Peter Barker on #ROSACon2018

Today's post is a guest post from author Peter Barker on his experience at the ROSACon 2018 conference held in Johannesburg in September.

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When I signed up for the 2018 ROSA conference I was a bit apprehensive that I would be hearing a lot of the same stuff again. This was the third conference that I have attended and the second one where I have attended the entire conference. My apprehensions were set aside. I discovered that there is always more to learn.

What did I learn? Where there were concurrent sessions I of course did not attend the alternate presentations. I left the conference a great deal wiser on:-

• Portraying Emotional conflict in writing
• The wonders of an internet product called Wattpad
• The market for Christian and other inspirational literature
• The legal and business side of writing
• Goal setting
• The latest and greatest in writing trends
• The status of marketing books in SA and abroad
• How to write a synopsis
• The secrets of market related copy writing
• Overcoming self defeating behaviours
• What to do with difficult heroes
• Advertising on the Internet

Those of you who couldn’t make it this year, see what you missed! Don’t make the same mistake next year. Be there!!

What I also appreciate about attending the conferences is the opportunity to talk about writing with like minded people. When I get excited about an aspect of writing around the dinner table at home I notice eyes rolling and yawns being stifled. It was wonderful to sit down at meal times at the conference and at the banquet and have a really good in depth discussion about our beloved craft.

Jayne Bauling on #ROSACon2018

Today's post is a guest post from author Jayne Bauling on her experience at our recent ROSACon 2018 conference for romance writers in Johannesburg.

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Closing the laptop and hanging out with other writers for a couple of days at festivals, fairs or conferences is always a pleasure. Of the seven book and/or writing events I’ve attended this year, ROSACon 2018 is in the top three for excellent organisation, so congratulations to Romy and her team. I love it when things run smoothly.

The other six were ‘work’, so the ROSA conference was a treat I decided to give myself, where I had nothing to do except listen to other people being informative and entertaining. I came home feeling updated and in touch – and so refreshed.

Melrose Place was the ideal venue, a comfortable and relaxing setting. The programme was well-balanced, with a stimulating variety of speakers and topics. There really was something for everyone, and sometimes something new: for example, I read very little paranormal fiction, romantic or otherwise, and will never attempt to write it (wait, never say never), but Sharonlee Holder’s session on Writing Paranormal was so much fun.

Sharonlee Holder's session on Writing Paranormal

There wasn’t a single session I didn’t enjoy and benefit from, out of those I attended. Thank you, everyone!

Something that struck me repeatedly was how supportive of each other all the ROSA writers were, published and yet-to-be alike. That’s something I appreciate about the South African writing community generally, but it was especially evident at the ROSA conference.

Thank you again, everyone, and congratulations to the Imbali and Strelitzia winners and finalists. Oh, and the goodie bags were amazingly generous!

Some of the goodie bag goodies

#ROSACon2015: Malene Breytenbach on Research

Dr Malene Breytenbach, author of over 20 books, including historical as well as contemporary stories, spoke on Hoe om navorsing in jou roman te inkorporeer. Thank you to editor Carolyn Meads of NB-Uitgewers for this report on Malene's talk.

Vir doktor Malene Breytenbach is navorsing een van die lekkerste dele van die skryfproses. Dít het duidelik geblyk toe sy by ROSACon2015 haar navorsingsgeheime met liefdesverhaal- skrywers gedeel het.

“By alle boeke is ’n mate van navorsing noodsaaklik,” het Malene gesê. Dit is iets wat sy by al haar boeke – van moderne tot historiese liefdesverhale en romanses met ’n mediese agtergrond – van groot waarde ag. Sy het daarop gewys dat navorsing die basis vorm vir die ontwikkeling van karakters en ruimte, waaruit die storie voortvloei.

“Moenie jou lesers onderskat nie. Gee vir hulle iets wat hulle nuut kan leer,” het Malene gesê. “Dis intelligente mense wat romanses lees.”

En sy sal weet, want Malene beskik oor meestersgrade in Ou Nabye Oosterse Studie en Antieke Studie en ’n doktorsgraad in Joernalistiek. Dit is juis haar navorsing oor die antieke wêreld wat gedien het as inspirasie vir haar eerste gepubliseerde romanse, Palmyra herleef.

