(full post over at the Manuscript Mavens blog)

On Saturday, I presented a workshop entitled Websites & Online Marketing to the Tampa Area Romance Authors. I’ve taught programming and database classes to IT industry professionals, but this was my first time lecturing non-techies on the Dos and Don’ts of website design and internet marketing.

It was both fun and a valuable learning experience. Here’s why:

Things that went right
* I prepared beforehand by creating a detailed outline of my subject matter
* I created and printed handouts of a 23-slide Powerpoint presentation to accompany my lecture
* I arrived early, stayed late, and answered questions during breaks
* I had help organizing and collating handouts
* Great turnout (approx. 50 attendees)
* Open forum, listener interaction, ability to take and answer questions mid-lecture

Things that went almost-right
* Not quite enough handouts. Printed 5 more than the estimate and still undershot it. Felt horrible, as I know what it’s like to be the person who doesn’t get one.
* 95% of all questions asked were covered in the lecture, as prepared. Very few head-slapping moments for me as a presenter, as far as topics for inclusion go.

Things that went a little wrong
* Ceiling fan caught fire (smoke started rolling out) during previous presenter’s speech. Oops.
* Dry throat the entire time b/c forgot to bring a water bottle.
* Feet hurt. Stupid to wear heels. Flats next time.
* Due to various snafus, not all attendees remained for the post-workshop prize drawing

Things that went awry
* Due to the amount of material I wanted to cover, my lecture took twice as long as anticipated. Oops.
* Frequently got off track during Part A of my workshop, because I told everyone they could interrupt me with questions at any time… and they did.
* Due to the amount of discussion topics in the board meeting that bisected my lecture, the second half of my lecture began two minutes before the entire day workshop was scheduled to end. Thus, scheduling conflicts made many attendees slip out early over the next hour and a half.
* Yes, I spoke for another hour and a half after the whole thing was supposed to be over. (You can’t tell me this shocks you. You’ve seen the length of my blog posts.)

Things that could’ve been better
* Improved room layout (or speaker to back up a few steps). Felt like I wasn’t making enough eye-contact with people to my immediate left and right of the horseshoe shape.
* Availability of an overhead projecter. This may have helped discussion stay on target, and would definitely have helped anyone who didn’t get a handout. And I could’ve shown live website examples.

YOUR TURN: If you’ve ever presented a workshop (whether to writers or otherwise), please sound off on what went right or wrong, and what could’ve gone better. Same if you have ever been a workshop attendee–please give us presenters your suggestions! Oh, and did you vote for the Manuscript Mavens over at the Preditors & Editors’ Readers Choice poll? (Oops, how did that shameless self-promo get in there?!)

P.S.
If you went to the workshop(s), please let me know what you liked and didn’t like and any suggestions for the future!

Before I begin, thanks to everyone who congratulated me on my triple-final. Also, check out Carrie Ryan’s post on the Manuscript Maven’s blog and win some free autographed Diana Peterfreund books. Last but not least, today is my first ever Romantic Inks post. Check it out, and please leave a comment to let me know you dropped by!

CONFERENCE SERIES DAY 4: Networking
[Day 1 link] [Day 2 link] [Day 3 link]

Real quick, I’d like to offer up a terminology disclaimer. Several people I know hate the word and/or concept of networking. I’m going to continue to use that word for lack of a better term, but as it applies here, be aware of what networking ISN’T.

Networking is NOT: lying, pestering, bothering, being annoying, being two-faced, pretending to be something you’re not, being “fake”, etc.

Networking IS: getting to know other industry professionals, meeting other writers, putting agent/editor/author names to faces, reaching out to the community, making contact with people who may become close friends with you.

Think about it. How did you become friends with, well, anyone you happen to be friends with? Networking, right? You might not have thought of it that way at the time, but a rose by any other name…

So, now that we’re on the same page with the human interaction we’re calling networking, how do you go about doing it?

Step 1: Go where the action is
Step 2: Make eye contact. Say hi.
Step 3: Ask questions about the other person. Listen.
Step 4: Be personable. Takes a friend to be a friend.
Step 5: If appropriate (and amenable to both parties), exchange contact info.

