| Jane Porter |
Marion Lennox |
Lisa Rector |
Sue-Ellen Gower |
Janet Woods |
| Joan Kilby |
Allison Rushby |
Kandy Shepherd |
Carla Molino |
Joanie MacNeil |
| Sandy Curtis |
Sharon Milburn |
Keri
Arthur |
Ally Blake |
Nicola Marsh |
| Amy O'Connor |
Laura Gale |
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Events:
Friday Workshops
Friday Night Cocktail Party - Harlequin's Nights of the Raj
(stumped for ideas? Click here to get some
suggestions)
Packed Saturday and
Sunday program (coming soon!)
Saturday and Sunday
Tutorials (details below)
Saturday Awards Night
Dinner including the winners of the Romantic Book of the Year.
Bonus Extras:
DISCOUNT ACCOMMODATION ~ A fantastic discounted rate has been negotiated
for rooms at The Langham, Melbourne’s top 5 star hotel. Stay in sumptuous
surroundings and be pampered by top-notch service. Remember to fill in
your accommodation request (extra forms can be downloaded from the links at the
end of this page) and mail or fax it to the hotel. If your budget
is extra tight, the Travelodge is just across the road and has excellent rates.
THE TUTORIALS ~
Every writer has different needs and our tutorial choices reflect that - no
matter if you’re a newbie, an old hand or multi published. At this conference
we’re offering four session times for you to attend. Please note that our
“published authors only” tutorials are for authors published in book-length
fiction only.
TIME PAYMENT SYSTEM
~ Cash flow problem? Take advantage of our time payment system (early bird
registrations only) and spread the cost over two months.
EDITOR/AGENT
APPOINTMENTS ~ 10 minute one-on-one or group appointments. Take advantage
of the opportunity to pitch for novel to an expert in the publishing business.
Please be aware that this is for members with a full, complete novel only. In
times of high demand, you may be allocated a group interview. Please check
Hearts Talk and our website in the coming months to find out what each of our
publishing industry experts is looking for from authors.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
PLENARY TALKS ~ We’ve gone all out to provide the widest range of local and
international speakers for you. These general plenary sessions are designed
with all levels of writer in mind so you’ll hear about the industry, writing
techniques and other related topics. Something for everyone!
CHAT WITH… ~
These sessions have proven so popular that we’re giving you two opportunities to
talk with published authors in a relaxed atmosphere. Discuss new trends and get
the best information about your targeted market. We aim to keep groups as small
as practicable.
LAUNCH OF THE 2005
LITTLE GEMS ANTHOLOGY ~ Each book purchased includes a raffle opportunity
with a prize you’re going to love!
BOOK STALL ~
generously supplied by Rendezvous The Romantic Bookstore, specialists in romance
fiction. Check them out at
http://tinyurl.com/5ee9j
GOODY BAGS, GIVEAWAYS
AND OTHER GREAT STUFF ~ As usual our goody bags are chock with treats, plus
we have generous raffle prizes every day and lucky door prizes throughout the
weekend.
Helpful Information:
THE VENUE AND SURROUNDS ~ The Langham Hotel is on Southbank Avenue in the
heart of the vibrant Southbank precinct. The luxury hotel features a restaurant,
lounge and business centre. Guests have access to their fully equipped
gymnasium, swimming pool and the spa bath featuring views of Melbourne’s city
skyline.
Hotel Website:
www.langhamhotels.com/langham/melbourne/ Phone: 61-3- 8696 8888, Fax: 61-3-
9690 5889 e-mail:
mel.resv@langhamhotels.com The Southbank precinct, situated on the Yarra
River just across from Melbourne’s central business district, offers a huge
range of eateries and shopping opportunities. For information on local
attractions and surrounds see
www.visitvictoria.com.au,
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au or
www.visitmelbourne.com
GETTING THERE ~
The conference venue is approximately 55km from Avalon Airport
www.avalonairport.com.au and 27 km from Tullamarine Airport
www.melbourne-airport.com.au
. Both have taxi services and regular buses
coming into the Melbourne CBD. FMI: Skybus Supershuttle from Tullamarine
Airport (www.skybus.com.au
or see the Getting There/Getting Away link on the Tullamarine Airport website)
and for Sunbus from Avalon airport (see the Getting There/Getting Away link on
the Avalon Airport website) For flights to Melbourne, remember it’s cheaper to
book online. Virgin Blue at
www.virginblue.com.au or call 13 6789, Qantas at
www.qantas.com.au or call 13 1313 and Jetstar at
www.jetstar.com.au or call 13 1538.
