RWAustralia conference!

The Romance Writers of Australia are converging on Fremantle, Western Australia, for its annual conference ("Riding the Waves" theme this year!) - and I don't know if the city and its people will realise just what hit it come Monday morning!

At the RWA Awards dinner

It's my first trip over to Western Australia to attend the conference and I'm so looking forward to seeing some more of Australia.

Some of the highlights coming up:

• the RWA Awards dinner - every year this is the time we celebrate the achievements of our published and unpublished authors.
• The VPA Minion Breakfast - on the Sunday morning previous VPA winners meet to welcome the newest Minion into Valerie's Horde.
• ARRA Book-Signing event - it's always lovely to meet readers face-to-face and chat about our love for books
• meeting up with fellow writers we usually only see once a year at conference
• attending a myriad of workshops and upskilling!

The ARRA Book-Signing event

 I'm so looking forward to this year's conference - I can't wait!

The Valerie Parv Award Minion Breakfast

TOPIC: Why enter writing contests?

Again and because contest season is just around the corner, another re-post, this time one about why enter writing contests - previously entitled, "Do you have the contest bug?"


This is a timeless topic often discussed among writers - the value of entering contests.

RWA Valerie Parv Award

Some are for entering them and are vocal advocates of the benefits of doing so, others advise against entering as many seem to "encourage writers to write to the contest" or they see the writer receiving little value out of them.

I fall into the former category of advocates. The name "contest diva", "contest queen", or the more affectionately yet derogatory "contest sl**" was often mentioned in the same sentence as my name (*grin*). In the course of my unpublished career as a writer, I entered almost 100 contests over the nine years since tackling my first.

When considering whether or not you should enter a contest ask yourself this - why are you entering?

RWNZ Clendon Award

Is to get feedback on your work? Is the contest aimed at judging 3 chapters, a short story or a full manuscript? Is it to final? Is it because your want to get in front of a particular agent or editor? Is it to get a contest resume under your belt?

Let's consider each question.

• Feedback - entering can be a cheap way to get feedback on your work, particularly if you find a full manuscript contest that gives comments (eg. RWA Emerald Award or the RWNZ Clendon Award).

WHRWA Emily Award

If you belong to a writing organisation, ask yourself this - can I get feedback any other way besides through contests?

Some writing organisations have mentoring schemes, critique groups or critique partner schemes running, so this might be another avenue for you to pursue in your quest to get feedback.

• Contest criteria - entering a specific type of contest can help your craft. I avoided entering any sort of synopses contest, purely because I hated writing them. But because it was a weakness I'd identified in my craft skills, I forced myself to enter several of these to get feedback before I sent my work out on submission.
• To final - this is a feather in any writer's cap. I used this as a benchmark to see whether I was improving in my craft but then, in the context of where I was as a writer (geography and isolation, not the level of skill) and the services I had access to this (era of time) proved to be the only option available to me to measure this. (So context is important.)



RWA Emerald Award

• Getting your work in front of an editor/agent - if you have the budget, you can enter as many contests as you like, and some have done this. Most writers don't have unlimited funds, so choosing which particular contest - based on reputation or final judges or specific feedback - and this may determine your decision on whether you enter or not.

Toward the end of my unpublished contest career my goal for entering was driven by who the final judge was. I wanted to get my work in front of an editor or agent who acquired my genre.

RWA Golden Heart

• Contest resumes - racking up finalist kudos, placings or wins is certainly a way to impress potential editors and agents but it doesn't always help. Some take no notice of your achievements. I admit, one of my main goals for entering contests, in the latter part of my unpublished career, was to build a resume for each manuscript but it wasn't the only avenue I relied upon to get my work in front of editors/agents.

I think the secret of entering any contest is to identify why you're entering it, what you're hoping to get out of it as a result and to understand that it's one of many strategies, not the only one, to help you in your journey to publication.

