Trope Actually Wrap Up

I’m sitting at the airport waiting to fly from Adelaide back to Melbourne after an epic three days of writing content at the Romance Writers’ of Australia annual conference, this year called ‘Trope Actually‘.

Friday, I attended the academic symposium portion. I enjoyed presentations from several academics who were researching/had researched romance writing and related content as part of their study–usually at the PhD level.

I learned about romance novels and their role in telling the history of the Australian convict, and the environment at the time, one that was particularly hostile to women. I heard about a genre I was hitherto unaware of, the Bonkbuster (think Jackie Collins), and the ways in which it is distinct from romance. I heard about First Nations representation (or lack thereof), about queer expressions of the standard romance trope, about the potentially destructive versions of men that exist in romantasy (romance + fantasy), and about gender presentation in sports romance.

It must be a particular kind of masochism to sit through presentations of this nature and thing ‘perhaps I should do a PhD.’ I’ve heard that they are a lot of work, and while important and joyous in a lot of ways, I think I would probably struggle to spend that much time focusing on something so exclusively. But never say never.

Saturday was the start of the conference ‘proper’. With keynotes, panels, and break out workshops. I was inspired by the talk about co-writing by Christina Lauren, and now I’m trying to twist my bestie’s arm to co-write a novel. I tried to absorb Kate Cuthbert’s talk on creating emotionally powerful connections from characters readers (and between characters). When she asked for questions I really didn’t know what to say, I was still trying to comprehend the information.

Sunday started with the business of an AGM and the election of the new committee. I was pleased to see that many of the old committee were re-standing, but there were also a few new people to keep things fresh and energetic. As the former President of a volunteer org (and the current Coordinator of another) I have enormous respect for the sheer volume of work the RWA team does.

After that we had a keynote from Elana Johnson about the importance of ‘Kissing Books’ in which she was a little bit emotional (as were many in the audience). Then I attended workshops on (appropriately) writing diversity, and learned the four key elements for a fabulous blurb. I’ll have to have a look at my blurbs and possibly rewrite all of them.

My final workshop was on the elements of the cosy mystery genre, which I was excited to attend as I’m writing a mystery at the moment. I learned very quickly that I was NOT writing a cosy mystery and that had I suggested I was my readers may have been absolutely livid (and told me so). It would seem I’m writing a Gumshoe/PI mystery instead, and that’s okay. At least gumshoes can swear, so perhaps it’s for the best.

I have so many new book ideas swirling around in my head. After spending the weekend with so many enthusiastic writers I come away with lots of shiny new projects to work on, but I will need to try to keep myself on task with the two unfinished manuscripts that I am currently working on before starting any new ones.

I think it’s safe to say that I’ll continue writing until the enthusiasm wears off. Sometimes, when I’m in the thick of a manuscript and I have no idea how to get from where I am to where I think it ends, I get discouraged. Sometimes the words aren’t flowing and I think why am I even doing this to myself? But then I go to these events and I remember that it’s fun talking about my work, and hearing about others. Knowing how much you’ve touched someone with your story or brought them a little levity to an otherwise dark afternoon makes the struggle against the blank page feel more worthwhile.