Each year, the Greater Vancouver Chapter of
RWA holds an event at the main branch of Vancouver
Public Library. This year, it was held on February
11.
The speakers were Kate Austin (www.kateaustin.ca),
Lee McKenzie (www.leemckenzie.com),
and Kaylea Cross (www.kayleacross.com).
The topic was “Is Happily Ever After Just
Fiction?” and the speakers discussed where
they find their inspiration, how they move from
idea to book, and how they achieved publication.
The theme that emerged repeatedly, during their
presentations and in the Q&A sessions, was
how individual the writing process is.
If would-be writers came to the presentation
looking for magical answers, they didn’t
get any.
Except, maybe they did. The answer was, there
isn’t a formula. It’s not like other
careers where you have to study specific courses,
work at a certain place, work during certain hours,
perform tasks in a specified manner.
You get to be as unique in your writing process
as you are as a person. And isn’t that a
wonderful – even magical – thing?
The speakers did give general guidelines. You
have to learn, practice, be disciplined. You have
to write, revise, subject your work to criticism.
It helps to become part of a professional writers’
organization and interact with colleagues. It
helps to study other writers’ processes
and techniques, and borrow and adapt until you
work out your own process. You have to submit,
be rejected, and submit again. Publication doesn’t
come easily. And when it does come, rarely will
it bring a huge income.
For me, having been in this business for more
than a dozen years, it all seemed self-evident.
But as I looked out at the audience, I imagined
myself back at the beginning of my writing career.
If I’d attended an event like thisone, how
would I have felt when I left?
And I think the answer is, not necessarily optimistic,
but hopeful. If the people at the front of the
room could achieve multi-published status, then
why shouldn’t any member of the audience
be able to do it?
I hope that’s the message that the wannabe
writers in our Valentine’s event audience
took away with them.
Thanks to the speakers for a great presentation,
and to GVC volunteers Kay Gregory, Michelle Hancock,
Judy Jackson, Leanne Karella, Marlene Khoshbin,
and Julie Nichols for their assistance in making
the event a success. Thanks also to Sophie Middleton
and Lisa Grant at Vancouver Public Library.
Susan Lyons (www.susanlyons.ca)
is a member of GVC and was the VPL event coordinator
and moderator. She’s an award-winning author
of long and short romance, ranging from sweet
to erotic.
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