So, with the RWAustralia and RWNZ contest season about to start fresh, I know there will be some of you keen to try the contest circuit (and good on you, go for it!). There are a wide range of ones for you to enter here and overseas.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few links you might like to explore to find the sort of contests you'd like to enter:

Romance Writers of Australia contest page
Romance Writers of New Zealand contest page
Romance Writers of America contest page
Stephanie Smith's contest page for author

RWNZ Clendon Readers' Choice Award

But, just remember, I've seen many friends who've taken the contest circuit route in the attempt to get published and I know of others who haven't entered any contests yet been picked up through submitting their work.

There are valid reasons to try both paths, one isn't better than the other.

It's whatever works for you.

TOPIC: Do You Have the Contest Bug?

This is a timeless topic often discussed among writers - the value of entering contests.

RWA Valerie Parv Award

Some are for entering them and are vocal advocates of the benefits of doing so, others advise against entering as many seem to "encourage writers to write to the contest" or they see the writer receiving little value out of them.

I fall into the former category of advocates. The name "contest diva", "contest queen", or the more affectionately yet derogatory "contest sl**" was often mentioned in the same sentence as my name (*grin*). In the course of my unpublished career as a writer, I entered almost 100 contests over the nine years since tackling my first.

When considering whether or not you should enter a contest ask yourself this - why are you entering?

RWNZ Clendon Award

Is to get feedback on your work? Is the contest aimed at judging 3 chapters, a short story or a full manuscript? Is it to final? Is it because your want to get in front of a particular agent or editor? Is it to get a contest resume under your belt?

Let's consider each question.

• Feedback - entering can be a cheap way to get feedback on your work, particularly if you find a full manuscript contest that gives comments (eg. RWA Emerald Award or the RWNZ Clendon Award).

WHRWA Emily Award

If you belong to a writing organisation, ask yourself this - can I get feedback any other way besides through contests?

Some writing organisations have mentoring schemes, critique groups or critique partner schemes running, so this might be another avenue for you to pursue in your quest to get feedback.

• Contest criteria - entering a specific type of contest can help your craft. I avoided entering any sort of synopses contest, purely because I hated writing them. But because it was a weakness I'd identified in my craft skills, I forced myself to enter several of these to get feedback before I sent my work out on submission.
• To final - this is a feather in any writer's cap. I used this as a benchmark to see whether I was improving in my craft but then, in the context of where I was as a writer (geography and isolation, not the level of skill) and the services I had access to this (era of time) proved to be the only option available to me to measure this. (So context is important.)



RWA Emerald Award

• Getting your work in front of an editor/agent - if you have the budget, you can enter as many contests as you like, and some have done this. Most writers don't have unlimited funds, so choosing which particular contest - based on reputation or final judges or specific feedback - and this may determine your decision on whether you enter or not.

Toward the end of my unpublished contest career my goal for entering was driven by who the final judge was. I wanted to get my work in front of an editor or agent who acquired my genre.

RWA Golden Heart

• Contest resumes - racking up finalist kudos, placings or wins is certainly a way to impress potential editors and agents but it doesn't always help. Some take no notice of your achievements. I admit, one of my main goals for entering contests, in the latter part of my unpublished career, was to build a resume for each manuscript but it wasn't the only avenue I relied upon to get my work in front of editors/agents.

I think the secret of entering any contest is to identify why you're entering it, what you're hoping to get out of it as a result and to understand that it's one of many strategies, not the only one, to help you in your journey to publication.

So, with the RWAustralia and RWNZ contest season about to start fresh, I know there will be some of you keen to try the contest circuit (and good on you, go for it!). There are a wide range of ones for you to enter here and overseas.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few links you might like to explore to find the sort of contests you'd like to enter:

Romance Writers of Australia contest page
Romance Writers of New Zealand contest page
Romance Writers of America contest page
Stephanie Smith's contest page for author

RWNZ Clendon Readers' Choice Award

But, just remember, I've seen many friends who've taken the contest circuit route in the attempt to get published and I know of others who haven't entered any contests yet been picked up through submitting their work.

