Roses & Emeralds

If this were Twitter, I'd say RCRW was all over ECWC this year. But it is Blogger, so I can type as much as I want!

With more than a dozen Rose City Romance Writers members attending the Emerald City Writers Conference in Bellevue, WA this year, the conference felt even cozier than usual. In every class I was able to spy a local lovely, and finding someone to sit with at meals was a no brainer since we comandeered two tables!

I gushed about the conference on my blog, so I won't double that here. I just wanted an opportunity to share some pictures of the babes of RCRW.

And to share some gift basket news. Did you know that Cherry Adair had a hand in making RCRW more beautiful? All three of her fabulous decorating baskets went to RCRW members -- Laurel, Nancy & moi!

And to give a special congrats to Cherry Adair Finish the Damn Book Challenge winners Mae Penn & Mary Oldham. Mary was even lucky enough to win Cherry's personal insudtry professional matchmaking skills. She'll hear back on that...today. (whistling)  

Workshop Notes :: Writing Sex with Deilah Marvelle

What really makes for an interesting sex scene is delving into your character in a way you don’t in the rest of the narrative. We are different people when the clothes come off. What changes when you are stripped down to basics?
• Have a plan with your love scene. What are you digging for in that love scene – kinky, steamy, rough, soft, emotional, make-up…what?
• Do a sexual arc for your characters. This is reflected in love scenes. Who are they and how do they relate to their partner.
• Be original. Don’t worry about writing the perfect love scene. They don’t always need a bed, to be completely naked.
• Use the language the character would use. Just because they are having sex, doesn’t mean they have a different background
• The end result is not the climax itself, but what the reader takes away from the scene once the climax is over.

When a love scene is written really well, you learn something about the characters. In a love scene you should be exchanging something unexpected between the characters. Some kind of revelation. Doesn’t have to be huge, something a reader would miss if they skim the scene.

Dialogue in a sex scene has one person – to express mutual desire and affection. Talk, look, be dirty. Humor is always helpful, makes things pop.

Less is sometimes more, especially when it comes to dialogue in a love sceen. You Tarzan, me Jane applies. Centers on looks, desires, feelings.

Erotic Inspirations – erotic photography (these images are from Duclerck free erotic magazine)

Love scenes should be a 3some not a 2some the writer should be that involved

Be a sensualist, find your inner French girl, slow your thoughts down and bring out those moments, make it special.

RCRW Spring Intensive Tentative Schedule

SPRING INTENSIVE :: March 30-April 1

Red Lion Inn at the Quay   Vancouver, WA

Friday Night

6-7:30 Pitch Practice (25 words or less)
7:45-9 Industry Professionals Panel (moderated by Jenna Bayley-Burke, send questions in advance)

Saturday

7-8:30 Breakfast
7:30-9 Storyboarding Your Career with Su Lute
9-11 Speed Dating : Pitching
9-11 Workshops (to be announced)
11-12 E-publishing Panel (moderated by Cassiel Knight)
12-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3 Query Workshop with Lauren Ruth
3-4 Spotlight : Entangled Publishing
4-530 Larry Brooks, part 1
5:30-7 Dinner (on your own)
7-9 Industry Professionals Roundtable

Sunday

7-8 Breakfast
8-9:30 Legalese for Writers, part 1 with Kohel Haver
9:30-11 Larry Brooks, part 2
11-12 Self-publishing Panel
12-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3 Legalese for Writers, part 2


Agents
Natalie Lakosil – Bradford Lit :: She is looking for children’s literature, romance (contemporary, paranormal and historical), upmarket women’s fiction and select nonfiction. Specific likes include historical, multi-cultural, paranormal, sci-fi/fantasy, gritty, thrilling and darker contemporary novels
Amy Boggs – Donald Maas Agency :: She is looking for fantasy and science fiction, especially urban fantasy, paranormal romance, steampunk, YA/children's, and alternate history. She is not looking for thrillers, women's fiction, or picture books.
Lauren Ruth – Bookends ::  Lauren is looking for literary fiction, romance, women's fiction, chick lit, young adult, middle grade, mystery, historical fiction, and steampunk.

Editors
Holly Black – St. Martins
Liz Pelletier & Heather Howland – Entangled
Pending Confirmation??

Special Guests
Larry Brooks - StoryFix
Kohel Haver – Attorney
Jon Fine – Amazon

Registration opens January 1, $150 members, $200 members