You know how it goes. You get all excited about attending a conference because of the friends you haven’t seen in a year, or brilliant keynote speakers, or the chance to be a fan girl when you run into one of your favorite authors in the cafe shop, in the elevator, or who knows where. Nothing but fun. Until you sit down and examine the schedule.
I love conferences and I love workshops, spotlights and author chats, and I appreciate tracks – craft, career, or research. But there’s always one day, and one time slot, where I swear the RWA 2012 programmers are plotting against me.
I call it schedule wars, and I have found my Waterloo for 2012 – Friday, July 27 between 9:45 and 10:45. On average there are 10 options for each hour time block, so it’s not unusual to find at least two or three programs you want to attend in the same block of time. But I want to take 8 of the 10 classes Friday morning, seriously. So here’s where you must stick to your original goal (I mentioned my original goal yesterday, right?).
My goal – add to the my writer’s arsenal, which means learn more about something I already think I have a handle on as opposed to searching out a new topic (or one I just don’t get yet). Using this logic, I can narrow the field…
So, I am choosing between two workshops (instead of 8): Cherry Adair’s workshop (Choreography of Action), I write lots of action scenes as a urban fantasy writer, so that makes sense. Or Michael Hauge’s Using Inner Conflict for Powerful Love Stories (and yes, he was here at WRWDC, less than a year ago, but I could do Michael Hauge every day – oh, whoops, that sounded wrong…)…
But hey, see how effectively that worked, I just have to make a choice between the two! Good planning, huh!
Whoops:), I just double-checked my calendar. I have an editor appointment that hour!
Anyway, if you are heading off to RWA 2012, what’s the must do workshop on your schedule? If you aren’t heading that way, take a minute to let us know about the online course you recommend we check out! I love a good workshop. So, share, share, share.
And oh, tomorrow I head off to Anaheim in the wee hours of the AM, so my next blog post on RWA 2012 will be LIVE from Anaheim on Thursday morning when there will be prize giveaways!
I continue being jealous of you!!!
But I will say that last year my one downfall of Nationals was the schedule. I didn’t prepare myself enough. I should have really studied that schedule and figured out where all the rooms were located prior to getting there.
So I wish you luck my friend! 😉
No need to be jealous…I’m just running around as much as I can while I can:)…
But yeah, the schedule is the toughest nut about the RWA Conference. So much stuff! But after a few years of running conferences, I am trying hard to learn how to participate in one – and to get the most out of it…we’ll see though!
> yes, he was here at WRWDC, less than a year ago,
> but I could do Michael Hauge every day – oh,
> whoops, that sounded wrong…)…
LOL! I agree with you, Denny. Does that make it wronger?
I’m sitting out the game this year — so make sure to post all the juicy news!
There are always so many good programs going on at RWA. I always get the CDs, to catch the stuff I miss.
Have a blast!!
Seriously, I could listen to Hauge every day of the week, and still want more! But I noticed that the number of workshops that have agreed to be recorded has dwindled in my humble opinion. Might be a new wave…
I will be back on board with the reports late Wednesday (or early Thursday). The time zone may mess with my schedule:)
Oh man I hate when they don’t tape them! Drag. That makes choosing even harder.
Safe travels!!!
Hi Denny! You know what I absolutely loved about last year’s Nationals was the free thumbdrive they put in all our goodie bags with the handouts from nearly all of the workshops! That really helps when you find yourself in one of those “10 things to attend in 45 minutes” situations. I bet they do that again this year, let us know.
Looking forward to “Denny Live!” tomorrow…if only we could hear your voice too….you know we love your voice 😉