{"id":2837,"date":"2013-08-20T22:57:50","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T12:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/?p=2837"},"modified":"2020-08-14T11:32:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T01:32:19","slug":"10-things-i-learned-at-the-romance-writers-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/2013\/08\/10-things-i-learned-at-the-romance-writers-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things I learned at the Romance Writers Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"juliaquinnquote\"<\/a>I was going to call this post ‘Seven things I learned at the Romance Writers Conference’, but then I realised that I’d already done that one<\/a>. Three years ago. So I put together ten things I learned about writing romance novels.<\/p>\n

I can’t believe it’s been three years since I sprinkled myself with fairy dust and love potion and headed off to talk heaving bosoms (actually, yes), hardened members (yes, that too) and steely gazes (sigh…).<\/p>\n

To be fair, all three of those things came up in a fabulous talk by Sarah Wendell<\/a>, half of the brains behind Smart Bitches, Trashy Books<\/a> (a blog worth reading even if you are not a romance fan – it’s funny!), but I’m so glad they did. Because, really, what’s a romance writers conference without them, right? Yep, I learned a lot at the ‘avoiding romantic cliches’ talk… (she says, gazing wistfully into the distance<\/em>).<\/p>\n

So, anyway, where was I (she says, biting her bottom lip<\/em>). Oh yes, that’s right (she says, heaving a huge sigh<\/em>). You expect a blog post from me (she says, storming from the room<\/em>) and I need to come up with something different (she says, biting her bottom lip<\/em>).<\/p>\n

I can do it (she thought, resolutely, standing straighter and tossing her hair<\/em>). What I really need is a hero (hair slightly longer than fashionable, broad shoulders, steely gaze<\/em>) idea.<\/p>\n

What can I do? (she asks, eyes darting nervously around the room, revealing hidden depths<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Got it (she says, snapping her fingers under a lightbulb*<\/em>). I’ll give you (every part of my being, now and forever<\/em>) 10 of the things I learned at the Romance Writers of Australia Conference 2013<\/a> – and most of them are relevant to all writers, no matter what genre (she says, eyes flashing<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Takes deep, shuddering breath<\/em>.<\/p>\n

1. Back up your computer. Julia Quinn<\/a>, NY Times Bestselling Author, was quite adamant about this. She learned the hard way.<\/p>\n

2. Julia’s other two top tips: Know your market. Writers write.<\/p>\n

3. The definition of ‘published author’ is not as clear-cut as it once was. Writers have more pathways than ever to publication.<\/p>\n

4. Pay attention to your readers – what you want as a writer is not the key to a great story, it’s the reader that counts. There may be a story that you want to tell<\/em>, but is it the story the reader wants to read<\/em>?<\/p>\n

5. Know where to start your story. If there are pirates on the horizon, get them on board!<\/p>\n

6. Editors will read a submission with two things in mind: the potential market and their own taste. Choosing the right editor to whom to submit your work is essential.<\/p>\n

7. Don’t bury your hooks. Put the promise upfront in your story (and then make sure you keep it) (yes, she says, you need a wave-crashing climax<\/em>)<\/p>\n

8. You do not want your opening scene to feel familiar. It has to be fresh, even if it’s been done before.<\/p>\n

9. Authors can get in their own way. Back-story needs to be handled carefully, and you can undo tension by overthinking it.<\/p>\n

10. “Romance novels may not change the world, but they make people HAPPY. What could be more important than that?” – Julia Quinn<\/p>\n

So there you have it (she says, stretching luxuriously with a satisfied, cat-like smile<\/em>).<\/p>\n

*okay, not romantic cliche, but sometimes corporate cliche has its place<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s your favourite romance novel cliche?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was going to call this post ‘Seven things I learned at the Romance Writers Conference’, but then I realised that I’d already done that one. Three years ago. So I put together ten things I learned about writing romance novels. I can’t believe it’s been three years since I sprinkled myself with fairy dust […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,5],"tags":[723],"class_list":["post-2837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-for-writers","category-writing","tag-how-to-write-a-book"],"yoast_head":"\nWriting romance novels: tips from RWA Conference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tips for writing romance from the Romance Writers Conference. 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