Giving up on the dream

A Quitter Never Wins and a Winner Never Quits.  

I've been supporting or trying to support a writer friend who has announced she is giving up on her dream. It's come as a complete shock as her work is beautifully written. She recently received a rejection letter that has tilted her over the edge. This is her tenth rejection letter. 

This same manuscript had great feedback from a publishing house, saying how much potential it had etc. She undertook the changes and resubmitted it only they said she hadn't tackled the problem etc. Her chance was gone with this publisher for that particular manuscript.

Another rejection is saying it is full of back-story, with too much detail upfront and the exposition wasn't that good.

We went for lunch the other day and after some time she said she'll take a break and start a new manuscript. Most writers at some stage of their career think of giving up, including myself, (lol) but I'm still here, pounding out my words with hopeful anticipation.

I went looking at what advice others gave writers when they feel overwhelmed. This is what I found.

• Have lunch. Stepping away for a time clears the mind. 
• Call someone. Talk to a writing friend or to anyone who understands.
• Do something else for a while. Go bungee jumping, lol.
• Reconsider the goal. Take baby steps.
• Solve just one problem. Tackle one problem at a time.
• Look at how far you've come.  Look at your first written manuscript and how your writing has improved. 
• Look in front of you. Look at what authors started writing when you did. Where are they now? Keep on going; you'll end up there soon.

Writing is a tough business, becoming a published author is a tough business and sticking to your goal is grinding. BUT…. If you love writing, if you love creating characters, and you think there is nothing better you love doing more, keep writing.  If you're almost there don't give up on all those years of hard work. A rejection is one editor's opinion.  Consider what comments each editor makes, and get other  opinions.  Don't give up. :)

Romance Writers Of Australia 23rd Annual Conference

The RWAus Conference has come to a close. 

It was an awesome conference at the Novotel, Olympic Park in Sydney this year. I had such a ball. Here are some of photographs I managed to snap, although I would have loved to have more.

I attended the Friday workshop, Writing the Knockout Novel, by James Scott Bell, which was terrific. He's such a great speaker. Build 3-D characters by Cherry Adair was terrific, Valerie Parv tutorial How to draw readers into your fictional world was very helpful, James Scott Bell tutorial, Revision and editing was helpful, Psychological Warfare by Prof. Karl Roberts was informative, and many more. As for photographs of the Cocktail Party guess who forgot to take her camera? Hmm...lol  There were a lot of awesome costumes.

I met some lovely editors, agents, and caught up with old and new writing friends.

All weekend was such a buzz. I arrived home late Sunday night and Monday was a day to adjust and come down from the high I experienced from the four days. Lol.

Next year is at the Hyatt Park Melbourne with the theme Get Fresh in 15. And yes, I'll be there. :)

James Scott Bell

Hunter Romance Writers with some members at another table and two unable to make the conference this year. 

Hunter Girls and Two of my Critique Partners Lee Christine, and Sarah Barrie on the left. Tea Cooper on the right with Ann B Harrison. 

Myself and Emma Darcy. I was exhausted and although I snapped most everyone else with Emma at the Awards Dinner there wasn't time for one of me. So we ran into each other in the car park and wella, the fabulous famous Emma. She is so lovely. :)

Theme for next year's Conference in Melbourne. Yah!

And here it is. 2015 Venue for our 24th Conference. Cool. :)

Romance Writers of Australia Conference 2014

It's Thursday night, and after this evenings buzz and chatter my ears are ringing. lol. I've all ready ran into so many writers, some new, mostly older writers and authors I've known for years. I sat with Tina Clark whom I've known for some time now discussing writing in general and wow time does fly. She is lovely as always. 

You can find her here: TM Clark.  She is the author of My Brother But One. An African suspense author. 

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. As well as pitching in the afternoon the Friday Workshop Presenter and Speaker  is James Scott Bell. 


James Scott Bell is the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure, and numerous thrillers, including Don't Leave Me, Try Dying and Watch Your Back. His novella One More Lie was the first self-published work to be nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award. Under the pen name K. Bennett, he is also the author of the Mallory Caine zombie legal thriller series, which begins with Pay Me in Flesh. He served as the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written highly popular craft books for Writer's Digest Books, including: Revision & Self-Publication, The Art of War for Writers and Conflict & Suspense. 


Friday night is the Cocktail party which will be fun. Yah! lol 

I should get some sleep big weekend ahead of me. :) I'll update when I get home as I've just realised I can't get my photo's on this laptop. Drats. So I'll have to wait until I get home which will be around Monday or Tuesday. Until then smile. I will be. lol :)

Romance Rocks

ONE WEEK TO GO. Well almost. :)

It's not long until Romance Rocks at our annual RWA conference this year in Sydney. Besides organising for the conference, I'm attending a wedding in Newcastle this weekend, and also organising a surprise birthday party in August. Can't say much at this stage as it's a surprise. I have also been writing and working on a pitch for the conference. Basically life is busy, busy, busy, and great. :) It's been a full few weeks and August is worse, but better, as it's Conference Month. What can be better than mingling, chatting, wineing, and meeting editors, agents, and writers. It's going to be awesome. Look forward to seeing you there.

We have some great speakers, and tutorials this year. Check them out HERE: