10. I love being around authors who get that I am excited because I figured out how to kill off my evil sister-in-law with a character whose name is uncannily similar to hers. It tickles me to death when I even get hints on how to make the death a slow one!
9. OMG! The workshops are incredible. Okay, so last year in DC, I only made a few of them. Too much partying can ruin the best of intentions. The workshops I did make were really good, though. And the literacy signing!! Where else can you get up close and personal with your favorite authors like Jenny Crusie.
Am I twelve or what???
8. Freebies. I adore them. I even love the free toy in my Frosted Flakes. I especially love the free books we get at conferences and I get orgasmic in the RWA Goody Room. (What can I say? I'm a cheap date!!)
7. Putting faces with names for the editors and agents and big time authors. Some of them look nothing like I pictured. That goes for the not so big ones, too. Case in point - the elderly woman resembling my grandmother who overheard me say I didn't like some of the words used in erotica and proceeded to inform me she was an erotica author. Seriously??? I have the utmost respect for any author, including genres I don't write, but seriously??
6. Which brings me to this next one. I love asking people what they write because I am always surprised. If I imagined you writing inspirational, you tell me you write vampire erotica. Again, seriously??
5. I love hooking up with peeps and meeting new ones. I am such a people person (refer to an earlier blog titled "Mother do you have to talk to everyone??)
4. Crashing the Harlequin party. Those people know how to have fun. Hope none of the HQ bigwigs are reading this and station a big guy at the door to keep my cute butt out.
3. Being able to tell from the ribbons a lot about an author. This year I get my pink first sale ribbon as well as my PAN one. Woo hoo! I am more excited about this than I am about the conference.
2. Laughing until my face feels like it will crumble. Writers are hysterical. It's like we use the conference time to act like our characters instead of the librarians, nurses, and lawyers we really are.
And the number one reason why I love conferences is The Bar. You can always find old friends as well as new ones hanging out there.
This year, I plan on doing tequila shooters to celebrate my sale. Oh yeah, I can't forget Kari's sale to Berkley, too. Sheesh! Anita sold this year too. Oh dear God, I forgot Rochelle's.
New contest. Guess how many workshops I'll make this year!!!
Chime in here and tell me what you like about conferences. And if you see me in Orlando, come up and introduce yourself. I might even buy you a drink, especially if you catch me after all those shooters. Hell, I might as well do one with you. We'll celebrate that we're writers and most importantly that we left hubbies and kids at home. Someone else is going to cook for us.
Party on.
26 comments:
This is my first National and I'm psyched! I really identified with #10, LOL!
For me, one of the reasons I love conferences is that I'm not the organizer. I usually help with GRW's Moonlight and Magnolias and even my little parts have been time consuming.
I am volunteering at Nationals by moderating, but it's not the same as helping at your own local conference. (Which, BTW has Allison Brennan and Michael Hague this year!)
So, maybe I'll see you in the bar, although I probably can't handle more than one shooter, LOL! I still be having major fun since the social part is always a blast!
Liz: As always, you are a scream!! I can't wait to see you. If I had to choose which of the 10 were the best for me--- it's seeing all you guys. I love the sessions, but I'd pass everyone up for a chance to get caught up with you and my other buddies. Only days away!
Debbie, you are so right about enjoying someone else's hard work. It's like cut-up fruit. If someone else takes the time to do that, I could eat it all day. Otherwise it sits in my fridge until it gets rotten.
Make that number 11 for me.
And about those shooters, I talk a good game. In reality, I am a one-margarita-a-night girl - not by choice. I get a next day headache that isn't worth the extra drink.
I'm also moderating a workshop this year - the one about when Hollywood notices, starring our own Kari Townsend, Christine Witthohn, and a Hollywood producer who has optioned Kari's MG book.
I can't wait to meet you in person.
Cassy, I also can't wait to shoot the bull with you and everyone else I've met along the way.
Conferences are a great way to reconnect with old and new friends. I know the Internet is great, but face to face can't be beat.
See you in a few weeks.
Great list.
My favorite part is always the new people I meet.
Waves hand! I'm in for shooters!
