Friday, July 22, 2011

When I am Published I Want to Be Like...

When I am published, I want to be like the authors I admire and like many of the authors I met at the 2011 RWA Conference in New York City. Here are the qualities I admire in the authors I want to be like when I am published:

Generous
Fun
Giving
Excited
Humble
Eager
Open
Gifted
Understanding

These authors also want to share how to get through the publishing door. They want to give advice about how to get published. They aren't afraid of the competition. They welcome more people at the table. They believe there is room for everyone. They want to see you succeed. They want to help you attain your dream goal.

How did these authors show me these qualities? By speaking at the luncheons, by giving inspiring thank you speeches, and by teaching workshops. They also shared their love of writing, craft, and storytelling during random meetings. I met several authors during the literacy signing, the luncheons, and in the workshops who eagerly shared information with me about the craft, the industry, the genres, and their experiences. They even offered to help me by reading my pages, by answering my questions via email.

Authors were once writers struggling to get published. They know how hard it is to beat down that door. They get where we unpublished writers are sitting, and they want us to succeed. While I was at the conference I met many generous authors who took the time to encourage me.

And that is why going to a conference is money well-spent. You learn who you want to be like when you cross over to the published world. Keep these qualities in mind if you aren't published. Write them down. Live them now. Pay it forward when you reach your dream.

16 comments:

Marilyn Baron said...

Christine,

I totally agree with everything you've said. The authors at the conference were a class act. It was a wonderful conference.

Marilyn Baron

Anonymous said...

You are so right. Writers are one group willing to give to others.


Susan Carlisle
Heart Surgeon, Hero...Husband?
Available 1/2012

Christine said...

Hi Marilyn: I am so glad you had a positive experience at the conference. RWA is a wonderful organization filled with people who really do want to see everyone attain their dream.

Hi Susan: I can't wait till you're debut novel is released!! I want to celebrate on the Veranda with you!!

:-)

Gwen Hernandez said...

Christine: You already are like that. I don't think you'll changed when you get published. My theory is that money (or fame) only amplifies one's personality, which means that once you're a pubbed author, you'll only be more magnificent. ;-)

Great list, and I couldn't agree more that RWA has some of the most generous authors--and people--around. RWA11 only proved it again for me.

Stephanie Jones AKA Alicia Hunter Pace said...

Christine,
you make a good point that being generous in sharing time and experience is a great characteristic for anyone but for a published author who is dealing with his or her own deadlines it becomes even more impressive.

I really enjoyed to blog today. It is certainly something for all of us who hope to be published one day to remember!

Kiru Taye said...

You're absolutely right. Some authors are fabulously generous. I'm glad you got to meet some of them. :o))

J D Elliott said...

Christine,

Wonderful post! Being an unpublished author, I am humbled and awed by the amount of help and encouragement I receive from published authors. It makes me more honored to part of this wonderful world of writing. I also agree with Gwen that you do definitely have those qualities. Even as unpublished authors, we also should pay it forward as we learn and grow. Thanks, sweetie, for another awesome post.

HUGS,
JD :)

Christine said...

Hi Gwen: Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm blushing. RWA11 was amazing this year. So many wonderful memories!

Hi Stephanie: You're right. A pubbed author has even less time to contribute yet many do, particularly in our genre. I think that's what makes this community so strong!

Hi Kiru: I feel very blessed to have so many wonderful writing friends, pubbed and unpubbed. They all help me grow as a writer.

Hi J.D: Thanks so much for your kind words. And yes, I am awed as well by all the help and encouragement I receive from published authors. They are amazing. I almost started writing a list of names, but decided I had too many and was afraid to forget someone!! We are very lucky writers!

:-)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This is why I blog and do not do public appearances. I have a great online personality but out in public I come across as weird and introverted.

Maxine Davis said...

Christine,
I enjoyed the post and I agree! Last year at nationals, I had the same experience - wonderful people!

Linsey Lanier said...

Wise words, Christine. I love the connection you can get at a conference with people who love to do what you love to do. And generosity abounds in RWA.

As far as your list goes, you're already there. :)

Christine said...

Hi KarenG: I love your online personality. I think some people do better online but we're all a little quirky in the writing world. We get each other :-)

Hi Maxine: I'm so glad you enjoyed my post. I hope you get to go next year. Meanwhile we have Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight & Magnolias Conference to look forward to in the autumn. I can't wait!!

Hi Linsey: Awe, thanks for the kind words. I think the examples set forth by the other writers in the RWA Community really sets the bar for me in how to treat others.

:-)

Tami Brothers said...

I so agree, Christine! I have honestly never been involved in an industry quite like the writing world. YES there is the occasional petty person who is jealous of everything and anyone who published before them. BUT the majority of those I’ve come across are more than willing to share their experience and lend a hand to help someone else up the ladder they are climbing.

Thanks for sharing this with us. I need to add this to my list of “what I want to be when I grow up” things to keep in mind.

Tami

Christine said...

Hi Tami: I am so glad you popped by to say to hello! Yes, there are the few who choose to be hoarders of success, but they are a small group compared to the masses of authors who believe we can all attain this goal. These authors believe there is room for all of us at the top. And they shift around to make space for us. The other ones? The hoarders and the petty ones? Well, they get to be in a little tiny room all by themselves and be miserable with each other.

I'm SO GLAD I am in the big room with all the wonderful authors who love to see other people open the door and walk in to the party!!!

Carol Burnside aka Annie Rayburn said...

I'm still bummed that I didn't get to go this year. Maybe next year...

It's also been my experience that the overwhelming majority of romance writers are positive, uplifting and generous people.

Christine said...

Next year! I really hope I can go to Anaheim for the 2012 Conference, but if not, I've got M&M to look forward to as well. That's a great Regional Conference!!

:-)