There are valid reasons to try both paths, one isn't better than the other.

It's whatever works for you.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 3: Roll out the red carpet...for Awards Night

Whether you attend the Academy Awards of romance writing (aka the RWAmerica Awards night), the Aussie or New Zealand awards dinners, you'll be in for a wonderful few hours of showcasing the best our organisations have to offer.

RWA Emerald:ST winner - Alli Withers

The RWAustralia Awards dinner can be celebrated by anywhere between 100-150 people and you sign up to a table prior to the night. Sometime during the Saturday you'll be reminded by our MC that if you're going to the dinner to put your name on a table-sign in sheet.

If you don't know anyone, just pick a table and put your name on it. You'll get to know them before the night is over.

RWA R*BY Award - Sharon Archer

This is the night we showcase our unpublished finalists in the swag of contests run throughout the year (culminating in the RWA Valerie Parv Award, and Emerald Awards for category and single title) as well as our published authors (with the R*BY Awards), media award and Lynne Wilding Meritorious Service Award.

The awards are announced and handed out between each course of the meal. And (my favourite part) is towards the end when people are asked to stand up and acknowledge our personal achievements (started by Anne Gracie), whether it be finishing their first book, to entering a contest, to submitting a manuscript or getting that elusive contract!

RWNZ Clendon winner - Chris Weston

This format is similar to the RWNZ Awards dinner. There's usually a 'theme' to come dressed to though - last year it was a fantasy theme. The highlight of the night is the RWNZ Clendon Award for unpublished writers & the Clendon Readers' Choice Award.

The number attending tends to be a little smaller (anywhere between 70-100) but this makes for a very intimate and special setting and you get up close and personal with our special guests and finalists.

Clendon Readers' Choice - Michelle de Rooy

At RWAmerica, prepared to be blown away by the sheer size of the night - glamor and glitz, red carpet style presentations, jumbo-tron TV screens so the 2000 strong audience of fellow writers, published authors, agents, editors and other officials can see everything that goes on up on stage, the RITA's, the Golden Heart presentations, etc.etc.

If you're lucky enough to be a RITA or Golden Heart finalist you get to sit at a table right at the front accompanied by one special guest, usually at a table mixed with other finalists and industry professionals.

RWAmerica Awards night

Whichever awards dinner you go to, be prepared to dress up and celebrate the romance genre and those who have done well in contests, publishing, promoting romance and volunteering to make our organisations the best they can be.

Roll out the red carpet...and celebrate romance!

TOPIC: Do you have a full manuscript ready to enter the RWOz Emerald contest?

It's that time of year again, contest divas! The RWOz Emerald contest for unpublished authors is just around the corner.

For anyone who's a member of RWOz, it's the major contest for anyone who writes category or single title romance. So, I hope you've polished and edited your manuscripts because The Emmy wants you!!!

The whole contest is designed to mirror the submission process an author goes through when sending off their work to agents or publishing houses. The first two rounds are scored and judged by readers, while the final round is read by an acquiring editor from a major publishing house.

Round 1 - the first 18pgs of your manuscript in ARC format
Round 2 - submit the full manuscript
Round 3 - full manuscript goes to an editor for final placement

# Closing date for Round 1 is Friday, 12th November.

Places are award for the separate category and single title sections but results aren't announced until the August RWA conference (in Melbourne 2011).

So, what's so good about entering the Emerald? Check out what previous entrants and place-getters have said about their experiences...

