Please Note
The meetings listed below have already taken place.Most WRW meetings are taped. If you would like to check out the tapes from a previous meeting or workshop, please contact our Library/Archives Chair, Julie Stewart.
December 7
We end our year with our annual Holiday party hosted by the lovely Jeanne Adams.
November 15, 2008
Brenda Novak
Award-winning and bestselling author Brenda Novak will teach WRW members how to make their stories more emotional and how to overcome discouragement in their writing careers. While her first published novel was a historical romance, Novak built her name through her popular Harlequin Superromance stories and romantic suspense novels for HQN and Mira. She also started an online auction to benefit juvenile diabetes and has raised more than a quarter million dollars in just three years. Novak will present two workshops.
Schedule:
10:00 – 12:00, Emotion: The Heart of the Novel
12:00 – 2:00, Lunch
2:00 – 4:00, Overcoming Discouragement and Other Obstacles to Success
Emotion: The Heart of the Novel, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
A writer has the power, through her stories, to reach into the very soul of a reader and confirm his or her basic belief that good conquers evil and love reigns supreme. But to a new or even experienced writer, that sounds like a pretty tall order. In EMOTION—THE HEART OF THE NOVEL, Brenda Novak takes this abstract concept and breaks it down into several concrete methods a writer can use to tap into those universal emotions that touch us deeply and make a lasting impression.
Lunch, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Overcoming Discouragement and Other Obstacles to Success, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
In OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT AND OTHER OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS, bestselling author Brenda Novak discusses the fears and doubts that can creep in and paralyze even the most talented author. She also addresses goal setting, which overcomes procrastination; attitude, which overcomes discouragement; and problem-solving skills, which turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
September 13, 2008
Trish Milburn and WRW annual meeting
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
RWA board member, former PRO Liaison, and multi-genre published author Trish Milburn will teach WRW members about the importance of setting, time management and perseverance.
Milburn wrote 17 manuscripts and two partials before selling her first book on July 24, 2007, to Razorbill, a division of Penguin Putnam Young Adult Readers, as part of a contract for two young adult novels. On October 26, 2007, she sold two novels to Harlequin American Romance. She is also an American Title finalist. Her first Harlequin American novel, A Firefighter in the Family, is a September 2008 release, and Heartbreak River, her first young adult novel written under the pen name Tricia Mills, will be published in Spring 2009.
During her journey to publication, Milburn finaled in the RWA Golden Heart Contest 8 times and won twice. She has held several offices for her local chapter Music City Romance Writers, served as the RWA PRO Liaison, and is a current RWA board member. She blogs with the Wet Noodle Posse, the Romance Bandits and on her Web site www.trishmilburn.com.
At the September meeting, Trish will present three workshops.
Schedule:
10:00 - 11:30 - Making Your Setting Come Alive
11:30 - 1:30 - Lunch and Annual General Meeting
1:30 - 3:00 - Yes, You Do Have Time to Write: Ways to Make Yourself Write, Even in Five-Minute Increments
3:00 - 3:10 - Break
3:10 - 4:10 - The Importance of Perseverance and Treating Your Writing Like a Career Even Before You Sell
Making Your Setting Come Alive, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Have you ever read a book where the setting was so unimportant that the story could have taken place anywhere? And have you read books in which the setting was so alive that it was almost a character itself? It’s no surprise you want to shoot for the latter scenario with your own books. In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- How to use familiar settings/what you know to enhance your storytelling
- How to make the most of on-site research
- How to make it seem as if you’ve visited the setting of your book even when you haven’t
- Ways to research locales you can’t visit
- How to take bits and pieces of real-life settings to create a totally fictional one
- How to make secondary characters a part of your setting
Lunch and General Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Yes, You Do Have Time to Write: Ways to Make Yourself Write, Even in Five-Minute Increments, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
There are only 24 hours in everyone’s day, so why do some people seem to get more done than others? It’s a matter of focus and priorities. In this workshop, we’ll cover the following areas:
- Not falling into the trap of excuses
- Multi-tasking and getting rid of clutter
- Being efficient
- Getting motivated
- Goal setting (will include several types of handouts/charts that will help you with this task)
Another handout will include common excuses for not writing, ways to utilize small snippets of time for writing, ways to motivate yourself to write, how to trick yourself into writing, and other useful time tips.