Friday Workshops
Availability for the Donald Maass workshop is dependent on certain criteria -
see registration form for more details.
Writing the Breakout
Novel - Donald Maass
www.maassagency.com
This is a rigorous full day workshop designed to teach working novelists new
techniques to bring their fiction to the next level. Learn to grab your reader
from beginning to end, create unforgettable characters, choose timeless,
universal themes, create a potent sense of time and place, develop a dramatic
storyline that sets your work apart from the competition…and much more! Donald
Maass, a top New York agent for fiction writers and author of WRITING THE
BREAKOUT NOVEL, leads participants through practical writing exercises that
plumb depths of character, raise stakes both public and personal, add plot
layers, heighten sense of time and place, strengthen point of view and voice,
deepen themes, transform openings, and develop the brainstorming skills that
produce consistently original stories. Donald Maass has helped many mid-list
and genre authors transform their careers. His twenty-five years of experience
can help you, too. Participants should bring the manuscript of a completed
novel or work-in-progress. Familiarity with the basics of plot, character,
dialogue, and scene construction are presumed.
OR
Muse Obedience School
~ Valerie Parv
www.valerieparv.com
Is your muse a mutt? Disobedient? Won’t come on command or fetch the words you
need? Do you have to beat your muse into submission in order to write anything?
This workshop shows how to get back in control of your muse so you can write
anywhere, anytime with great results. You’ll learn how to conquer blank page
syndrome, write and edit to order, access new methods of idea generation, manage
harmful self talk and much more in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The most
difficult muse can become a pedigreed performer. The secret’s in the training.
Boot Camp: Basic
Training for the New Writer ~ Lucy Monroe
www.lucymonroe.com
This workshop is aptly named because it is an intense three hours that may leave
your brain feeling like mush, but will prepare you to fight the battle ahead to
publication. Lucy spent five years writing to sell and focusing on learning all
she could about the industry in the process. She shares what she learned in an
organised format that covers everything from defining romance and its subgenres
to the most common characterisation, plot and dialogue problems faced by new
writers.
Friday Night Cocktail Party - Harlequin's Nights of the Raj
In the gracious colonial city of Melbourne, it's time to look back to the
glorious days when Queen Victoria ruled the Empire. Leave your elephant at the
front door and come with a touch of the British Empire such as a sari, a fan, a
peacock feather, a turban or a pith helmet and join Harlequin Mills & Boon and
their authors for a "Night of the Raj". Entry fee is included if you are
attending the Saturday/Sunday conference.
Saturday Night RWA
Awards Dinner
Dine in style while celebrating with the years’ winners of RWA contests,
including The 2004 Emma Darcy Award. Join in the excitement of the announcement
of The RuBY, Australia’s premier award for romantic fiction, at the climax of
the evening, and be one of the first to hear the winners of the best romantic
category and the best romantic single title Romantic Book of the Year.
Saturday Tutorials
Select two choices only for each session and place the corresponding letters on
the registration form in order of preference. Every endeavor will be made to
fit you into your first choice. Please note that the "published author only "
choices are for writers who are published in full length fiction only.
SESSION 1
Choice A: Creating A Sexy Hero - Stephanie Laurens
www.stephanielaurens.com
This workshop will focus on the elements required to develop the alpha hero, and
how these are effectively incorporated in a work. The first section of the
workshop will deal with what elements create and build perceptions of "sexy."
The second section will deal with how these elements are seeded in throughout a
work. The last section will analyze the area where many less-experienced authors
fall by the wayside - the initial introduction of the hero, to the point where
hero and heroine meet. Attendees are asked to bring their current work,
specifically from page one to where the hero and heroine meet.
Choice B: Time
Management Techniques For The Busy Writer ~ Lucy Monroe
www.lucymonroe.com
The biggest challenge any writer faces is garnering the time necessary to write,
polish and submit their books. Lucy is a huge proponent of effective time
management and will share her best loved techniques with workshop attendees.
Whether you are a long time author who has to now balance the business of
writing with time to dedicate to your craft or a new author who struggles with
making the time to finish your book, you will benefit from the techniques Lucy
has gathered over the years.
