Pam Writes Romance

Ho-lee Cow. A week from tonight I’m going to be in San Francisco. (Montana and I are going in a day early because it’s San Fran. How could I not schedule a day for playing tourist?) I am so incredibly excited, but I’m also looking forward to Nationals being done. No, I’m not being wishy-washy or nutsy—it’s just that after a month of planning (with 2 or more months of pre-planning before that), I’m ready to soak up that vibe, take my knowledge (both new and refreshed) and requests for partials or fulls, and come home and write, write, write. Last year I was so juiced after the conference that I wrote 100 pages in August.

So it’s time. This post is going to be random bullet points about the conference, mainly because I can’t find a way to organize it other than “The Conference.” Let’s dive in, shall we? 

• I like to start with “walking the terrain” as Bob Mayer says, or at least as much as I can before actually being there. This means getting a good feel for the layout of the conference facilities so when I do get there and walk around, the floorplans I’ve studied help the visual cues in front of me click. Most hotels have a Meetings/Conference tab and you can find floorplans there, but since you’re my readers, I’m going to make it easy on you. Click here. Print them off and bring them with you. When you check in and get your schedule (which you’ve already downloaded and made a preliminary list of what you’re interested in), you can plot out which rooms you need to be in when. Trust me, there are times speed is of the essence, so if you know where you’re going and don’t have to keep checking for directions, you’ll be ahead of the game.
• This year RWA is doing something different with the seminar handouts, and I give them a standing ovation for it. Usually, you have a chance to request either the book of handouts or a disc. The book is handy because you may need the handout during a seminar, but it’s big and heavy and there are a lot of handouts you don’t need. This year, go here and download the ones you think you’ll need, leave the rest. (You still get the disc, so you can download the handouts later, but your carry-alongs are severely diminished.) And many trees are saved. Please join my in a round of applause for RWA.
• Along with the handouts and my floorplans and my granola bars, I always take my own bag. Yes, you get a nice bag at registration, you don’t know what size or capacity it is, and it doesn’t have any zippered pockets or such handy things. Wonderful bag, just prefer my own, thankyouverymuch. It’s a black tote (in good condition—remember, this is still a job interview) big enough for my notebook, handouts, wallet, little bag of makeup and medicinals, snacks, business cards, pens…you get the idea. It’s zippered, has an outside zippered pocket, and I can use it as a carry on for the flight home.
• And I’m going to need an extra carry on for the flight home because of all of the extra books I’ll be in happy and proud possession of. There’s the literacy signing Wednesday night (where you pay for the books, but the proceeds benefit literacy—woot!), but then after that, books are thrown at you. I’m not kidding. There are books on your chair at the luncheons, giveaways at the seminars, the goody room, books in your bag at registration, and lest we forget, the publisher signings throughout the conference. Yes, tables of your favorite authors signing books for you. No charge. These are the nicest people, friendly and appreciative, and I have picked up more new authors that way. Anyway, you’re going to be leaving the conference with dozens of books, so plan ahead. I like to use the balanced luggage approach (after Reno, one of my suitcases weighed 49.5 pounds), but the hotel has a business office with shipping capabilities and there are nearby post offices and Kinko’s/FedEx shops.
• This may sound minor, but I guarantee you’ll be thinking of me after the first luncheon when 2000 women charge the bathrooms. For these conferences, the hotels convert many of the public men’s restrooms into women’s. (Sorry, guys. Montana, I hope our room is on one of the lower levels…)
• Of anything else I’ve talked about in the past few weeks, this is the thing I feel is the most important to impart. Conference time is carnival time. What do I mean by that? Time is going to lose almost all meaning for you during these 4 or so magical days. You’re going to want to do anything, everything, feel like you need to go to every seminar and every signing to get your money’s worth, and the raw and powerful emotion of being around other writers is going to amp you up more than a case of Red Bull. Soak in that feeling, absorb the vibe to carry you through the next year, but don’t let it overwhelm you. The seminars are available on CD, and you’re going to get enough books to last you without those last twenty at the St. Martin’s signing Saturday afternoon. Take time for yourself—enjoy the quiet of your room, skip a seminar and grab a cup of tea, take the cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf—and you’re not going to lose anything by doing this. In fact, I would be willing to bet a little “you time” is going to help you refresh and recharge.

