a.c.Mason

Let me go back to talking about day four before I give my over all impressions of the conference.

Another wonderful day of sessions and interesting information presented.

In the morning, I went to the art of collaborations since I’m in the middle of doing just that with another author. I would have liked to go to the spotlight on St. Martin’s Press but I can’t submit to them at this point because I don’t have an agent so I focused on other things.

Sherry Lewis’s Why, why, why? Was a delight. I can’t tell you how wonderful this course was. If you can check out her website. It was wonderful to know I get it! I’d like to say that my editor Mary did a wonderful job teaching me how to show the reader. I can’t even bring myself to look back at the original MS I submitted of Aequitas I Betrayal, because my work has evolved so much from the copy I sent in. I listened to Mary because after talking to her I knew she got my work. She understood where I was going with the book and if she was pulling stuff out of me or asking me to refine the craft she was doing it to help others see the my diamond sometimes hidden in the coal mind.

I went to the how to sale to Harlequin’s London office. I found the session enlightening. The personalities of writers they presented let me know where I fit in.  I also went to the miniseries workshop, another one put on by Harlequin. We did have the fire alarms go off during these session so if you get the mp3s that’s what all the noise is. I will be getting some of the recordings from the sessions as I can buy individual ones this year.

I followed up with the Dorchester spotlight. Christopher Keeslar one of the few males in the Romance business was an interesting presenter and provided time for us to ask questions.

I was blown away by the look inside an editors mind session. I’m so very grateful for Leslie Waiger’s openness with us. I need to rework my synopsis!

The last workshop I attended was the High-Octane Kisses. I’m not the only one writing stuff that’s bordering the lines of romance. Jump for joy! Don’t get me wrong, I love romance but I just wonder sometimes if I’m the only one writing outside the box. But now I know I’m not.

Even this many days later, my head is still full of ideas and information swimming around on how I can do better with my writing.

Over all what I took out of the RWA conference for 2009.

• 1) Don’t be afraid to be different.
• 2) Don’t hold back in your writing.
• 3) Always show over tell.
• 4) Plot. Even after, you’ve completed the manuscript it’s never too late. I never plot first. As you look back and do your rewrite, you can improve your book by out lining the plot.
• 5) Give your character grounded motivations and don’t go for the cliché.
• 6) Get a critique partner out of your genre if they are always asking you why are the characters doing this or that you haven’t made the motivations clear and your relying on genre clichés to carry the work.
• 7) If you want to succeed as an author, you’ve got to treat your writing like a job not a hobby and put the hours in every day. I put in an equal amount of hours at my day job as my writing so that one day writing will be my day job.
• If you can’t love your characters, don’t expect us to.
• 9) Be bold and dig deep in your own emotions to suck in your reader.
• 10) Never stop learning.
• 11) Give back to other authors starting out.
• 12) Be kind.

I knew most of these things going into the conference but hearing the people that are looking at our work, day in and out reassures the neurotic author in my head was fantastic.

1) Fitting in the box is awesome too.

2) Writing by formula is not a dirty word.

Trust yourself to tell the story you have inside you and not the one you think will sale.

Last, I want to talk about the awards ceremony. I think everyone there could sense the joy of those writers recognized by fellow authors. Writing is often work done in isolation and I’m sure being affirmed was an honor for all the winners. Congratulations to all this year’s winners and nominees for 2009.

I’ll be posting some photos on my website.

Mason

a.c.Mason

Darkness ♀♂ Desires

www.acmason.com

Aequitas I Betrayal, from Lyrical Press, Inc http://www.lyricalpress.com/

I hope you’ll take moment to look at the review for AIB.

Rating: You Need To Read

http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-aequitas-1-betrayal-by-ac-mason.html

I want to thank Laura for taking the time to review AIB and I’m glad she enjoyed the story. I hope she will join Auria and Etienne on the next leg of their journey.

Mason

I know that I usually post a blog on Monday but I’ve been under weather for the last couple of days. I will be posting on Thursday a more detailed blog on the last day of RWA and all the wonderful information I can share with your about the great stuff I learned.

Mason

a.c.Mason

www.acmason.om

My morning started at 4:30 am. Why you ask? The sound of wood hitting my hotel room wall in a slow rhythm woke  me. No problem. Right? I thought the same thing, I’ll just wait until it stops and go back to bed.

5:30 am no sign of this slowing down by this point I’ve taken out my computer and started writing not about what’s going on in the room next to me.

6:15 am I start to do a workout knowing the noise isn’t going to stop and I have a busy day ahead of me.

I shower get dressed 7:30 am still no end to the noise. I head out for my day.

Before I left for the conference, I highlighted all the workshops I wanted to go to so I pull out my handy little sheet and cross referenced with the conference program and headed off.

Mastering Your Domain, was the first activity I attended. The decusion was interesting the panel answered a lot of questions.

Originally, I had thought I would go to the 15 Synopsis workshop but after discovering at the first timer evening, what the spotlight for the publishers were. I went to the Harlequin Single tittles spotlight and Avon books.

After the wonderful Eloisa James award luncheon I went to Donald Maass this was a really well done workshop. He even gave exercises to do on the spot for your current WIP.

Last, I went to TOR’s spotlight.

I had all this great new clothing for the conference. I bought a pretty white Jones of New York pant and they did a total wrinkle thing on me. Bummer. And the buttons came off the jacket sleeveso if you notice one of my characters has malfunctions in one of my books. That’s a part of me coming into my work as I’m always having something happen to my clothing.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I will post a longer more detailed blog on what I feel I learned at this year’s conference once I’m back home.

Mason,

a.c.Mason

www.acmason.com

The day got off to a wondrous start with Janet Evanovich. I laughed was moved emotionally, and  inspired.

Information I knew instinctively about the business side of writing was confirmed for me.

The keynote speaker Linda Howard was witty and entertaining.

I met another wonderful group of passionate writers today throughout my day.

I got another bunch of books so I think, I now have a year and half of reading to do. If I could straight, read them. Two years ago when I decided to write as more than a hobby I gave up T.V. and  reading. I couldn’t spend the time I needed on my own work if I was busy doing other things. Aside from the occasional outing to the movies, I write or with my family.

I really enjoyed the panel with the Harlequin Editors.

I’m hoping for another great day of learning.

Mason

The view from my hotel room and my reflection.