Please Note
The meetings listed below have already taken place.Most WRW meetings are recorded. If you would like to check out the tapes or mp3 discs from a previous meeting or workshop, please contact our Library/Archives Chair, Julie Stewart.
December Holiday Party
Dear WRW Friends –
It comes but once a year – the annual WRW Holiday Party – and you are invited!
WHEN: Sunday, December 13, from 2 pm to 5 pm
WHERE: Kathy Gilles Seidel’s house (email Keely Thrall for address and directions)
WHAT TO BRING: If you love, love, love to cook or bake please contact Merry Banerji to let her know what you’ll be bringing so we can keep things a bit coordinated. If the culinary arts fairy passed you by, bring a festive beverage (soda, juice, wine) to share instead. Or just yourself – we don’t need everyone to bring something. **Please no pork or shellfish**
Please join your friends and colleagues at this much anticipated, much enjoyed open house get together. It is a highlight of the holiday season!
November 7
Morning Session - 10 AM
Published authors—and those who hope to be—mark your calendars for this all-day event with RWA’s 2008 Vivian Stephens Industry Award winner, romance buyer Sue Grimshaw of Borders Group Inc. Sue shares the latest strategies and programs Borders uses to get romance novels noticed… and sold to consumers.
Afternoon Session - Immediately after lunch break
Sue talks sales, discussing such topics as book placement and shelving. A personalized tour of a nearby Borders store is pending. (More information will be offered as it becomes available. Maps would be provided at the morning session.) Learn the why’s and wherefore’s of the bookseller’s trade, and how you might be able to apply that knowledge to benefit your bottom line.
October 17
Morning Session - 10 AM
New RWA National President, WRW’s own Michelle Monkou, joins us for a two-part presentation. The author of ten titles, including the Ladies of Distinction series for Harlequin’s Kimani Romance line, Michelle will present a mini-workshop geared toward building stronger scenes… and the discipline it takes to stay in the chair. Before lunch, Michelle goes National, giving us the scoop on the complex connection between National and local chapters. In the afternoon, she’ll join WRW’s past presidents for a panel and take your questions.
Afternoon Session - approximately 1:30 PM
Ever wonder how participating in WRW can help you reach your publishing goals? WRW’s past presidents share how serving helped them toward their own career objectives, plus ways members can get the most out of membership. Questions will be taken. Later, our current chapter president, Keely Thrall, puts her vision for WRW to work for you through a hands-on mini-workshop focused on critique techniques and the Marlene.
September 12
Morning Session - 10 AM
Prepare to roll up your sleeves and take apart a publishing contract to examine all of the important clauses, with an emphasis on any differences between e-book and print book contracts. In the course of this, also learn about those “hot” new publishing issues that have recently cropped up. Our speaker, Elaine English, is an attorney and literary agent in Washington, DC, who has been a long time friend and legal counsel for WRW. She’s been reviewing and negotiating publishing agreements for more than twenty-five years.
Around noon
WRW’s Annual Meeting will occur before we head to lunch. We need a quorum so please stick around and/or arrive by noon!
Afternoon Session - Immediately after lunch break
Being able to sum up the uniqueness of your story in a sentence or a paragraph is a necessary tool in the life of a writer. Pitching, more an art than a science, requires the tool of summing up a story for an editor or agent in a way that allows her to follow the over arching storyline while sensing the underlying currents of conflict. It’s as hard as it sounds. Writing a query letter, although without the stressful time constraints, requires that same tool of conciseness while maintaining the emotional impact and evocative tone that defines your story. New York Times bestselling author of six novels, Susan Donovan will review the whole concept of pitches and queries, condensing an entire book into a “concept”—one or two fabulous sentences that leave the reader (agent, editor) wanting more. Susan will conduct group exercises, taking writers through the process of presenting their manuscripts in a concise and engaging way.
June 13, 2009
Join Us Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center for a day filled with fact, fiction and intrigue. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask all those FBI and U.S. Military research questions you have been saving. You may submit your questions for either panel NO LATER THAN June 7, 2009 to Mary Lenaburg at mary_romance@ cox.net. Please have “WRW June Meeting” in the subject line. The panelists will answer as many as they can in the order in which they are received.
10-11:30 a.m.
FBI: Fact and Fiction
Join us as a one-man FBI intelligence analyst, bomb analyst and fiction aficionado talks about the FBI. He will help us separate fact and fiction by using popular fiction to dispel myths and correct gross errors. Do you think that limits your imagination? Well, he’ll also discuss some fairly public bombings and what goes into such an investigation. Additionally, he’ll answer pre-screened questions from WRW members. Come for this rare opportunity for an insiders view who’s already been supportive of one WRW member’s book research. Guess who he taught to shoot for book research?
Lunch 11:45 - 12:45
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Unmasking the Military
Join us for a diverse panel of military members representing the five services. The panel will offer insight to how each service and career field contributes to all missions, including the homeland security, disaster relief, drug interdiction, sea rescue, humanitarian aid, and international peacekeeping.
