Going to RWA Nationals each year is amazing in every sense of the word. It enhances my world with a new city, provides the opportunity to meet a lot of talented writers, and takes me out of my comfort zone which is small-town America. I’m not exactly from Mayberry RFD but close. Surrounded by corn fields and the croak of bull frogs, my view of the world is limited.
This year RWA held their national conference in New York City. According to the announcer on David Letterman’s nightly show, it’s the ‘greatest city in the world’. I used to silently scoff at the idea. Now that I’ve had the pleasure to visit there, I wouldn’t exactly say the announcer is right – but he isn’t wrong either. I found NYC rich in chaos and ethnicity. It was scary. Intriguing. A writer’s paradise. The nonstop flow of traffic and crowded sidewalks took some getting used to. After a few days, I felt like I fit in.
The conference itself is one of those gifts I appreciate afterwards. It’s a frenzy of activity that starts with registration, is filled with incredible workshops and speakers, and ends with an awards program that highlights the hard work of many writers. Once the conference draws to a close, my mind begins to organize all the great information. It sorts out the details of the city where it was held, stores the data from the workshops for me to draw on at a later date, and inspires me to write.
Something to share from this years conference -- the speakers at the luncheons and awards ceremony evoked so much emotion. They made us laugh. They made us cry. Their stories of endurance, survival and love were powerful.
Now it's time to get down to the bones of writing!
My eBook, One Small Fib – a contemporary romance laced with humor (being published by The Wild Rose Press) will be available starting September 7, 2011.
www.authorjanromes.com
Congratulations on a post well done, Jan! So emotionally packed in itself with your experience of New York. Hang on to your ideals! Never stop being who you are which I perceive is a gifted and giving writer. What else do we possibly have to offer? Hugs
ReplyDeleteWonderful first post! Congratulations. Your description of the Conference is almost like being there. I can imagine the hustle and bustle, the noise, the excitement...Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Jan!! I'm so very proud of you and all you have accomplished!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I enjoyed NYC this year as well...felt almost like a New Yorker when I jaywalked. :) The conference was fantastic, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming release from TWRP, Jan. It sounds like you had a great time in New York. It's a fabulous city.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your upcoming publication.
ReplyDeleteI was in NYC a Looonnngg time ago ... mid 1960s.
Don't remember much besides traffic and confusion. I'm not a big city guy ... much prefer medium-size cities and small towns.
Welcome to the world of blogging. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time in New York.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. It was fun going to New York and meeting you and other From The Heart members. I actually thought the meet & greet was the best part of the conference and the elevator discussions I had with other writers. I also liked all the different food in NYC, well maybe, a bit too much. :)
Lovely blogpost, Jan. Glad you had the experience of going to NYC. I've never been there, but can only imagine the labrynth of skyscrapers. Glad to hear you're a Rose. Isn't the Garden the best?
ReplyDeleteGreat blogpost Jan! So glad you had a good time at Nationals. I love NYC, and went at least twice a year up until recently. Hope to go back soon.
ReplyDeleteI bet you got so much out of the speakers and workshops! REALLY looking forward to your e-book in September!!
Your site is colorful and very attractive, Jan. Best of luck with lots of sales with your upcoming book release.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and attending conferences. I didn't make it this year but think I've attended maybe nine years and loved each and every one of them. To say the hugs from old friends, meeting new friends and the realization that as I writer I belong to a fantastic organization of women (and a few men)always overwhelms me. So much to see, learn and enjoy. My hubby laughs at me because when I get home it takes a week for me to come out of the fog from no sleep. Who needs sleep for a week when you have so much to do and experience? I can drive to Anaheim next year so maybe I will have a chance to meet you.
Jan, you have a beautiful blog. As for the RWA conferences, they are overwhelming at first, then so much fun when you mingle with people. I didn't go this year, but I attended five conferences in the past years. With several uncles, aunts and cousins living in New York, we had a family reunion there every year on Thanksgiving Day. A lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteJan, thanks for the post. Wish I could have been there.
ReplyDeleteLinda
From a fellow romance writer from the Big Apple, glad we changed your mind about our marvelous City (at least a bit). I think it is safe to say that most everyone had a great time at the conference. What energy, compassion, support, enthusiasm, huh? It was great to meet people in the flesh after years of email exchanges, and getting an up close and personal introduction to some of our favorite authors, meeting editors and agents and generally just wallowing in the wonder of this terrific community. Looking forward to seeing you in 2015!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the debut! Wow, what an exciting time. I so wish I would have been able to attend RWA this year. Oh well, it will be on my home turf in two years. :) BTW - I'm a new follower.
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