I hope I’ve helped with my series on RWA Nationals. I’ve had a blast blogging about it, and I invite all of you back next week when I’m blogging from San Francisco. If I get my juju together, there’ll be pictures, too, but I’m not guaranteeing anything. Carnival time applies to me, too, and I may forsake some blogging if my brain is fried. Or at least until after my editor and agent appointments. 

Wish me luck. 

Wow, we’re practically at the two week mark. The “Oh, my God, where did the time go?” hysteria is now being replaced by the excitement of “Two weeks until Nationals. Squee!” I have a few details to iron out, but am close to being ready. (I’ve even started the packing pile on the couch in our front room. Sorry, honey. Hope you didn’t want to sit there or anything.)

With this post, I’m going to deviate from an earlier statement when I said I was going to discuss pitches and instead head back into the hotel/conference information. If anybody has any questions on future posts or would like to see a discussion on pitches, let me know either here or by email. I live to serve.

So today let’s discuss what to take with you. Since we already addressed what to wear, these lists are going to cover food/drink and miscellaneous. (I’ll admit it—I went to Target this weekend and got my items for these lists, so I’m a little excited about this post.  And yes, I was giggling in Target. I told you I was a conference slut.)

Food and Drink: “But, Pam,” you say. “The conference provides some meals and the hotel has restaurants and a Starbucks. Am I not good to go?”  Yes and no. Sometimes you’re good, sometimes you need a little augmenting, and sometimes you need Plan B.

When you’re good: The keynote luncheon on Thursday and the awards luncheon on Friday. These are yummy meals hitting several of the food groups (including dessert) and shouldn’t be missed unless an editor is asking how to spell your name for legal documents, such as a contract. Plus, the talks are inspirational, you get more free books, and it’s a wonderful chance to meet other people.

When you need augmenting: Friday and Saturday mornings are a continental breakfast. These are wonderful buffets of fruit, breakfast breads (pastries, bagels), fruit, and yogurt. (I’m pretty sure on the yogurt, but don’t hold me to that.) Plus, coffee, tea/hot water, and juices. This is a lovely start, but if you’re anything like me, you need an extra boost of protein or complex carbs. For this, I always bring a few packets of Quaker instant oatmeal (preferably the ones with a high percentage of protein.) Since I don’t drink coffee, I also bring my own tea (because I’m a tea snob, plus it rates as a comfort beverage, so I want what makes me happy) and packets of sugar-free cocoa. (Another comfort beverage, plus it’s a little more filling than tea or juice.) I’m also a firm believer in those individual powered drink bullets. You can get a variety of teas, fruit drinks, vitamin-enhanced juice, and so on. Plus they’re so tiny and so easy to carry!

I’m also including snacks in augmenting. Excellent items that are easily packed and can be tossed into your conference bag are: granola/protein bars, lunch-size packs of fig newtons, cheese or peanut butter and crackers, raw almonds, dried fruit, trail mix, M&Ms (more comfort food, and if you choose something in dark chocolate, also health food!) and so on. I prefer the lunch-size/treat-size packs because they’re individually wrapped. I’m a huge believer in Ziploc bags, but my theory is if airport security picks your luggage to search, the food is factory sealed and less likely to cause a kerfuffle.

Plan B: If you were at Dallas last year, you already know what I’m talking about. The restaurants/snack bar were just not equipped to handle us, and getting food could be something of a challenge. San Francisco is already better because of the Marriott’s proximity to restaurants, but there are times you’d rather have a little nosh and some quiet time, or just don’t have time to walk somewhere for food. For these times I always pack a few soups—can be a traditional cup-o-soup or a little more complex version that comes in its own disposable cup/bowl. (Start saving plastic silverware now!) Since the Marriott says each room is equipped with a coffee maker, you can boil water and voila! Instant snack! I remember a rainy day in Dallas last year when we just went up to our room and had chicken tortilla (me) and split pea (Montana) soup rather than spend 90 minutes waiting for a $20 hamburger and fries in the lounge downstairs. At that point, I believe I was declared “brilliant.”  (You could also call some almonds and a packet of instant oatmeal breakfast if you were running late or missed the continental breakfast.)