Choice C: Sassy In
The City ~ Ally Blake www.allyblake.com
and Nicola Marsh
www.nicolamarsh.com
Let local Harlequin authors Ally Blake and Nicola Marsh take you on a journey in
writing fun, fresh, flirty romance. They will discuss creating contemporary
category novels, continuing characters, faithful city-girl dialogue, and doing
so within true to life Australian settings. Come along for an entertaining chat
about how to put a modern twist on old-fashioned romance!
Choice D: Undercover
Cops - Sergeant Nathan Kaesar
Sergeant Nathan Kaesar of the Victoria Police force lets us into his dark world
of undercover operations during this fascinating session. They'll be plenty of
time to ask questions from this Melbourne policeman who's not only posed as a
hitman but has also worked extensively with the Criminal Investigation Branch
and the National Crime Authority.
SESSION 2
Choice A: Chatting
With A New York Agent ~ Donald Maass
www.maassagency.com
A wonderful opportunity to find out all about agents - do you really need one?
What can they do? What can’t they do? What separates the good ones from the
bad? What should you look out for in a contract? Questions are encouraged in
this interactive session from this leading New York agent.
Choice B: Writing’s
In The Rewriting or How to Revise Your Way to a Saleable Manuscript ~ Joan
Kilby
www.joankilby.com
Joan will talk about the essential steps in revising a first draft manuscript -
from large-scale changes to fine-tuning the polished product. Topics covered
will include how to analyze structural problems and rewrite scenes and chapters
for maximum dramatic effect, tracking character development in relation to plot,
unifying theme, practical tips for working with a complete manuscript and the
Holy Grail - a request for revisions from an editor . For Beginner and
Intermediate writers. Bring paper and pen for interactive writing exercises.
Choice C: What
Happens When Men and Women Talk ~ Laura Gale
www.laura-gale.com
Writing believable dialogue is critical to writing an effective romance novel.
Drawing upon research and theory in Gender and Communication Studies, this
tutorial will present and explain common conversational styles with an emphasis
on the typical differences between what men and women actually say, as well as
how they say it. You will spend some ‘hands-on’ time with examples, including a
checklist of gender communication styles. This way, the next conversation you
write will sound natural - and you’ll know why!
Choice D: Who’s
Buying What in the USA ~ Kandy Shepherd and Carla Molino
Fresh from the RWAmerica national conference, Kandy and Carla will give you the
latest information on publishers, editors and who is acquiring what, plus trends
and what’s hot right now in the romance publishing industry.
Sunday Tutorials
SESSION 1
Choice A: Erotica and
the E-book Market ~ Amy O’Connor
www.amyoconnor.com
What’s the difference between a romantic love scene and an erotic one? Is there
more to it than just adding a few basic Anglo Saxon words? Romantic erotica is a
rapidly growing market. There are plenty of opportunities for newcomers,
especially with small press / electronic publishers. This tutorial will give a
broad overview of the romantic erotica market, with emphasis on the small / e-
industry. We’ll also look at how to write the sort of good quality - tasteful -
erotica that’s in such high demand right now.
Choice B: Getting
your Manolo in the Door ~ Allison Rushby
www.allisonrushby.com
The rise and fall and rise and rise of chick-lit – it's rather like watching the
stock market. In this tutorial, author Allison Rushby (Random House, Dorchester
and Red Dress Ink) takes you through the peaks and troughs of chick-lit, where
it came from, what it's all about, who's currently buying in Australia, the UK
and the USA and sneaky ways to get your mss on editors' desks (what's the point
of wearing those Manolos if you can't show a bit of ankle, eh?!).
Choice C: Writing
Historical for the UK Market ~ Janet Woods
http://members.iinet.net.au/~woods/ &
Sharon Milburn
In this tutorial designed for beginning writers, Sharon will explore the regency
period and explain the difference between traditional regencies and regency
historical. Emphasis will be placed on fashion, society manners and forms of
address. What’s historically accurate and what isn’t? Sharon will tell you.
Janet will talk about other periods, particularly saga writing - the use of
dialect, research, setting, sub plots, the perils of working with a large cast
of characters, and the positioning of the romance within the story. A fun quiz
will be followed by a Q&A session.