Panelists scheduled to attend include:
- Air Force: Lisa, Operations, Pentagon; 30+ years include service as enlisted and officer. Lisa remained behind at Homestead AFB during Hurricane Andrew in the command post. More recently, she deployed to Afghanistan.
- Air Force: Melissa, Mission Support, Fort Meade. Enlisted in the Marine Corps and cross commissioned into the Air Force. Melissa has lived in Germany in support of NATO troops and now works with “joint” staff at Fort Meade.
- Army: Bill, Communications, Pentagon. Bill has lived in Korea, Germany, and Belgium. He has deployed to Kosovo and Iraq.
- Army, Tracy, Intelligence, Fort Meade. Tracy has deployed to Iraq, traveled to exotic locales on her leave, and currently mentors the single soldiers on post.
- Coast Guard: Rodney, Coast Guard, Fort Meade. Rodney has served in a variety of land and sea assignments, including drug interdiction and sea rescue.
- Coast Guard: Steve, Coast Guard, Washington, DC. Enlisted in the Navy and cross commissioned into the Coast Guard.
May 16, 2009
Join us May 16, 2009 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center for a fabulous program with USA Today and NYT Times Bestselling Author Nora Roberts with Sarah Wendell of “Smart Bitches, Trashy Books”
Plagiarism: If We Don’t Talk About It, It Won’t Go Away”
Nora Roberts and Sarah Wendell
10 a.m. - Noon
Description: You’d think that the reaction to plagiarism in the romance fiction community would be automatic outrage, but unfortunately, it’s not. In 1997, Nora Roberts faced plagiarism as a victim. In 2008, Sarah Wendell and others online revealed plagiarism on the part of another romance author. Both women faced similar reactions from members of the romance community, from outrage to threats to scolding for being so mean. Both the authors who committed acts of plagiarism and profited from them continue to publish to this day. Even with over ten years separating the two incidents, the reaction was nearly identical: the outrage, the vitriol against the whistle-blower and the sympathy for the perpetrator were all there. Yet nothing damages our community as writers and our careers as authors more than tolerating plagiarism. So it’s time to talk about the ugly facts about it, because if we don’t talk about plagiarism, it won’t go away.
Biography: From a quiet start writing in a notebook at her kitchen table in 1979, Nora Roberts has become the standard of outstanding success in the publishing world. Since breaking onto the New York Times bestseller list in 1991, her books have appeared on that list over 775 weeks. At several points, she has had four books on the New York Times list at the same time. Even more impressive, Nora Roberts’ books have spent a combined 155 weeks at number one. In February 2009, they saw the completion of their largest project to date: Inn BoonsBoro, a boutique hotel in Boonsboro, Maryland. The six rooms and two suites are themed after and decorated in the style of literary lovers whose stores ended happily including Elizabeth and Darcy from Pride and Prejudice; Nick and Nora Charles from The Thin Man; and Roberts’ own Eve and Roarke from her JD Robb In Death series.
Nora is a member of several writers groups, including charter membership in the Romance Writers of America, and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry.
Noon- 1:30 p.m. Lunch
“Blogging for Authors: No. You do not have to have a blog.”
Sarah Wendell
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
The description: As a prominent blogger in the romance world with 10 years experience writing solely online, I have a set of rules that I developed to keep myself out of too much trouble. Those same rules can easily apply to authors - who might reveal too much in their blogs without realizing it. I will also discuss how blogs are used as promotional tools - and why, despite what you may have heard, not every author has to have one. I will outline what types of writers are ideal for blogging, and what authors can do to promote themselves without hosting their own blogs, from participating on another romance community to writing articles or longer essays for other publications online.
Biography: By day Sarah Wendell is mild mannered and heavily caffeinated. By evening she dons her cranky costume, consumes yet more caffeine, and becomes Smart Bitch Sarah of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. The site specializes in reviewing romance novels, examining the history and future of the genre, and bemoaning the enormous prevalence of bodacious pectorals adorning male cover models. In April 2009, Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels was born, published by Touchstone Fireside and co-authored by Sarah and her partner in nefarious deeds, Candy Tan. Sarah has spoken at Romance Writers of America’s national conference, at the Romantic Times BookLovers’ Convention, and at several RWA chapter conferences and meetings. Sarah was invited to speak as part of the closing plenary panel at the first academic conference devoted to the romance genre, Love as the Practice of Freedom, at Princeton University in April 2009. Her writing has appeared in Narrative Magazine, Tango Magazine, and in the SmartPop book Grey’s Anatomy 101: Seattle Grace, Unauthorized. Sarah has appeared on The Today Show, the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s Steven and Chris Show, and on Too Many Books. Sarah has been quoted in The New York Times, The New York Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Los Angeles Times Book Blog, Metro:New York, and Publishers Weekly.
April 17-19, 2009
Our annual retreat, this year near Leesburg, VA. With room for everyone!
Registration opened Friday, Jan. 16 and will close Saturday, Feb. 21. There’s plenty of space for everyone, but we need a firm head-count on the 21st.
Retreat Application Form in rich text format (or try this one, in .doc form). More details are on the Retreat page.