"The Emerald was great for my writing journey in several ways. Firstly, it gave me deadlines to work to, which provided structure to my writing year. It also gave me really interesting feedback, because it came from readers - the people we're writing for. And not just on the first 3 chapters - they could tell me what they thought of the whole manuscript, all the way to the Happily Ever After. Both wins also started dialogues for me with editors, not for the line I eventually sold to, but fabulous feedback and experience.
Such a great contest and resource for writers!" (Rachel Bailey)


"Finalling - and then having to finish the ms that I'd supposedly finished before entering within 10 days really made me focus!
Although that book wasn't the one that got me published (and I do hope to have it pubbed someday soon) :-) it gave me the kudos to be headhunted to do a Masters in Writing at Qld. University of Technology. That was a huge ego boost and validation that what I was writing wasn't complete crap (which I suspect just about every writer wonders about from time to time).
I really appreciated the feedback I got from the Emerald. It's a great contest." (C.C.Coburn)

"Where do I start? :-) This was great for me as an entrant, because it gave me a taste of the publishing world : mainly, writing to a deadline, which is probably one of the most important abilities for a published author (other than producing a saleable manuscript!) And of course, a chance to hit an acquiring editor's desk.
I was thrilled when I finalled and could tell the editor that the first chapter of that same ms was on one of her assistant's TBR pile due to another RWA comp. So the Emerald helped by giving me a deadline to work to, plus impetus to actually finish a complete manuscript (before then, I'd been writing 3
chapters max.)." (Paula Roe)

"The very first contest I entered was the Emma Darcy which, like the Emerald, was for completed manuscripts. It was life changing. Someone other than my beautifully biased husband and family had connected with my story, my characters, my voice. Wow! I finalled in that contest - very powerful motivation that sustained me when rejection letters from publishers started turning up... 
Subsequent Emerald feedback helped me learn my craft. Yes, criticism can sting, but if you look back at it in a couple of weeks there will be kernels of truth. If two or more judges have identified the same thing, chances are they're right... The Emerald gives you a goal to aim for during the year. It gives you a taste of the submission process you'll spend your writing life following. Most importantly it gives you an anonymous audience who will give you genuine unbiased feedback! So get writing and good luck." :-) (Helene Young)

"I love entering the Emerald because the judges are readers, rather than contest judges who are writers. Readers, even in the first round, give you a different insight into whether the book is a good read or not, and if they enjoy your characters and your plot, rather than getting bogged down on writing type details. Readers give an overall perspective on how well a story might do on a published market. 
If theses judges say they want to read more, you know you've hooked their interest and are on the right track. If they say they were bored to tears, you know to cut out backstory and increase the conflict and drama. Then, if you' re lucky enough to make it into the second round, Emerald judges comment on the completed book, which is truly rare in contest circles.
The author then knows if the conflict is strong enough and the story arc complete enough, to hold a readers interest and make the book ready for submission to agents or editors. But either way, it makes you push yourself to write, edit, and polish an entire book, not simply the opening chapters." (Suzi Love)

"The Emerald Contest is the successor to the wonderful Emma Darcy Award, which I won in 2005, the last year of the contest. I withdrew from the 2006 Emerald because I'd sold my book - a nice reason! I know as an unpublished writer, it was often difficult for me to soldier through and finish a manuscript. I still have numerous 'stumps' under the bed, stories I started with great enthusiasm and then decided weren't viable. So I'd start something else and then decide it wasn't viable either. Repeat ad-infinitum!
Having a contest that gets people to struggle through the doldrums of a manuscript and reach those magical words 'the end' is really great. There's so much you learn from finishing a complete manuscript that you can't learn from starting 100 that you don't complete. Winning or finalling in a contest like the Emerald or the Emma Darcy is a great calling card too when you approach editors or publishers!" (Anna Campbell)

So, what are you waiting for? Get those manuscripts out and send them off.

* Entry forms and details on how to enter can be found on the Contest page of the RWAustralia website.

Romance Conferences

Have you decided whether you're going to attend this year's Romance Writers of Australia conference? Or how about the RWNew Zealand or RWAmerica conferences?