Miscellaneous: Here is a list of items I’ve found particularly handy to have at the conference. (Keep in mind, too, that I pack like I’m going to deepest Siberia with no access to any type of store, so some of this may seem like overkill. You can feel pity for Montana, but keep in mind he’s benefitted from my compulsion. See “brilliant” reference above.)

·      Sewing kit/extra safety pins—no further explanation needed

·      Shout Wipes/Tide pen—this is the voice of experience. At the Reno conference, I dropped a huge glop of salsa on my yellow shirt. One Shout Wipe later and you couldn’t tell I needed a bib.

·      Sleep mask/earplugs—again, the voice of experience. Sleep is crucial and when you need it, you need it. So if it’s the middle of the day, if your roommates are practicing their pitches, if the 4+ people in the room next door are talking and laughing until 3:00 a.m. (true story)—slap on your mask (yes, one of those 1950’s satin jobs) and pop in your earplugs (those little foam things you can get at any sporting goods or hardware store) and sleep is that much closer.

·      Alarm clock—rather than depend on the hotel’s clock, I’ll use my cell phone or bring a small kitchen timer set to wake me up in one hour or eight or whatever.

·      Medicinals—this includes the pain reliever of your choice, Tylenol PM or equivalent (because your body is going to ache at the end of the day), Tums/Pepto/etc. (no explanation needed), DayQuil (for those times you feel a little cold-ish), and for those of you who need it, allergy medication.

·      And I always keep a few mints or roll of Life Savers with me. Not only for breath protection, but you can never tell if you’re going to get all nervous and dry-mouthed before your pitch.

I hope this is helping. Take what you can use, discard the rest. I think the bottom line I’d stress is bring what makes you happy and comfortable. The more relaxed you are, the better conference experience you’re going to have. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check my Hershey’s shipment going to the hotel.

The train is gathering momentum now. We’re under the three week mark and systems are firing. Of course, many of you are at the same point I am, that of near hysteria. “What do you mean Nationals are less than three weeks away? I’ve got clothes to buy, hair to cut, pitches to perfect and twenty pounds to lose!!!”  Even with my urge to breathe into a paper bag, I think I love preparing for Nationals as much as the event itself. It’s a lot like your wedding, isn’t it?

Before I discuss today’s Red Alert Topic, I have two administrative tasks I’d like to take care of. The first is I’m hooked up with the amazing Jude of Blogging National. Per her site, “Each summer this blog lumbers to life to aggregate all the wonderful posts about the RWA National Conference whereby RWA members attending the conference share the fun and excitement with those not able to attend.” I’ve got her link over on my Blogs roll to your right, so if you’re like me and love talking and reading about Nationals, give her a peek. (And thank her for taking the time to compile all of us! Trust me, it’s like herding cats! A great big Pam Writes Romance mwah! to Jude!) The second little administrative task is to remind everybody that these posts are done strictly from my viewpoint and experiences. In the words of the fabulous Jenny Crusie, your mileage may vary. I encourage each and every one of you to research what you want to know about Nationals and take the information you like, leaving the rest behind. (A lot like listening to people tell you how to write, eh?)

Now on to the most important of all topics: What to Wear.

You’ve probably heard other people give such advice as wear comfy shoes and dress in layers. They’re absolutely right. For shoes, you’re going to be walking all over the hotel, from the depths of the bottom-most convention level to whatever double-digit floor your room is on. From 7:30 a.m. to the wee hours of the morning, you could be walking, walking, walking. “But,” you cry, “I have to look nice for my agent appointment, then walk two blocks to lunch, then come back for seminars! How can I find one pair of shoes that are comfy and look good at the same time?” Fear not. That’s why you bring a few, well-chosen pairs. Allow me to use myself as an example.

