RWA & The Merits of Attending a Writers Conference: A Guest Post from Bestselling Author Cristin Harber

 

I’m back from the land of Happily Ever After! It’s been a few short weeks since the Romance Writers of America (RWA) wrapped up their conference at Disney World, and not only was it the happiest place on earth, but I returned home ready to get back to word counts, edits, and real-life responsibilities.

At RWA 2017 with bestselling author Liliana Hart and her husband!

On the way home, I realized not much time had passed since I attended my first RWA conference in 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia, as an unpublished romance writer.

A great deal is different now only four years later. I’ve become a successful independently published author. But I didn’t know that attending that conference would be the catalyst for changing my professional life.

In 2013, I had manuscripts with “interest” from traditional publishers and some awards. My intention was to attend workshops on craft and querying agents. By happenstance, I walked past a panel given by Barbara Freethy, Bella Andre, and Liliana Hart. As their words floated out of the room, my curiosity was piqued. I heard things like “control your schedule,” “keep your rights,” and “run your own business.”

That sounded like a great fit for me! Why couldn’t I do what a publisher could do? I wasn’t sure, so I investigated. I found that self-publishing meant I could retain control over my creative process, get my books into readers hands quicker and easier using the NOOK Press platform, and that there was a world of support out there ready to connect me to my readers.

As I continued to attend conferences, I focused on workshop panels that taught what I needed, not just what I wanted. For example, I didn’t attend an advance class on a topic when I couldn’t explain the fundamentals. If two or three panels I wanted to attend occurred at the same time, I checked to see if any were recorded, since some, like RWA, sell the audio versions of workshops. Alternatively, I would contact someone in my same predicament, so we could each attend a class and take notes for the other.

How to find someone was a problem for me at first because—some might not believe this—I am painfully introverted at times, and I didn’t know a soul in Atlanta. Here are a couple of quick tips for those new to RWA:

  • Attend First Timers Orientation, and you will make a friend, or at least have a face to recognize.
  • Wear the orange ribbon that tells the world it’s your first time (yes, even if you’re a NYT Bestselling author). That little ribbon is coveted.
  • Go to the meals. There will always be an open seat. There are even volunteers that hold big signs with ONE OPEN SEAT HERE. You might end up sitting next to someone you’ve always wanted to meet, or you could make a new best friend or critique partner.
  • Ask your online writer friends if they are going, then plan to say hi. That’s how Claudia Connor became one of my best friends. She was a random critique partner before we were published.

At a past RWA with author Claudia Connor!

Four conferences have passed since Atlanta. I’ve had some wonderful RWA highlights, like the time Kristen Nelson called me during the New York City Nora Roberts Literacy Signing to tell me that Black Dawn hit the New York Times Bestseller List, or when I got the RWA email accepting a proposal I’d submitted on indie publishing, which would let me give back to the community that gave me so much. I even get teary thinking back to 2013, when I was pregnant, and how in 2017, that child walked around the conference with me, talking about his love of books.

But now, I’d like to share some more conference tips:

  • No matter where you are in your career, there’s something to learn.
  • The “hallway” track can offer as much as workshops on the agenda. Have a seat and make a new connection, talk out a new project, or meet a vendor.
  • Trust but verify “expert” advice, and question any guidance that suggests there is only one way to succeed.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t forget to download the handouts.
  • Take pictures of slides (if allowed) to refer to in your notes.
  • Get face time with industry people, but do not go in with a list of demands. Say hello and make conversation instead of spouting off a list of everything you want.

The NOOK Press team has been a reliable partner in my career. This year, I had a wonderful time at the NOOK Press Open House. I hung out with a blogger I adore and an author assistant who likes to keep me sharp. I laughed with the NOOK Press team about my adventures in releasing a book while at a conference at Disney (Delta: Redemption), and spent time with other authors.

I’m excited about the for what’s ahead with NOOK Press and the self-publishing industry at large. And I’m thrilled that this newbie author wrote a business plan in 2013, went wide with distribution, and successfully sold her way to a full-time career.

If you’re interested in learning more about me and my writing, head to www.CristinHarber.com, and for more information on how you can attend next year’s RWA conference visit: https://www.rwa.org/events.

See you there!

2 Comments

  1. Cristin Harber says:

    Thanks for letting me swing by and share!

  2. Shareen Kendall says:

    Just love Cristin!!! I love a few Authors and their writing but Cristin is at the top of my list still and I always look forward to her books!!!