For me going to at least one is a given - my annual holiday retreat. Two, if I can afford it (and I put every penny away that I can) so I can indulge in two weekends of incredible friendship, networking and professional development. Nothing beats mixing and meeting with like-minded individuals who travel or have travelled the path you're taking.


The highlights of these conferences have to be the awards dinners. Don't get me wrong, the workshops, guest speakers, author chats, fancy dress cocktail parties, raffles, the food, the bookstalls are all awesome, but these nights are a chance for each organisation to showcase their members achievements and hard earned success. Published and unpublished.

If you've never been to a conference before and are undecided, or nervous about being among virtual strangers, could I encourage you to pluck up your courage and go? Honestly, we don't bite :-) and conferences are sooooo much fun!

My dad has always told me - you get more out of something whatever you're willing to put into it. This applies to conferences. If you stand on the sidelines, hug the wall, hide in your room rather than attend a function, then you probably won't enjoy the conference.

I can remember attending my first RWAustralia cocktail party - actually my first cocktail party period! - I was so intimidated by all the people and "published authors" that I barely said boo. I didn't enjoy it much. The next year I went again and that time I forced myself to mingle and talk to people (mostly about writing) and surprise, surprise, I met a few familiar faces and enjoyed myself.

After that second year I made an effort during morning tea's and afternoon tea's to talk with anyone who looked like they were hugging the wall, or had the cute little chicken/baby bear symbols on their name tags (they meant you're a first timer to a conference). The two or three days at conference goes too fast to waste time worry about not knowing anyone.

Last year I had a friend from NZ come over to attend the RWAustralia conference. The first day we chose our table to sit at for the opening of the conference and we were both chatting when another lady came by, looking a little bewildered and lost. I noticed she had a little chicken symbol on her name-tag, so I greeted her and asked if she'd like to join us at our table. She did and after three days of talking, sharing a table and the odd workshop, she and I are now good friends, and we're coming back to conference this year. In fact, we're going to both RWAustralia and RWNZ conferences!

So, put in what you're willing to get out of it. And if you see me at conference grab me and say hi. I'd love to talk with you. 

Top photo - at the 2009 RWAustralia Arabian Night's Cocktail Party.
Middle photo - some of the great raffles prizes at the conferences.
Bottom photo (r to l) - The "first-timer" friend from last year's conference, my NZ friend & myself at the cocktail party.

What's Coming Up?

Conference season is just around the corner for RWAmerica, RWAustralia & RWNew Zealand.

If you haven't thought about it yet then get your mind into gear as attendance numbers are filling fast. The RWAmerica and ROMAUS loops have been busy reminding us that there are only a limited number of places left, so both look like they're going to be a sell out! Wow!

First on the calendar is RWAmerica® 30th Annual National Conference.

July 28th-31st, 2010

Gaylord Opry Hotel

2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennesse 37214

Keynote Speakers:

Nora Roberts

Jayne Ann Krentz

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sabrina Jeffries

Notable Events:

RITA® Awards for published authors

Golden Heart® Awards for unpublished authors

Next is RWAustralia at scenic Coogee Beach, Sydney.

13th-15th August, 2010

Crowne Plaza, Coogee (in Sydney)

Australia

Keynote Speakers:

Debra Dixon &

Vicki Lewis Thompson

Visiting Agents/Editors:

Jennifer Schober from Spencerhill Associates in New York

Bernadette Foley from Hachette Australia

Workshop speakers:

Nalini Singh, Valerie Parv & Alexandra Nahlous, Erica Hayes, Tracey O’Hara & Vanessa Barneveld, Kate Forsyth, Denise Rossetti, Amanda Ashby & Sara Hantz, Alison Stuart, Melanie Milburne,

Jessica Hart, Kate Cuthbert, Dr.Ella Sugo & Terri Green.

And to finish the conference season, the RWNZ 20th Annual Conference in Auckland, New Zealand.

