RWA National: Day 2 Recap

Workshops today, and lots of them. Some notes:

The Art of Voice
Teresa Elliott Brown, Catherine Kean, and Nancy Robards Thompson, along with industry professionals Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency, and Tessa Woodward, Assistant Editor at Avon Books
I kicked off the day by moderating this workshop because they asked me to, and they’re my friends. But I have to say without the slightest hint of favoritism that this was fabulous. By using visual prompts, they were able to illustrate two major points: that voice has to develop over time, and that thinking like an artist and using the five senses, authorial choices help hone your voice. Examples of the paintings they used and notes from the workshops are at their websites, along with a contest! Check it out.

Re-Energizing a Dying Project (Or a Dying Career)
Lynda Sandoval
Since I’ve been stuck in the doldrums, this was a must-see for me. One reminder up font: only two things in your writing career are actually within your control: your writing, and not accepting a crappy contract. Everything else is outside of your control. The trick is to let it have its proper place without allowing it to stifle your production. Some major tips she included were to create stillness within yourself. Too much everyday blather knocks you and your creativity out of balance. Another key aspect is fear, which is largely self-manufactured. According to Linda, living in a constant state of fear or anxiety about your writing drags you down. We have to learn to let let go, to refuse to give things power over your writing. Small steps, and being intentional about what you want and how you plan to achieve it, are the means to getting you out of a funk and back on track. (I needed this!)

Creativity for Life
Eric Maisel
This workshop was worth the price of admission all by itself. To get the most out of it, you had to be willing to “go with the woo woo,” since much of the language he uses is straight out of the California self-help handbook. This was a two-hour workshop, so I’d strongly advise you to pick up a copy of his book Creativity for Life, which explains his points fully. Some highlights:

• Hush the mind. Our panicky thinking about every tiny thing in the world ties up brain cells that could be used for creativity.
• Brain research says that while we dream during REM sleep, we are thinking during non-REM periods. Going to sleep with a wonder or question and turning to your writing first thing in the morning (he strongly recommended developing this practice) can help you solve problems.
• Honor your process. Things aren’t always perfect, and you have to accept that. Decide to love your book even when you’re hating it.
• Develop a creativity practice. Make being creative an intention. Develop rituals, and make sure you continue to work even when you don’t feel like it.
• Use breathing techniques to center yourself and clear your mind for maximum creative productivity. Low-level anxiety is very powerful and can work against you. So can addictions (even to little things like computer solitaire and email), depression, and manias.
• Treat the business aspect of your writing with the same respect you do the crative part.
• Remember that the possibility of your book and the reality are never the same. The work is organic and will morph and change as you write. That what the creative process means. Your initial beautiful dream and your finished product will be different. Deal with it.
• Train your family to respect your writing time.
• Envision abundance. We have more than one book in us! Trust that the ideas will flow.

Again, great stuff. I can see why he’s considered the pre-eminent creativity coach in the nation. I bought a copy of his A Writer’s Space to help encourage me.

Then we went to the Harlequin party and danced and danced and went deaf and had a friggin’ blast. And I made a fool of myself, but my friends say that it’s okay to over-emote in front of a whole bunch of women. It was Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” what can I say?