Aspiring author Mary attended the RNA convention in the UK recently. Read about her experiences — and maybe pick up some writing tips from the editors!
By MaryOxford
I bet like me you wonder a) if you’re a complete loon even trying to write and b) that what you write is crap. Then there’s the loneliness of it all. What keeps you going? For me, going to the annual conference of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association has been a major boost. The RNA is the UK equivalent of the RWA, although non-published writers form a much smaller proportion of the overall membership. Also the conference is much smaller – 150 attended throughout the weekend, of whom only a proportion were HMBers.
For a romance junkie and would-be Presents/Modern writer, it is the perfect place to be. Not only do you get the chance to pitch to an HMB editor and hear them give a talk; you also meet lots of HMB authors at different stages of their careers, whether modern or historical, and they are all so encouraging and friendly. Kate Hardy, Kate Walker and Sarah Morgan were just three of the more well-known authors I chatted to, although I also met Sabrina Phillips, whose first book is out next spring. Then there are the other unpubbed like myself. One, Aleka Nakis, had flown over from Florida for the weekend just to get a 10-minute slot with an editor. The conference provides a space for everyone to sit and chat about experiences with manuscripts, rejections and the slog of writing.
The 10-minute session I spent with Kim Young was incredibly helpful. She had some fantastic advice to give me and was very encouraging about my writing and prospects – just what you want to hear, when you’ve spent the past year or so wondering if you have what it takes. It’s also great to meet the editors and get some idea of what they’re looking for – Modern Heat, Modern and Romance particularly in the UK it seems.
On Saturday, Kim and Jo Carr, in a great double act, gave a witty and extremely useful talk on the top 10 clichés and why they don’t work. They developed these after filleting 300 manuscripts in one go with the other editors. Out of 300, they chose 10 and these are some of the reasons why they rejected the other 290: they are too plot-driven, there’s no sense of character, too much focus on mundane details and/or they lack individuality in detail and voice.
Their advice was to choose your set-up carefully and be aware of why you are using it. They also made the point that each cliché is there because it’s been used so successfully in books, but the key is to make it ‘romantic convention’ by adding something special of your own. You can do anything you want within those conventions, but remember the readers are interested in the reactions of the characters, not action. “The plot is the journey, not the destination,†is how they put it. Anyway, they were brilliant and would make great HMB heroines themselves.
Other talks I went to were also extremely useful. There was one about polishing your manuscript by Australian author Anna Jacobs and another by RNA president, Diane Pearson, about killer first lines and synopses. I learnt that you don’t have to write out the entire plot in a synopsis, but that it’s best to hook with a blurb of two or three paragraphs. HOORAY, no more struggling to distil a 50,000 word story into two pages! Jane Wenham-Jones had us in stitches with tales from her book Wanna Be A Writer? She talked about the ailments that afflict us all, such as writer’s bottom. Kate Walker also gave an excellent talk on maintaining an internet presence.
By the end of the weekend, I was shattered but also full of writing zeal – till I got home to an untidy house, two bolshy children and a shattered husband, understandably desperate to escape. Just for a moment, it was very hard to reconcile the two worlds. But then I sat down after they’d gone to bed and started writing.
I can’t recommend the conference or the RNA highly enough. It’s utterly fab.
If anyone else went, it would be great to hear your experiences. But it would also be good to hear from any of you about how your own conferences help maintain momentum to that elusive goal of publication.
Check back next week for Mary’s photos from the conference!
Mary, It sounds like you had a great time at the conference. I’m going to join the RNA this year and plan attend next years conference if I can.
Great that you got a chance to talk with Kim. I met her briefly, along with Maddie, Meg, and Tessa at the RWA conf here in Dallas in 2007.
I’d be interested to hear what those top 10 cliches were.
Kate Walker is lovely. I had a chance to attend a writers weekend in Fishguard where Kate was running a course. It was great and I’d highly recommend going to one of her courses if you haven’t already attended one.
Good luck with your writing.
Chris.
Chris, Mary wasn’t off when she wrote that the RNA Conference is ‘utterly fab’!
I attended it last week and was very happy with the whole experience. This was my first conference in the United Kingdom, and I had no idea what to expect. However, within a very short amount of time, my fears were laid to rest by the welcoming romance writers in the UK, and I felt in my element and at ease.
I found the RNA to be a network of established authors sharing their love for romance while welcoming new writers into their folds.
I learned quite a bit throughout the weekend, and I could write about it for hours. Instead, here are some quick impressions, from an American’s POV. LOL.
· First, the weather report was accurate. It went from the balmy low seventies to the fifties in no time. And the promised rain made a scheduled appearance so as to not disappoint its Floridian visitor. Good thing I packed my winter wrap. Needless to say, the weather heated up as one hundred and fifty romance writers descended on the quaint city. However, that was due to the warm and welcoming company and not the actual temperature.
· The English are efficient and punctual. Don’t be late if you’ve set a date. I kept trying to make it to the seminars on time, but no matter when I arrived, they seemed to have started.
· Coffee cream is not the norm. They serve a skimmed milk version, and if you ask for cream, you get the real stuff.