March 7, 2009
Marita Golden and Jeanne Adams
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
10 am - Noon
Award-winning novelist and nonfiction writer Marita Golden will talk about her work both as a novelist and nonfiction writer and teacher of writing. Ms. Golden is the author of 12 works of fiction and nonfiction including most recently the novel AFTER and the forthcoming anthology It’s All Love Black Writers on Soul Mates Family and Friends. Ms. Golden will discuss her writing process, the inspiration for her books, and how she researches her books. In addition she will share her advice on seeking agents, surviving the current cataclysmic “shifiting sands” in the publishing industry and how to create a life that supports your writing.
Marita Golden is the author of many works of fiction and nonfiction, many used as required reading in colleges and universities around the country. A veteran teacher of writing, she has taught in the MFA Graduate Creative Writing Programs at George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University and annually offer a popular two-day writing workshop, “I Want to Write!” She is Writer in Residence at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.
In mid-February, she will be teaching a writing workshop as part of the Sacred Circles conference at the Washington National Cathedral (Feb 13-14, 2009).
Lunch 12 - 1:45pm
2 - 4 pm
The Write Environment; Making Your Writing Space Work for You
The writing environment is one of the most important tools writers can have, yet its influence is often overlooked. Join Jeanne Adams, an RWA decorating diva, in looking at author’s environments and get tips, tricks, and advice on making your writing space right for you.
Have you ever evaluated your writing environment? Do you know if you write more when there’s silence or background noise? Are you more likely to stay focused at home alone or sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by strangers? Does your office area make you feel like writing?
Through a special written assessment, we’ll explore your writing and environmental preferences and determine if your environment is enhancing or inhibiting your style. Then, we’ll show you how to incorporate your unique preferences into your creative space.
A slide show will illustrate a variety of working writer’s creative spaces as we discuss the importance of elements such as light and temperature as well as the impact of your style, including concepts such as organization and ambience. See examples from beginning to bestselling authors and hear how they have met the challenge of creating a place to nurture their muse.
Come discover what you need to do your best work. Take away tips, tricks and techniques for surrounding yourself with the things that enhance your creativity, increase your productivity and help you to enjoy your writing more.
February 21, 2009
AN EXPLORATION OF CHARACTER with Sophia Nash and Diane Whiteside
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
Jane Eyre. Jo March. Anne Shirley. When people recall their favorite novels, one of the first things that come to mind often is how much they loved the main character or characters. What would Gone With the Wind have been like without Scarlett, Rhett, Melanie and Ashley?
This meeting will explore how we as writers can improve our characterization and develop the type of characters that will resonate with readers and make our novels beloved by many. Two, multi-published, WRW authors – Sophia Nash and Diane Whiteside – will share their insights on characterization and how it can be used to deepen the romance.
10:15 – 12:15
Creating Unforgettable Characters
Presented by Sophia Nash
Elizabeth Bennett & Mr. Darcy, Heathcliff & Catherine, Lucy & Ricky … Do you remember every detail of their stories, or do you vividly remember the characters? Get beyond the basics to breathe life into the people populating your pages. Each workshop participant will dwelve beneath the veneer of one or two characters in the manuscript to add depth. The group will work on the birth and growth of a character, use of plot, and character growth arcs. In addition, dialogue and deep point of view will be discussed.
2:00 – 4:00
Star-Crossed: Creating Romantic Characterization and Conflict through Astrology
A Workshop by Diane Whiteside
Star crossed lovers – have you ever wondered where that phrase came from? Do you know why a lion and a ram are one of the all-time great romantic couples? Or a crab and a bull? Have you ever wanted to try a different reason for why your hero and heroine fight with each other? Astrology is a great tool for developing characters with innate conflicts, no matter what you think of your own horoscope.
This workshop is based on one simple principle: make your characters fall in love with folks who astrologers call a bad bet. It will include:
A quick review of the signs, including their most important romantic characteristics.
A quick review of the key elements in a person’s horoscope. This workshop will focus on the sun signs, although moon and rising signs are also very important. For romances, the latter are what often create the ambiguities about compatibility.
A detailed discussion of how to select which signs your hero and heroine fall under.
A chart summarizing some thoughts on astrological compatibility, or the lack thereof.
Some examples for how to use this in your work. On the large scale, it affects issues like love at first sight, soul mate, internal versus external conflict, etc. It can also impact lovemaking, housekeeping, career choices, musical tastes, and more.
Examples will be provided, primarily from my works since I know the characters’ horoscopes.
Questions will be encouraged throughout.
January 24, 2009
Kathleen Gilles Siedel on Breaking Down the Book, featuring
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 101
It’s not perfect—there’s a point-of-view lapse and come on, would Lydia have really done that?-- but it is pretty much the best we’ve got. In a day-long session Kathleen Gilles Seidel, instead of talking about how she herself structures a courtship plot or maintains conflict, is going to talk about how Jane Austen did it all better than everyone before or since. ** Please bring a copy of the book and reread (or read) as much as you have time for. **
Location: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center
Schedule:
10am - Noon, Breaking Down the Book, part 1
Noon - 1:30pm, Lunch
1:45- 4pm, Breaking Down the Book, part 2