First thing to do is pick a color scheme, probably brown or black. I have a wardrobe built with black as a foundation, so it’s where I start. I have a pair of nice leather wedges that are both moderately-dressy and super comfy. I wear these most of the conference. I also bring a pair of cute heeled strappy sandals (but no strap across the ankle or heel) that work great if I do have to dress up or am feeling sassy. More than four hours standing in these and I’ll be hurting, but great for those sparkle times. (I may throw in one extra pair—probably my flats with the pointed toe, but in all honesty, I don’t need to. Just a compulsion to.) That way, I have the option to zip up to my room to change shoes (and/or clothes) before or after my editor and agent appointment, after dinner, before the afternoon seminars, whatever. Or you can be like Melissa and bring an extra pair of shoes to the RITA awards to change into afterwards. Of course, Melissa was staying at a nearby hotel and she had a ton more walking to do, but when she opened her purse before the ceremony started and showed me her second pair, I almost lost it.  (Just one of many reasons I love her so much!)

For the dress in layers part, this is also great advice. In my color block of black, I have a black cardigan I keep with me. ($13 at Target?) I’m also one of those people who runs hot, so I don’t need it that often, but it’s good to have even if just to drape over my shoulders—you can never tell if those conference rooms are going to be blazing, freezing, or somewhere in between. I try for shirts that are either short or ¾ sleeve (or can be folded or pushed up) and with capris, knit pants or skirt (all in my black and work with all of my shoes), I’m set for the conference. (And most of my items are knit so I don’t have to iron or worry about wrinkles.) I have a black ballerina top with sparkles that works for sassy, party, or last year, for the RITAs when paired with my black velvet skirt. (You thought I was kidding about the black, didn’t you?) My tops are where I want the color because that’s what people are going to see—my head and torso, not my lower half—so that’s where I want the color to be. I stick with two colors that compliment my coloring (a turquoise blue and olive) so my jewelry can mix-and-match, too. (If you’re completely stuck, either Google RWA Nationals and look at other authors sites for photos or Google Business Casual.) Whatever you do, wear something that you feel good, comfortable and happy in. This will show on your face and in your carriage. This weekend is a great big interview to me, and I’m not going to miss out on a callback because I’m wearing jeans or my khakis are six kinds of wrinkled. I even wear a skirt and nice top on the place so when I get to the hotel, I look like a professional writer. Again, your mileage may vary.

And speaking of the RITAs, I’ve seen everything from soup to nuts there, so don’t get stressed. You will see a lot of fancy outfits, but when you get 2000 women who write romance together (whose working outfits often consist of torn sweats), you’re going to see a lot of once-a-year dresses. My black velvet skirt was a Christmas party outfit, and now that I think about it, I wore that same skirt at Reno in 2005. Nobody pointed and screamed, so the repetition was okay with me. And if I was going to the RITAs this year, you can bet what would have been packed. Now, when I’m nominated, I will have satin and frills rivaling a prom queen, but until then, simple is fine.

What’d I miss?

Welcome to my first official Prepping for Nationals class. If you didn’t know this by now, I’m a panster (at least 65% worth), so there is no lesson plan, but I am following a rough order (because if you do the math, I am about 35% plotter that way.) If I missing something, call out.

Lesson One:  Given that Nationals are in San Francisco this year, prepping for them does not include watching The Rock. Or Dirty Harry, or 48 Hours, or A View to a Kill. (Sorry, Dad.) But let’s talk about setting. Of the conferences I’ve been to, this one is shaping up to be the best as far as location. This doesn’t mean the city, this means what’s around the Marriott. Where you do spend the majority of time in the hotel, there are times you need/want to get out, or need to purchase something that really can’t be found in the hotel gift shop (or has a 500% markup.) To illustrate how wonderfully this hotel is located, allow me to list some examples:

·         There are several pharmacies within .5 miles.

·         There are at least 4 grocery stores under .25 miles away. (They look like smaller, independent (or local) stores, but I’ve never found one yet that doesn’t carry the basic food items like granola bars, apples and bottled water.)

·         There are two 7-11’s nearby—one just around the corner and up the block, the other around the corner and down the block. (Both under .25 miles.)

·         There’s a Kinko’s (which also means FedEx shipping) around the corner and up the block, and there are a few USPS branches under .25 miles as well. (I know the Marriott has a business office with shipping, but we tend to overwhelm these poor folk so it’s nice to have a backup—more on this in a later lesson.)