Choice D: Healing a
Sick Book ~ Lisa Rector
Busy publishers don't have the time or resources to explain to unpublished
writers why they rejected their manuscript, and new writers often don't have the
skills to recognise where they went wrong. Book doctors are skilled at analysing
the problems in a manuscript and suggesting specific ways the writer can
overcome them. Lisa Rector is an independent New York editor working with
authors of mystery, mainstream, literary and women's fiction and will discuss
the pros and cons of working with a book doctor or independent book editor in
today's publishing market.
Choice E: Taming Your
Inner Dragon ~ Jane Porter
www.janeporter.com
This workshop examines the writer's life, using dragon symbolism to demonstrate
how we commercial writers must remain devoted to craft and the art of fiction,
while refusing to allow our muse to run the show unchecked, showing up at will,
deserting at will, and generally creating havoc. A dragon run amuck is not a
good thing. A dragon out of control eats villagers, creates terror, spits fire -
this dragon is not helping anybody and would generally be hunted down by the
hardier castle knights and warriors and put to death. In this entertaining
workshop, Jane will will define what keeps a dragon happy and allow it healthy
independence without letting it control the future. We will also define your
expectations, prepare for pitfalls, and problem solve, including developing a
psychology of power to help tame that inner dragon. *published author session
only
SESSION 2
Choice A: Show Not
Tell ~ Joanie MacNeil
http://www.bookswelove.net/macneil.html
New writers often ask, "What do you mean by show and not tell?". Through fun
exercises and examples, this workshop will provide new writers with one of the
elements of effective writing - ways in which to "show and not tell".
Participants will take away a knowledge of how to apply those skills to current
works in progress. This will be a hands-on session. Participants will discover
how to use action and dialogue as well as the five senses to "show, don't tell",
and should be prepared to bring a scene or two from their current work in
progress to share and workshop.
Choice B: Creating
Your Own Website ~ Keri Arthur
www.keriarthur.com
If you're a published author or still working on it, a website is a must in this
day and age. But don't worry if all that technical jargon makes you cross eyed
- in this hands on session, you will learn basic HTML and create a website using
nothing more than the Windows Notepad program. By the end of the session
everyone should have a working, ready-to-load website. All participants are
asked to bring along their laptops (or borrow one).
Choice C: Not Just
Hot Sex ~ Jane Porter
www.janeporter.com
Our jobs as writers, storytellers, is to exploit the human traits that surface
when we woo - self-consciousness, uncertainty... and mutual attraction. In the
early stages of a romance, these three traits drive every step of the new
relationship. The workshop will look at relationship studies, including studies
that emphasize the link between happiness and sex, passion and reason, and the
chemistry of desire and attraction. We will then apply the results of these
studies to our literary craft, focusing on how characterisation, plot,
motivation and conflict determine the level of sensuality, sexuality and
intimacy in every romance, and how every romance novel is different. We can't
just write great sex scenes. We have to write a great book. Jane will share
tips and techniques for making a story sizzle - emotionally as well as sexually.
Choice D: The
Not-So-Delicate Art of Writing Suspense ~ Sandy Curtis
www.sandycurtis.com
Your characters are meeting for that important first date. How can you, the
author, create just enough tension to have the reader breathless with
anticipation rather than Sleeping in Seattle? A life hangs in the balance. Can
you take your readers to the very brink … and back again? All genres need
suspense but each has to be approached differently. Beginner or advanced, this
tutorial will teach you techniques that will compel your readers to keep
reading, hearts pounding, breathing constricted, anxious to know how the
danger/problem/mystery will be resolved.
Choice E: After
Publication: A New Learning Curve ~ Marion Lennox
www.marionlennox.com
So you've taken that magic call from your editor. Hooray. But Cinders, we hate
to burst your bubble but there's learning to be done if you want to sail happily
into publication paradise. In this workshop for published authors, established
writers are asked to share tips between each other. No, we won't talk about
how much money we make :-) Instead we'll talk about such mundane topics as
developing a professional relationship with your editor, the benefits and
drawbacks of finding an agent AFTER the call, negotiating contracts without an
agent, staring down reviews, facing subsequent books with confidence, use and
abuse of the internet, plotting a career path, taking risks and writing space,
schedules and health. *published author session only
To download the conference
registration form, click here
To download the hotel registration
form, click here
To checkout Conference FAQ's,
click here
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