· Now, who would have thought I’d find the perfect South Florida summer drink in the South of England? Amongst other things, the talented Sophie Weston introduced me to my new favorite drink, Pimm’s. It is served in a large pitcher with fresh fruit slices and is the UK’s answer to America’s Mint Julep. Yum. Can’t wait to try it with our ninety-eight degree weather in Florida.
· WHSmith is one of the largest booksellers in Great Britain. My new friend, Mary Zacaroli, took me there on Friday morning to show me the way Mills and Boon books are displayed (very similar to the way we have end caps in the US retailers, but with different category lines available). Leanne Bibby, aspiring to write historicals for Mills and Boon, Mary, and I spent the morning shopping for shoes, and with our mission accomplished, we returned to the campus and interviewed with M&B editors, Joanne Carr and Kimberly Young.
Personally, this ten minute chat with Joanne Carr was the purpose of my trip. I want to write for Mills and Boon, and I needed to learn what exactly they required from my story—directly from the source. Joanne was wonderful and very forthcoming with what she is looking for. Obviously, the next few weeks will be devoted to fine tuning Dante’s Deal into such a read, and then I will cross my fingers and light my candles, waiting for her to say that I accomplished my goal.
The conference seminars were absolutely…lovely! So many of my favorite authors presented workshops and it was difficult to pick which ones to attend.
If you’d like to read more or want to see some pics, please feel free to visit my blog: http://www.alekanakis.com/id13.html
I certainly had a ‘fab’ time! Thanks for the report Mary.
Aleka Nakis
Chris, Mary was right on when she wrote that the RNA conference is ‘fab’.
I tried to post this earlier, so if it appears twice, just humor me.
This was my first conference in the United Kingdom, and I had no idea what to expect. However, within a very short amount of time, my fears were laid to rest by the welcoming romance writers in the UK, and I felt in my element and at ease.
I found the RNA to be a network of established authors sharing their love for romance while welcoming new writers into their folds.
The ten minute chat with Joanne Carr was the purpose of my trip. I want to write for Mills and Boon, and I needed to learn what exactly they required from my story—directly from the source. Joanne was wonderful and very forthcoming with what she is looking for. Obviously, the next few weeks will be devoted to fine tuning Dante’s Deal into such a read, and then I will cross my fingers and light my candles, waiting for her to say that I accomplished my goal.
The conference seminars were absolutely…lovely! So many of my favorite authors presented workshops and it was difficult to pick which ones to attend. However, I must admit that the knowledge shared during the breaks, meals, and at the bar were priceless.
Thank you to the many talents that were so available and to the RNA for its amazing hospitality.
I wrote about the experience on my personal blog as well, so if you want to read a little more (from an American POV) and see some pictures, please drop on over to http://www.AlekaNakis.com.
Have a great Friday:-)
Aleka
Chris
I’ll try and get the top 10 cliches up early next week. Am not at home at the moment.
Mary
Aleka, Sounds like you had a great time. I’m glad your trip was a success. As I said in my earlier post, I hope to be able to go to next years conference. I shall try and combine it with a visit to the family.
Love your name, it sounds very Presentish..lol.. Good luck with your writing.
That would be great Mary, thanks. Are you on hol’s somewhere? If so I hope the weather is good.
Thanks again,
Chris.
Hi Mary,
I too attended my first RNA conference last weekend and like you I went to pitch my book to a Mills and Boon editor and thought the weekend was worth the 500 mile round trip.
Everyone was so friendly and I met many writers – published and aspiring. It was such fun to spend the whole weekend thinking and talking writing.
I agree with you Chris that Kate Walker is a brilliant tutor and I attended a Fishguard course too. Was it the same one as you I wonder?
So if anyone is thinking of attending their first conference – it’s well worth it.
Rachael
Hi Rachael,
If the course in Fishguard was in 2006, then yes I remember you very well. It was only a small group with Carol from London, me from Dallas, another lady, her name escapes me right now, and an older lady called Johanna. If you are the same Rachael, I’ve often wondered about you and how you were getting along with your writing.
So glad your pitch went well. All of the editor’s that I’ve met from HM&B have been really nice and very approachable.
Chris.
Hi Mary and hopefully some editors who can answer a question!!
Thanks so much for your write up of the UK conference… I’m counting down the weeks till I attend my second Aussie Conference!! CAn’t wait.
I have a dilemma though and was wondering if someone here would know the answer! I entered the Instant Seduction contest earlier in the year and (obviously) did not final or receive a feedback letter. I’ve had great feedback in this novel in contests but wondering if I’m wasting my time pitching this to the HMB editor coming to Melbourne. Since they’ve read the first chapter and didn’t write me a letter about it, should I take it as they don’t want to see the rest. Perhaps mine was one of those top 10 cliches?
Anyway can’t wait to hear write-ups from the other conferences and thanks again for telling us your experience Mary!
RACH!
Hi Chris,
Yes, I was in Fishguard in 2006 and I went back in 2007 it was so good.
I do remember you, that was my first tentative steps towards writing for M&B. I have a few false starts and one complete ms behind me now and a second complete ms nearly ready.