·         There are a ton of restaurants of all types and sizes nearby—check the Westfield San Francisco Centre’s Food Court across the street and the Metreon less than a block away. (Again, yes the Marriott has several restaurants, but we overwhelm them too, so a backup is a necessity. Plus, there may be times you just need either alone time or want to get out of the hotel for a few minutes.)

I think you’re getting the point. The underlying message is that judging by the nearby businesses, this area looks really nice and safe. I’d probably use the buddy system to be sure, but there were some spots around Dallas I was nervous even with 6’5” Montana with me. Not so here. To find what’s helpful to you, the best thing to do is MapQuest the address of the hotel (55 4^th St., San Francisco) and use their search feature to check nearby stores of your choosing. Print out that map (making sure to get the phone number of the stores) and bring it with you. You may not need it, but when you do, you’ll be glad for that information.

Lesson Two:Now I know it’s almost insulting to have a lesson on getting from the airport to the hotel (and vice versa), but there are a few tips I’d like to share just so you have them.

·         Check out the RWA site on travel information. Some wonderful person has compiled some basic information about estimated taxi fares, hotel shuttles and other similar details I absolutely adore.

·         Look into using the Super Shuttle (and there’s a discount coupon on RWA’s site above.) In fact, I would highly recommend it. It’s cheaper than a taxi and a set fare so if you get stuck in traffic, the meter is not running.

·         If you prefer a taxi, you may have luck splitting a fare. When you’re at baggage claim (or in the hotel lobby when you’re leaving), look at your fellow travelers. Odds are, there will be at least a few, possibly many more, fellow conference attendees. (Trust me, you’ll know—some are obvious between bags or pins, some aren’t, but we all have a certain look to us. Feel free to ask one if they’d like to split a taxi to the hotel. I met Susan Crandall this way. This is a terrific way to meet people, and trust me–this is the most welcoming, open, friendly group of people in the world and that includes walking up to them at the airport.)

·         I know that for many, this conference is a lot of money, and ways of saving cash are highly scrutinized. However, I also think there are times when it’s better to spend a little more and consider it money well spent (says the voice of experience.) One of these instances may be the travel to/from the hotel. I know BART has a line that runs from the airport to about 1-2 blocks from the hotel and it’s tempting to spend $2 on travel instead of $20 (I’m guessing here, so don’t hold me to those numbers), but I would strongly suggest skipping a dinner out here or there in the next 3 weeks and saving those funds for the shuttle or taxi. Or at least split the difference—take BART in, then take the shuttle or a taxi to the airport back to the hotel when you leave. Trust me on this—when you leave you’re going to be loaded down with not only your luggage, but the books and goodies people throw at you left and right, completely and utterly exhausted, and have a wicked case of Fried Brain that will rival anything you did in college. The last thing you want to do Sunday is have to think or be alert. It’s just not going to happen.

·         One more message on transportation—just as I suggested printing out some MapQuest locations of grocery and drugstores nearby, I also suggest doing some research and finding some methods of transportation (taxis, BART, cable car) for when you feel like doing something during the conference. Print out those phone numbers, fare lists or schedules. You may think you can walk to Chinatown and back, but by the time you’re done, you may be so tired that taxi is well worth the money. Reach into your bag and voila!An instant list of taxis with their phone numbers. You may never need this list, but when you do, you will be soooo happy you have it.  

Okay, the first two lessons took way more space than I thought, so I’m going to stop for now. If you have any questions about the setting or transportation, either comment or email me and I’ll do my best to answer them (or find somebody who can.) I’m a firm believer in there is no such thing as a stupid question, but I also know some people do feel really embarrassed about asking certain things. If you email me with your question, I promise upon pain of never eating chocolate again that I will keep you 100% anonymous. Sound fair?

Next lessons are ‘What Clothes to Bring’ and ‘Ins and Outs of Pitching’. Don’t know which order, but those are the ones floating around my head. Plus, they seem like ones you’d need more time for, so the earlier in the month, the better. 

Thanks for visiting. I am having a blast with this series and I hope it’s helping you. And since you’ve made it this far, I’ll add another shameless plug for my new website. Your comments on it have caused warmth in my cockles.

My cockles and I thank you.