Malene steun dikwels op haar eie kennis van argeologie en joernalistiek en haar eie ervarings van byvoorbeeld reise om haar verhale te skryf. Maar sy weet ook hoe om bronne effektief in te span. Sy gesels graag met kundiges, veral vir die mediese liefdesverhale wat sy onder die Hartklop-druknaam publiseer. “Die insigte in ’n beroep en lewe wat jy van só iemand kry, is meer prakties as wat jy in ’n boek of met Google kan navors.” Maar sy voeg by dat Google en boeke beslis hul plek in die navorsingsproses het. Malene stel ook voor dat skrywers ’n kaart raadpleeg wanneer hulle oor ’n bepaalde gebied skryf en dat hulle dan oor die geskiedenis van dié plek oplees.

Vir haar mees onlangse boek, My redder, my beminde, waar ’n aktrise in ’n ongeluk ’n diep sny oor haar gesig kry en by ’n eksklusiewe kliniek deur ’n plastiese chirurg behandel word, moes Malene plastiese chirurgie navors. TV-programme soos Botched het handig te pas gekom toe sy skryf oor ander pasiënte wie se gesigsontrimpelings en borsvergrotings elders geflop het en wat by die kliniek opdaag sodat die bekwame en baie aantreklike dokter dit kan regstel.

Hoewel navorsing vir Malene baie plesier besorg, is dit ook vir haar ’n saak van erns. Sy het die skrywers by die praatjie gemaan om navorsing nie ligtelik op te neem nie. "Daar is altyd lesers wat iets meer van ’n ding weet as jy en as dit nie outentiek en geloofbaar klink nie, kry jy kritiek of hulle skryf jou af.” Moet dus nooit die belangrikheid van goeie navorsing onderskat nie.

#ROSACon2015

In less than two months ROSA will be hosting its second annual conference. This year's conference takes place at the Devon Valley Hotel in the Cape Winelands on 25 & 26 September 2015, and features an amazing line-up of guest speakers in both English and Afrikaans.

For more information on the conference program, the speakers, and the conference costs, please visit our website at www.romancewriters.co.za.

On the evening of Friday 25 September there will be a gala dinner at Helena's Restaurant in the historic heart of Stellenbosch, which partners and friends are also welcome to attend.

Conference delegates will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch their manuscripts to a number of editors at some of the world's top romance publishers as well as to three international literary agents. There is also a chance to win a gift hamper in our Sugar & Snark scene contest.

Book now as places are limited! Registration forms and further information are available from admin@romancewriters.co.za.

#ROSACon2014: South Africa's first conference for romance writers

ROSA will host South Africa's first ever conference for romance writers on 25 & 26 October 2014 at Melrose Place in Johannesburg.

The conference features workshops, guest talks on marketing and writing craft, as well as the chance to pitch to an overseas editor and agent.

On the evening of Saturday 25 October there will be a gala dinner, open to both delegates and non-delegates alike. Partners, friends, readers and book reviewers are all welcome to attend the dinner.

The conference costs are as follows:

• Full day conference on Saturday 25 October only: R970
• Half day conference on Sunday 26 October only: R830
• Both days together: R1,390 (a saving of R410)
• Gala dinner on Saturday evening: R395

Lunch is included on both days of the conference. The fee for the gala dinner includes one drink on arrival, but all further drinks are excluded.

NOTE:

• Preference will be given to delegates who book for both days. If you wish to attend on only one day, you will be placed on a waiting list.
• The gala dinner is to be booked separately to the main conference and is NOT included in the 'Both days together' cost. 

* Early Bird Special *

For delegates who book before Monday 15 September there is an Early Bird discount of 10%. Book and pay before that magical date, and you only pay:

• Saturday 25 October only: R875
• Sunday 26 October only: R750
• Both days together: R1,250 (a saving of R375)
• Gala dinner on Saturday evening: R395

How do you register and pay? Please email Romy Sommer. You will be sent a registration form, ROSA's bank details, and the conference program. Please note that your booking will not be confirmed until payment is received.