8.1.05 26th Annual RWA Conference

On Sunday, July 31, I returned home from Romance Writers of America's (RWA) 25th Annual National Conference that was held in Reno, California. After a day or two of rest, it is time to plan for next year's conference. I know that we have a whole year until the next conference. And frankly, there just isn't time to waste in preparing for it.

Where some plan their new year's resolutions at the beginning of the calendar year, I plan my writing goals at the end of each national conference.

Like most conference attendees, I'm returning home filled with renewed energy to write the best story I can and to get that story published. I am excited to make my next conference experience an even better one.

These are my goals:

Mail requested material to agent. I was fortunate enough to get an agent appointment and she requested to see my manuscript. I can't dally on this goal. I must mail it out soon. If you received a request for either a partial or a full, send it out as soon as you can.

If you didn't have an opportunity to pitch to an editor or agent, or didn't even attend conference, don't skip this step. You can still pitch your story. Do it by sending out query letters. Do it by attending local conferences or chapter meetings where editors and/or agents will be present. Pitch your story now. Don't wait for next conference. This will be good practice for concisely stating your story at the next conference.

Keep in touch. This was my fourth conference, but truly, this was the first I made a concerted effort to meet new people. But true networking is not just making contact with strangers. It is maintaining contact with the people you meet. You never know when a contact can be helpful to you in the future. I collected business cards for a reason, to strengthen the tentative friendships I have already made.

Write. Need I say more? It would be difficult to be a published author if you don't have something to sell.

Enter contests. Contests are a great way to solicit feedback on your writing and to build up your manuscript's "resume".

Maintain my website. One of my goals for the Reno Conference, was to have a website. I met that goal. For next year, I want my website to be updated regularly and to be visited. You can help by visiting regularly and dropping me an email.

Study the business. There's a lot I need to learn about the ins and outs of getting published, the process of selling your book to the publishing house and to the readers, and about the legalities of publishing. The business constantly changes and; therefore, we need to keep on top of it.

Save money. It is never too early to start putting away some money every month to pay for next year's conference fees, hotel fees, transportation, and etc.

These are my goals for next year. What are yours?

Hope to see you in Atlanta, Georgia!

By the way, here are some pictures from conference.

The conference kicks off with a literary signing where all proceeds are donated to a literacy program. Pictured are me, published author Sage Grayson, and published author Doreen DeSalvo.

At the literary signing, a number of my San Francisco Area chapter mates were signing their books. Pictured here is Jennifer Skully signing her book Sex and the Serial Killer

The conference ends with the Awards celebration. And after all the winners are announced, we celebrate with chocolate. Pictured are a few of my San Francisco Area Chapter mates: (i-r) Shannon Monroe, Poppy Reiffen, me, published author Pam Rosenthal, published author Doreen DeSalvo, and Jackie Yau.

All pictures are property of Madelyn Bello.