Yes, I met authors, yes I got books signed, but the experience was just not one I wanted to repeat. I know there are fans that love the RT convention and I say “good for you!” Go. Enjoy. It’s just not for me.
1. It’s not about you. I know this has been said else where, but it bears repeating. This is a conference of ROMANCE WRITERS. This isn’t a fan event. RWA is an excellent professional organization that provides education and support of its members. There are panels for just about everything related to the publishing industry many of which are conducted by well known published writers who are giving back to the community that supported and helped them when they were starting out.
2. “I’m workin’ heah!” Are there smiles and fun at RWA? You betcha. However, most attendees are there to work. There are writers meeting agents, pitching stories and attending or conducting the panels.
3. Everyone’s a fan. This is so true. The conference is attended by primarily writers. There are also librarians, book sellers, readers, reviewers, bloggers, editors, publishers, the media, lots of different people. For the most part everyone is there because they love the books. Authors were spotted standing in line at publisher signings or seeking another author’s signature on a favorite book. Most writers start out as fans first.
4. Who am I and what am I doing here. You need to answer this question before you leave home. In my case, even though I talk about a variety of topics on my personal blog, I also talk about and review romance novels. I’m also endlessly interested in the writing process and publishing business. At the same time, I have no interest or intention of ever writing a book. Knowing the conference was not fan based, I made my plans for the conference before I left home. I knew which panels I wanted to attend, I planned my attendance so I would be there for the literary event and most importantly I knew other readers and bloggers who would be attending. I said many times during the conference that meeting those people was every bit as important as any of the publisher signings and authors I met.
5. Is there room for one more? This can be applied any number of ways. I loved the people I roomed with this year. I wouldn’t trade the experience, conversation and laughs for anything. However, if you want to sleep, be rested and get the most out of the conference, then I don’t recommend rooming with 3 other people. This is why knowing why you are there is so important. Once you do decisions like accommodations are easier to decide and make.
6. You got to have friends. While you can strike up a conversation with just about anyone at RWA about books, ultimately it’s good to be there with friends. For instance I attended as a blogger and reader. I have no special contacts with authors, publicists, agents, or publishing houses. Some people do. I don’t. You can find accounts of bloggers who have those sorts of contacts and had lunches and dinners with their contacts. It sounds glamorous and exciting. However, if you don’t have those contacts before you go, it is unlikely you are going to make them at RWA. Like any professional organization part of the reason for the conference is to connect with people. It was my experience, however, that many of these engagements were made prior to their arrival at the conference. Fortunately, I had a group of fellow readers and bloggers who were attending that I was able to spend time with.
I had a wonderful time at RWA. I liked it because while I often lament that women are their own worst enemy, they also celebrate one another. I liked it because there is a different sort of energy in a room full of women who aren’t trying to get a man’s attention. That’s true liberation. I liked it because I don’t know of any other place, situation or event that would have brought the group of readers and bloggers I know together in one place for five days. Mostly I think I liked it because I knew what to expect. Do you?