You can’t network if you’re closeted in your hotel room by yourself. Go to breakfast. Turn off your cell phone or leave it on vibrate. You’re here to interact with the people you meet. Make eye contact with people, remembering to smile and say hi. If someone attempts to engage you in conversation, join them. If not, it’s your turn. Look for a table with an empty seat and ask if you can sit there. Or look for someone standing by themselves and go and introduce yourself.

Personal anecdote: I met an agent this way. I had flown to a conference where I knew no one, and out of pure desperation for human contact, plopped down next to a woman sitting on a couch by herself. After we chatted a few minutes, it became clear she was an *agent*. And I hadn’t screwed anything up by acting like a moron (perhaps in part because I didn’t *know* she was an agent) and she gave me her business card and asked me to send her whatever I was working on.

Okay, so now you’ve met someone new and you’ve had breakfast. Now go to a workshop. You can talk to the people in the audience (not during the presenting, but before/after) as well as the agent/editor/author/bookseller/etc giving the workshop. (Plus you get to learn something!)

Personal anecdote: I went to a workshop Julia Quinn (another fave historical author) gave on Dialogue. Afterward, I made it a point to go chat with her. We ended up sharing a lunch table, and chatting at an agent/author speed dating event. Although we exchanged a couple conference-related emails, we did not become instant BFF. However, a few months later, we ran into each other at a different conference. She was sitting alone, and I went over to reintroduce myself. Before I could do so, she greeted me by name, and we talked for a few minutes. As mentioned above, networking isn’t about trying to “get” anything from someone else, it’s about meeting people and making connections.

After the workshop, there might be lunch. Do attend–aren’t you hungry? (I’m always hungry at these things. It’s either stress, lack of sleep, or some combination thereof.) Anyhoodles, if it’s an RWA conference, typically you will find your seat laden with various free books, often of the keynote speaker. (To whom you can ALSO speak, once she’s eaten her lunch and given her speech.) Plus, you’re at a table packed with new faces! (If you did come with friends or have a large chapter base present, do try to go outside your comfort zone from time to time to meet more people.)

Personal anecdote: I was at a conference where at the lunch table, it came up that I develop web sites for a living. Two of the people happened to have computer questions. We exchanged emails, and when I went back to my hotel room that night, I sent each of them detailed emails on how to fix their problems. What did I get out of it? A thank you, and good karma! They may or may not remember me, but if they do, it’ll be as “that girl who helped me even when she didn’t know me from Adam.” Isn’t that nicer than “that girl who sat there like a bump on a log, arms crossed, shoulders hunched, eyes averted.” ???

Let’s say the next thing on the agenda is the annual meeting. Oh, boy, you say. Those things are more boring than watching bones fossilize. Yes, yes, this may be, but this is where the future fate of your organization is debated and decided! (Plus, you get to put faces with names of the members on the board, as well as voice your opinions and talk to the board members afterward.)

Personal Anecdote: Right now a brouhaha rages over whether or not novellas will be kept or kicked as a RITA category. Some argue that the RITAs are for book-length romance, and novellas by definition are not book-length. Others argue that the RITAs are for book-length romance, and women’s fiction (chick lit, etc) by definition, is not romance, so what’s the difference. Both sides have valid points. I’m not here to argue either way, except to say you won’t know what rules are being added/changed/dropped and WHY unless you’re there to hear it!

Once you’re workshopped out and had dinner with new friends or a chapter group etc, it’s time to address my CP Kel’s advice: “Be the bar.” As mentioned yesterday, whether you drink or not, the bar is the best place to go to find people who are hoping to meet people, and to hear the latest industry buzz. Plus, you never know who you’ll run into!

Personal anecdote: I was at the post-RITA soiree last year at RWA National. I was there with friends, but somehow I was wandering between the tables and the chocolate fountain by my lonesome. The emcee and one of my all-time favorite historical authors–Christina Dodd–was wandering about in much the same boat, with that expression on her face that said, “Crap. Where are my friends? Why am I wandering around between the tables and the chocolate fountain all alone like that chick with the crazy curly hair?” So I went up to her and said hey, and did NOT gush fan girl crazy style over her books, but talked to her author-to-author. We didn’t exchange phone numbers (or even names, but duh, I knew who she was) and so we’re not BFF or anything, but it’s an example of how everyone is approachable. Just do it!

