It’s convention time.
I really had no plans to go to RWA’s national conference this year, although my agent keeps telling me I need to try and go sometime. I might. If I stay in RWA. It’s debatable now sadly.
I’m not going to get into the reasons about that if. Most of it is probably stuff that readers don’t much care about anyway.
But in honor of nationals… I’m listing reasons why I’m glad I’m not there. An informal Thursday Thirteen of sorts.
- Considering the decision that came down from the board, I probably would have lost my temper. And it’s an ugly temper.
- I saved a heck of a lot of money by not going.
- I saved a heck of a lot of money because I didn’t have to worry about my wardrobe.
- I saved myself the headaches of standing in lines or being surrounded by people. It’s been established I’m not exactly a people person.
- I got to stay home and get roped into a Virtual Workshop, thanks to PBW. (insert sarcasm… )
- I didn’t have to worry about missing flights, losing luggage or dealing with airports.
- I get to stay home in my comfy jeans.
- I didn’t have to worry about transporting the whole family to Dallas for a week. Hey, I got little kids… I don’t need to be away from them that long… (and that would get expensive, taking them with)
- It’s hot enough in the Ohio Valley. I don’t want to think about how hot is in Dallas.
- When I eat chicken this week, it’s going to be good barbecued and grilled…not the catered stuff that usually doesn’t taste as good as it looks.
- I didn’t have to worry I’d embarass myself if I got to meet Nora Roberts. I would have (wince) squeed.
- I had time to go and pester my friend Lora Leigh and get the efile for her next Breed book. Nyah nyah nyah nyah…. Jaguar’s Kiss…. mine all mine.
- And last but not least…both Psych and Monk start back up Friday. I’d hate to have missing that.
Vamps and Scamps 
Great list. I’m with you on the whole crowd thing (and my definition of a crowd is shrinking *g*), as well as the whole make a fool of yourself in front of Nora (I tend to go speechless- the brain works to fast and the mouth doesn’t work at all, not a good thing). Happy TT.
P.S. I’m not sure I would join, even if I were eligible. I’ve worked at the dayjob for almost 8 years now, and I’ve yet to join ALA (Hey, they’re dues are expensive- I can buy tons of books with that money!).
Hi Shi:
I can’t imagine you not being a people person. As far as meeting Nora Roberts, I have met her twice at booksignings, (we both live in Maryland) and I can only normally get out how much I loved her last book, before I have to move on because the nervous get to me. She is so talented.
As far as RWA, I would love to hear your opinion. As an aspiring author everyone keeps telling me to join. The fees are the reason I haven’t joined yet, but I actually am planning on it in the next few weeks. Please let me know, you can email me personally if you want at lacey2002@md.metrocast.net.
Patty L.
Sounds like good reasons to me. Especially the one abot the kids. I have 2 little ones myself so I can definitely sympathize.
Hi Patty
RWA can be a great resource for an aspiring author…although I will say that I’ve gotten more support from my local chapter than the national organization.
that said…they’ve recently changed their guidelines that will exclude a number of small publishers that previously they had recognized. Their reasoning is faulty, I believe, and it’s simply a way for the board to make RWA more ‘exclusive’. I’m published by both small and larger publishers, so personally, it won’t affect me much, although I would imagine there will still be those who treat me like an ugly red headed step child, so to speak, but that was the case before this latest deal with RWA.
Now these are just my opinions. I’m not in Dallas and I only know what I put together from reading the guidelines. But there’s my two cents for what it’s worth.
And 😛 I thought it was common knowledge I’m not a people person.
Hi Shi…just wondering about what you meant by the decision that came down from the board…meaning how they are defining vanity publishers?? i am pretty much a total newbie to the publishing world, and i had no idea that such a blatant line was being drawn in the sand on this…your thoughts???
(you can always reply to/scold me/rant at me at mshaink@yahoo.com, if you like)
🙂
wow, and you just answered by question before i even finished typing….you’re GOOD. but yeah, i think that this decision is incediary, but can’t help but see the other side (like mrs. giggles) and see that they are also attempting to keep standard high, etc. but could someone please tell me (perhpas with an example) of what they mean when they say a “vanity publisher is publishers whose primary means of offering books for sale is through a publisher-generated Web site”…i mean, wouldn’t this include basically ALL THE E-PUBLISHERS??? how can they do that??
unfortunately they are lumping epubs in with vanity pubs from what i can tell.
i can understand the need to keep standards high.
BUT… they aren’t being fair here and it’s almost like they keep changing the requirements just so the smaller people can’t keep up.
A lot of epubs sell their ebooks on their website, and that’s where most of them are bought, although some do sell thru places like amazon or fictionwise. I assume that’s where they are making their distinction, but it’s not a fair distinction. They seem to think that epublishing isn’t lucrative to the author, but just like any other publishing industry, there are going to be some that make a decent living from writing alone, and others who have to write and work. It’s the way it goes.
Yay! I’m so looking forward to the Monk and Psych season premieres tomorrow.
As for joining associations, I can relate. There are waaay too many Math and Math Education associations. I joined a bunch of them for one year just to see which are worth paying the yearly dues. I’m still not sure what to do at the end of the year and I really can’t afford to pay them all every year from now to eternity…
Hey and if you were at home, that meant you were writing, and that’s always good news.
I heard about RWA’s decision and that’s extremely disappointing. From what I’ve heard, the organization works just fine at the local level, it’s the National part that seems to not be as…welcoming, and that’s really, really sad.
I’m not a fan of big crowds either, but I was willing to suck it up last year in Atlanta and don’t regret going. It was a lot of fun.
Great list.
Thanks for the reminder (again!) about how you have that Breed book, ya meanie. LOL
I understand about not wanting to lug the kids around. Also, I wouldn’t be able to leave mine for a week either.
(Lady Chantal)
WoOT!!!
I had Jaguar’s Kiss. longer than you did nyah nyah nyah nyah