Getting the chance to work on craft and network with other writers boosts your own writing. Writing is such a solitary occupation. Writers spend a lot of time alone with imaginary people who spend a lot of time dealing with conflict and overcoming challenges and then we’re with them for only a short time to share in their happiness.
It’s pure pleasure to come back to the real world and talk writing with writers.
I had that opportunity just recently when Romance Writers of Australia auspiced and sponsored the Romancing the West conference in Perth. Four accomplished writers, Fiona Lowe, Juliet Marillier, Nikki Logan and Fiona Palmer gave freely of their knowledge and experience and we learned about tension, branding, writing the first chapter, backstory and more.
It also generated new members for RWA and new critique groups that will be an on-going support to those who joined.
Now it’s time to take what I’ve learned back to my own writing.
My take away was from Juliet Marillier who said that she edited by writing three chapters then editing them, writing the next three chapters then editing all six and so on. If she has new ideas, sub-plots, characters as she’s writing then she can work them into the whole book and when she types ‘THE END’ she knows she’s close to submission standard.
I think that could work for me.
Lesley Ann Smith
It’s pure pleasure to come back to the real world and talk writing with writers.
I had that opportunity just recently when Romance Writers of Australia auspiced and sponsored the Romancing the West conference in Perth. Four accomplished writers, Fiona Lowe, Juliet Marillier, Nikki Logan and Fiona Palmer gave freely of their knowledge and experience and we learned about tension, branding, writing the first chapter, backstory and more.
It also generated new members for RWA and new critique groups that will be an on-going support to those who joined.
Now it’s time to take what I’ve learned back to my own writing.
My take away was from Juliet Marillier who said that she edited by writing three chapters then editing them, writing the next three chapters then editing all six and so on. If she has new ideas, sub-plots, characters as she’s writing then she can work them into the whole book and when she types ‘THE END’ she knows she’s close to submission standard.
I think that could work for me.
Lesley Ann Smith
3 comments:
It's always interesting how differently we all work isn't it?
I know that when I constantly edit I never get to 'the end'. Of course perhaps the key there is a whole three chapters, not constantly editing!
Wish I'd been there.
H! :)
Hmm I like that concept I think I might try it. I do think that will work for me too.
I, too, wish I'd been there as well.
Nicki
I think I just have to finish writing the blasted things any way I know how! I agree with you though Lesley, it is a good concept and writing discipline.
It was a great roadshow - thanks to you and the rest of the committee for putting in so much time and effort to make it that way.
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