(primary conference sponsors Harlequin M&B)

20th-22nd August, 2010

Rydges Hotel, Auckland

New Zealand

Keynote Speakers: 

Christopher Vogler
Stephanie Laurens

Visiting Agents/Editors:

Laura Bradford from Bradford Literary Agency

Diane Moggy, VP Overseas Editorial Strategy & Development for Harlequin Enterprises

So, if you're looking for something to feed your creativity or just want to rub elbows with like minded people then plan on coming to one of these conferences. You won't be disappointed!

(*Click on RWA, RWAustralia & RWNZ in the post to find links to schedules, workshops, conference information and registration options)

Recounting 2009

I belong to a fantastic e-loop known as the BI50D's, a sub-loop of RWNZ e-loop. We're a small group of writers who initially started it up to get a book finished in time to enter the RWNZ Clendon Award. One of the things we did recently was to recount what we had achieved over the 12 months.
Sometimes we forget in the struggle to get published the importance of acknowledging and celebrating what steps we have made in our journey.
This year, despite working a full time teaching job, I proudly achieved the following in my "spare" time...

*finished another book

*designed a website

*started a blog site

*gained representation with an agent

*lost representation with an agent (this is a positive as I learnt so much with her)

*finalled & placed with 90% of the entries I put in comp's this year (big achievements here were winning the Valerie Parv Award & Clendon Award, multi-placing in the VPA & Emerald)

*edited 2 books

*started a new book

(only goal I didn't achieve was *attended the RWA awards dinner with Hugh Jackman - and boy, did he miss out on a great night - LOL)
Not a bad list considering. Most of these I achieved because I set goals and made decisions on how to attain them, with, of course, support and encouragement from my fellow BI50D'ers. Can't do it without them :-) .
I've already started on next years goals...(I'm sure the list will grow!)
*enter 4 US romance writing competitions (ie.Golden Heart, the Emily & 2 others)
I also want to:
*find representation by another agent
*finish 3 more books (draft & 1 polished)
*help judge in RWOz writing comp's
So, what goals have you achieved in 2009? And what ones are you setting for 2010?

RWAustralia EMERALD Award

Coming up on the RWAustralia contest calendar is the EMERALD Award for unpublished writers.

Why would you enter this competition over others? It's designed to mirror the submission process. The first round involves entering the first 18pgs of your manuscript. If your entry makes it to the second round then you have to submit a full manuscript. Three finalists from both sections then go on to the final judge for placings, usually an editor from a major publishing house.

It's also a dual competition - you can enter the category section or single title section (or both - some have done this). And you can enter multiple entries in each! :-)

So, what makes it really special? Your work is scored and judged by romance readers in the initial two rounds - not a writer in sight - they're your potential readership market.

The benefits? There are several.

The competition is specialized - a category section and single title section. While the genres may differ, you're competing against others who write the same length manuscript.

You're also learning the discipline of the craft; you're training yourself to meet deadlines while honing and practising your skills while learning how to cope with praise, criticism and rejection; there's the multiple judges feedback (invaluable when you compare that entry fee of $38.50/entry to an appraisal service).

If you final, you bypass the slush-pile/query process & your work gets in front of an editor; you add to your writing resume and that looks good in a query letter to prospective agents or editors when you submit.

Have I convinced you to enter yet? I hope so, it's certainly worth it. You can find the entry forms at www.romanceaustralia.com/emerald.html (NOTE: you do need to be a member of Romance Writers of Australia to enter.)

Entries close Novermber 27th 2009, so get your manuscript in - what have you got to lose? But, more importantly, think of all you can gain!

Formula for Failure

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody."

~Herbert Bayard Swope~

A good one as a precursor of my next entry - RWA EMERALD Award.

Write the story of your heart, polish it based on the consensus feedback you get from contests but not just because Judge A said "this" and Judge B said "that" an Judge C said "something different".

The quote says it all - you can't please everybody - and if you try, you'll wreck a good story.