The Importance of Perseverance and Treating Your Writing Like a Career Even Before You Sell, 3:10 - 4:10 p.m.
The road to publication is often long and filled with heartache. Rejections hit your mailbox, editors who like your work leave the publisher, and the book of your heart doesn’t touch anyone else’s. It’s hard to keep plugging along, but the longer you do, the more likely you are to reach that ultimate goal of seeing your book on bookstore shelves. The key is to persevere and treat your writing like a career, even before you earn a single penny from your work.
In this presentation, I’ll talk some about the roller coaster I was on for more than a decade before I sold and how I managed to keep going. I’ll also include inspirational stories from other writers who took a long time to sell but who kept at it until they did.
June 14, 2008
Madeline Hunter, All Day Workshop
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
Conference Room A
4805 Edgemoor Lane; Bethesda, Maryland
Directions: here
Phone: 240-777-8200
10 am - Noon The Book That Writes Itself
Does your story bog down on page 200? Are you swimming through mud on page 250? Do you get feedback from editors that says the story is not special enough? In this workshop, through presentations and a hands-on exercise, Madeline will explain how a good conflict is the key to a good story, and how finding a strong conflict will improve everything about your story---structure, scene development and characterization--- and energize the story so much that it writes itself. The workshop will conclude with Madeline’s conflict-driven synopsis template. A set of colored highlighters will make the hands-on exercise easier, but they are not necessary. Be sure to bring a synopsis or story idea with you too.
2 pm - 4 pm The Numbers Game
Join Madeline Hunter for her popular workshop on numbers---what they are, how they count, how to get them. From print runs to sell-through, from account buys to bestseller lists, Madeline will explain how numbers affect writers and their careers. Unpublished members will learn what all that fancy terminology really means, and published writers will be able to discuss questions and issues regarding numbers. Madeline promises to be indiscreet whenever possible.
Madeline Hunter’s first romance was published in June 2000, and she received the award for Waldenbooks Bestselling Debut Author that year. Since then she has seen sixteen historical romances published. Over two million copies of her books are in print in the US and her books have also been translated into nine languages. She is a six time RITA finalist, and won the long historical RITA in 2003 for Stealing Heaven. Fifteen of her books have been on the USA Today bestseller list, and she has also had titles on the NYTimes list and the Waldenbooks paperback fiction list. She has received two starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times has awarded thirteen of her books 4 ½ stars. Madeline holds a Ph.D. in Art History, which she teaches at the college level. Madeline’s next release, scheduled for Fall 2008, is titled The Sins of Lord Easterbrook.
May 17, 2008
Sally MacKenzie
Time: 10:15 - 12:15
Location: Fairfax City Library
Directions: click here
Once the euphoria of “the Call” wears off, a new author must face the nitty gritty realities of publication. Join USA Today bestselling author and WRW member Sally MacKenzie to discuss agents, contracts, production, print runs, promotion, paranoia, and other publishing perils.
If you have any topics you’d particularly like covered, please email them by May 1 to Sally at .
April 2008
WRW’s annual retreat, In the Company of Writers, will be at the amazing facilities at The Bolger Center in Potomac, Maryland.
Please join us for Washington Romance Writer’s Bookseller’s Luncheon, April 6th from 1-4 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Silver Spring.
February 16, 2008
Location: Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road, Arlington, VA 22207
Phone: 703-524-4115
10:00 — 12:00 — Marketing 101 for Writers: a workshop on self-promotion, marketing, and public relations for published (and yet to publish) authors w/ Jeanne Adams
Everyone wonders about bookmarks. Do they work? What about pens? Giveaways? What about advertising, should you do it? And public relations (PR) what about that? Is is different from advertising? (It is, by the way!)