I WISH I could go to National! This is the third one that I've had to miss. :-( I miss connecting with other authors and my GIAM buds. I'll be doing shooters at home, Liz!
Liz, I'm with you on the headache. Plus, too much messes with my blood sugar levels and it's just not worth it. I'll probably get one drink and sip through the evening. Usually something very fruity. I'm moderating Spotlight on Avon and Breaking Rules to Break In or Break Out (Allison Brennan, et al)
Hope to see you at some point during the conference
Liz,
Shooter-that the ladies word for what us guys call shots. If so then I'm with you. One shot is enough, actually more than enough.
And I agree with the putting names to faces. Let's face it Liz, you just love peeps.
This is the first National in four years I'm missing but it can't be helped.
Oh, and Cassy, try to keep Liz out of trouble.
Mary, I'm looking forward to tipping the shot glass with you, too.
You are too funny, Liz. I can't wait to see you at Nationals, and everyone else, too.
Margaret, I'm going to miss you. We'll bet thinking about you when we get together for the GIAM party.
Debbie, the workshops sound wonderful. I'll have to check them out. Sorry, you get headaches, too. I had my Bunko group here for a sleepover Friday night and I made Brandy slushes. I had one and ended up taking ibuprofen all day Saturday.
So not worth it for me.
Lindsay, I guess being way up north, you don't get to see many tequila shooters. That's where you chug a shot of tequila, then lick the salt off the back of your hand and squeeze a lime wedge in your mouth, all in a matter of seconds.
We did one for Kari's sale last year at the bar. Damn near killed me!!
I'll see you at Crime Bake in November, but I'm sure I'll be all shooter-ed out.
Anita, don't forget, we have to celebrate your sale to SourceBooks, too.
Note to self: Bring lots of ibuprofen.
Liz, Last I checked salt and lime or lemon after a shot was the only way to do tequila.
Looking forwaard to the Crime Bake. Maybe we should limit the drinks to wine if you don't think you can handle a real drink.
Liz, your list is great!
I'm heading for my second Nationals (first was Dallas.) What I love about them is the opportunity to meet new people.
This is a major objective, because I'm terminally shy. Making that decision to actually go out and talk to people is a giant step.
This year I took a deep but wavering breath and volunteered to moderate, so I'm going to need a serious margarita afterward--or maybe before :)
LOL Liz...I swear the one we did last year was a double! Snort. And Barb couldn't even finish hers! Hee hee, I can't wait for this year! Love the workshops, love the people....love the bar!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, folks, don't forget I did Reiki on the floor last year at National. Christine said her ankle felt better and YOU, Kari dear, did say you could feel it on you back. But no one will ever believe we laughed so hard sitting on the floor and had NO drinks at all. That's about being with good people. Did we shut the place down?
I can't wait to see you and all my pals, Liz.
I love all the reasons you mentioned!
May i touch your ribbon?
I'm back from the hair salon and I'm still blond!!~Flipping it up - Bet you thought I was a natural blond!!
Lindsay, I usually ask for as "sissy" margarita!! Is that a real drink??
Wine gives me a headache, too.
Barb, good for you for volunteering and getting out of your comfort zone. I am definitely not terminally shy, yet I still have a hard time speaking in front of a crowd. I'll have that margarita with you.
And for the record, a lot of writers are shy and in the same boat, which is why you should go out of your way to speak to them.
Kari, I think you're right. They were huge. I felt my hair curling as soon as I put the shot glass down. It was worth it to celebrate your sale, though.
Cassy, I do remember your Reiki. You had Kari moaning on the floor when you did her back.
And yes, we did shut the place down.
Mary, I can't wait to hang out with you, too. It seems like forever.
And yes, you can touch my ribbon!!!!!!!!!! You will have your own soon.
Ladies you ate definitely strange. Touching ribbons- don't want to know. Moaning on the floor no matter the reason- TMI. Drinking sissy margaritas, didn't know there was such a thing.
Liz-bottle blonde and curly. Explains a lot
Barb you sound like the only sane one going.
Here's reason number 11-
Getting a book for a friend who can't attend the conference at the literacy signing for him
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