For two days, I got to hang out with a bunch of women (predominantly) who love writing and books as much as I do.  It was awesome.  I would love to throw out words that are more descriptive, more apropos, but I really have nothing else for you.  Awesome covers it.

This week I’ll give you a run down on my initial impressions.  In the next few weeks I’ll delve into the different workshops and things I learned.  Too much for one post.

First of all, I was amazed by the sheer number of writers at the conference.  I’m not sure of the exact amount but there appeared to be at least a few hundred in attendance.  The excitement, the collective enthusiasm for a common goal, shared amongst so many, was overwhelming. 

These events make a person realize how incredibly familial the romance writing community is.

Frankly, at times it felt as if we had taken over the conference center.  There were romance writers in the elevator, romance writers in the lobby at all hours, romance writers in the hallways, and especially romance writers in the bar.

It was awesome.

I got to meet JK Coi and Tiffany Kenzie and I must admit that they are just as gracious and generous in person as they are on the internet.  I had such fun hanging out with them.

Pitching turned out to not be as daunting as I thought it would be.  Amazingly, editors and agents are just people too.  Who knew?   

The keynote speakers, Eloisa James and Lisa Scottoline, were both wonderful. 

The main idea behind their talks was the key to the entire conference, in my opinion.  Both women focused on owning the story we tell, about pouring ourselves into our stories to make them really come alive.

Lisa Scottoline pointed out those times when people who know you write come to you and say, “I have the best idea; you should write this.”  And she says she politely declines because that emotion has to be a personal experience.  We can’t use other people’s emotion because readers will be able to tell if we’re faking it.

Eloisa said we need to take our fears, our joys, our pain, and put it on the page.  Only that will feel authentic to others. 

And I’d heard such wonderful things about Eloisa James, about how sweet and kind she is, and it was all true, every word.  We had dinner with her on Saturday night and it was such a good time.  It was really great to meet her.

So, tell me about what you have put of yourself on the page?   What have you taken from yourself or your life to use in your story?  Has someone ever thought you should write “this great idea” they have?  What did you say?