Whether you’re published or AYU (As Yet Unpublished) you can profit from learning the basics of how to market yourself as a writer and boost the sale of your books. We’ll talk about everything from how to get your name out, the top ten places to send your press release (and how to write one!), and the basics of giving a fifteen minute talk about romance, writing and, specifically your book.
Jeanne Adams lives in Maryland with her handsome husband, two charming sons and her Dalmatian. A former marketing executive working for research parks, governmental concerns and not-for-profits, Jeanne is now a consultant and full-time writer. A member and frequent speaker for Romance Writers of America and its various chapters, Jeanne loves to connect with readers and other writers. Her book “Dark and Dangerous” (Zebra Romantic Suspense) will be published in June 2008. Visit her at http://www.JeanneAdams.com
12:00 — 2:00 — Lunch
2:00 — 3:00 — “Improv Techniques for Writers” (Or How to Drive a Stake Through the Heart of Your Inner Critic So Your Muse Will Come Out to Play) with Denise McInerney
The Art of Improvisation has been around for centuries and isn’t just for actors or comedians. Writers can employ the same techniques to jump-start their writing, to solve problems, explore characters—and much more. Learning Improv techniques can help people get out of their own way, cram a sock in their internal editor’s nagging maw, and increase production and productivity by learning to make connections by trusting their own subconscious. Improvisation techniques can be just the tool you need to help flex your creative muscles and pump fresh blood into your anemic muse.
This workshop is fun, lively, interactive and non-threatening. The cardinal rule of Improv is, “There are NO WRONG ANSWERS.” So you can’t possibly say anything wrong or stupid. The rest of the group will accept what you’ve said and then carry the idea forward. Gee, what an empowering concept! Where else can you go, where, no matter what you say, everyone else agrees with you—and also agrees your response was the very best possible of all responses!
Denise McInerney earned an undergraduate degree in English and a Masters in Theatre, but in spite of these impediments, eventually managed to find gainful employment as manager of the expatriate program for British Aerospace, where she also did corporate training. Two years ago, Denise developed an innovative new workshop to show writers how to use improvisational comedy techniques to spur creativity in their own writing process.
Denise resides with her husband and one spoiled border collie in Northern Virginia. In their precious little spare time, the humans perform improvisational comedy (a la “Who’s Line is it Anyway?") at the D.C. Comedy Improv Club in Washington, D.C.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Mary Lenaburg and Michelle Butler — WRW Programming Co-Chairs
January 26, 2008
Throw Out the Lifeline: Rescue strategies when your novel is sinking fast
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
Conference Room A
4805 Edgemoor Lane; Bethesda, Maryland
Directions: here
Phone: 240-777-8200
10:00 am—Noon: Throw Out the Lifeline: Rescue strategies when your novel is sinking fast
Noon—1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30—3:00: Small groups
So your first draft is finished, and you don’t need a critique group to tell you that the idea you carefully nurtured into a full blown manuscript never came alive. The potential is still there, but how do you really tap it on the second try? Do you splash around in the sea of your unconscious, changing this a little, adding a dollop of that? Do you toss the whole book overboard and hope the next one is better? Or do you throw out the lifeline and rescue only what’s good and consciously let the rest of it, well . . . float away?
Emilie Richards will explore the elements usually at fault in a sinking manuscript and give strategies for pumping life back into them. In the afternoon we’ll work in small groups on a “boring” synopsis, practicing artificial respiration and hopefully having fun while we’re at it. Come prepared to brainstorm.
Emilie Richards is the author of sixty-something novels, a RITA winner, and the recipient of a number of Romantic Times awards. Currently she writes a series for Mira Books using quilt blocks as metaphors for the lives of women in a small Shenandoah Valley town. Book four, Touching Stars, came out in July. She also writes a cozy mystery series, Ministry is Murder, for Berkley Prime Crime. The third in that series, Beware False Profits, debuted in November.