YOUR TURN: If you have any questions about networking, please ask! If you’re a conference veteran, please share your best tips/anecdotes as regards networking. I’d love to hear about your experiences!

I’m going to start the morning with a quick squee, just in case you missed last night’s bonus post where I found out I’m a triple-finalist in the TARA contest. OMG! Can you believe it?! squeeeeeeeeee

Okay. Now that that’s out of my system (it’s totally not, but whatever) we can continue with our regularly scheduled workblog.

CONFERENCE SERIES DAY 3: Workshops & Extras
[Day 1 link] [Day 2 link]

First, workshops. Some conferences have a limited number of workshops, such that you don’t have to decide which ones to attend because there is never more than one going on at any given time. Other conference have a multitude of workshops and other events overlapping each other at all hours of the day and night, with no possible chance of taking in a quarter of the possibilities. For the sake of having something to discuss today, let’s go with the latter.

If you attend a conference such as RWA National in July, you will face just such a conundrum. One great thing RWA does is provide you with a grid of all activities ahead of time so you can whittle down the choices in advance. Another great thing they do is separate the workshops into categories: craft, career, industry, promotion, etc. The third (and arguably most fabulous) thing RWA does is record the majority of the workshops and offer them to purchase on CD.

I’m going to start with the last point first. If your conference provides you with the option to buy recordings, my vote is on buy the recordings. This lets you choose a category (ie, craft) or make a schedule based on a workshop topic spreadsheet (or whatever), or to just wing it and see what happens, knowing you can relax because you have all the great information coming to you on tape. (Er, CD.)

That said, pay attention to two key things: If *not all* the workshops are recorded, you may wish to attend the ones that are not. Also, if the choice comes down to an untaped workshop you’re not gung-ho about and a taped workshop with a favorite presenter or key topic, by all means, make the choice that’s more right for you at this point in your career!

When you choose a workshop, arrive early enough to get a seat. The untaped ones and the ones with popular presenters fill FAST. Last year I went to a Debra Dixon workshop 15 minutes early and the standing-room only was already spilling out into the hallway, so it was a no-go.

Assuming you arrive on time, don’t be a wallflower! Get a seat front and center (or at least middle) and plop down with a fresh seat of paper and an open mind. Take notes! Interact! Ask questions!

And above all, remember this: There are NO RULES in writing, only suggestions! EVERYTHING you hear is an OPINION. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! If something intrigues you, give it a shot! You never know what will help, or what throwaway comment will provide the exact ah-ha moment you’ve been waiting for.

Life After Workshops

Or before, or during, etc, because there are LOTS of things going on at most conferences! At RWA National, for example, (which I’ll keep using as the poster child since I’ve attended previously and the next one is in a couple weeks,) workshops compete with goody room access, publisher parties, book signings, etc. There’s also breakfasts, luncheons with keynote speakers, an Annual Meeting, and THE BAR.

As my CP Kel (also a 2007 TARA Contest finalist!) says, “Be the bar.” Even if you don’t drink (especially if you don’t drink?) the bar is a great place to meet other writers and industry professionals and hear all the latest info about who’s repping whom and which editors are looking for what types of stories, and who’s writing what, and which agents have quit/started/branched out on their own, etc.

Goody Rooms we discussed yesterday, so I won’t go into that again. Publisher parties are when a publisher or line (ie Harlequin Blaze) will throw a party in a suite with their editors and authors. You can go, mingle, eat some cookies, maybe get an autographed book or three, hang out, and soak up the vibe.

Book signings run the gamut from big, organized proceeds-go-to-charity gala events, to smaller, all-books-are-free author/publisher promotional rooms. Both are neat. Even if you don’t go home with any books, talk to the authors and industry folk you’ll see there.

YOUR TURN: If you’re a conference veteran, how do you choose which workshops to attend? Have any favorite topics/presenters? What do you do when you’re not at a workshop? Whether you’re a conference veteran or not, do you picture yourself spending more time workshopping or networking? Any other questions/tips on how to spend your time at conferences?