For Rach I too entered the Instant Seduction competition and did not receive any feedback at all. Instead I left that idea and started work on something different. This I pitched at the conference, but I also looked really hard at my entry and the winning entries and I can see what was wrong with mine. Hard to do, but worth it. It’s not to say that idea can’t be re-worked one day and mine remains on file as one of the false starts I’ve just mentioned.
Best of luck all in your writing,
Rachael
Hi Rachael,
Glad to hear that the writing is going well. If I remember correctly you were targeting Tender, have you changed direction and now aiming for Modern/Presents? Or were you always aiming for Presents?
I entered the IS contest. Didn’t get a request, but did get a very encouraging feedback letter. At some point I’ll rework that chapter taking into account what they was missing in the setup for the rest of the m/s.
Rach, I don’t know what to tell you, but maybe you could have another story ready to pitch. You could always as the editor that you’re going to be pitching to. Just briefly mention that you’d entered it in the IS comp and she if she’d rather you pitch something else then you can go for it.
Maybe someone else will have a different thought. Whichever way you go make sure to come back and let us know how it went.
Good luck,
Chris.
Chris and Rachael – thank you but you’re making me blush! I enjoyed the courses at Fishguard as much as you did – we had a lot of fun!
Mary thank you for your report – it was a great conference wasn’t it? There are photos on my blog if anyone would like to see them – and Mary is to be congratulated because she actually got one of me with my eyes open !
Aleka – it was lovely to meet you, though we didn;t get enough time to talk. I have sent you an email if you want to keep in touch.
Rach – if the editors didn’t respond to your IS entry then I’m sorry but I would take it as meaning that that particular story didn’t grab them and I would rethink using it as your pitch. You have such a valuable opportunity in that face to face meeting with an editor that it would be a pity to waste it on something that hasn’t made them wasnt to see more about it already.
As Rachael very wisely says, if you take a look at the winner and runners up in the IS contest, then you’ll perhaps get an idea of what didn’t work in this submission and then hopefully be able to plan out a new idea that could work so much better. Good luck!
Kate
Hi Chris,
You’re right – I was aiming at Tender/Romance then. My first completed ms was a Romance but after entering the IS comp I decided to give Modern a go, although I think I actually fall in the middle of the two. So when I have completed this one and submitted it to the RNA’s New Writers’ Sheme I should have a better idea.
Hi Kate,
Glad you are back on line and I enjoyed all your photo’s of the conference. I took my camera to Chichester but forgot to bring it to most of the talks etc so it was nice to see them. I did get a photo of Pam Brooks during her talk as I was doing a report on it for Romance Matters.
Rachael
Hey Rachal, Chris and Kate… thanks so much for your advice! Guess I thought what you were all saying but just wanted to make sure.
I think my problem is that I’m not Mod Heat as my hero’s aren’t alpha enough. I recently got an encouraging rejection letter on another mss and they said they loved my voice but found I had too many secondary characters and my hero wasn’t dark and brooding enough. Problem now is I have other mss that probably also fit between the lines! ARGh!
Rachael – sounds like we’re a little similar in our writing, I think mine definately falls between Romance and Modern Heat.
Thanks for your help and sorry for hogging cyberspace with my query.
Cheers
RACH!
Hi Rach and Rachael,
I also have a natural tendency to write somewhere between Modern Heat and Tender. Think we can convince anyone to start up a new line? Sweet/Sexy? Or Modern Tender?
It’s a lovely thought, but for now I think I’ll just make a huge effort to steer my WIP towards Tender and leave out the Modern Heat elements for a change.
Robyn
Hi Robyn and Rach,
It seems that alot of aspiring writers fall between the lines. A new line would solve problems for lots of us I think!
A point worth thinking of is trying to complete one of each, to feel where your voice lies. I have completed one aimed at Romance and I have nearly completed one for Modern. Funny thing is I am actually enjoying notching the emotion etc up a few gears and exploring exotic settings although I still wonder if my hero is alpha enough in the begining.
Rach, to have received an encouraging rejection letter, from what I understand is just that – encouraging. Keep at it. If I get that from my first submission I’ll be really happy. Time will tell.
Happy writing,
Rachael
Dear Chris
As a courtesy, I thought it best to check with Kim and Jo before posting about the top 10 cliches, particularly as I didn’t want to misquote them. They’ve said that they’ll be using this presentation elsewhere and for that reason, would rather it wasn’t blogged about. In a way, you don’t need to know anyway, because the really important info is in my original post.
Hope to see you at one of next year’s events.
Warm wishes
Mary
Hi Mary
Nice to meet you at the conference – sorry I didn’t get more of a chance to chat, there just wasn’t enough time to fit everything in! It was a great experience for me as a newbie author to Presents to meet fellow authors published and unpublished alike. I was only able to attend on the Saturday but found all the talks hugely useful and inspiring. Hope to attend for the full three days in future!
Regards, Sabrina
No problem Mary. I have a pretty good idea what they are anyway. Yes I hope to see you at next years conference.
Hi Sabrina, Congratulations on the sale of your first book and on your recent marriage. I’m looking forward to reading your book when it comes out here in the US.
Chris.