Every year I head off to the Romance Writers of Australia conference in August. This is that week. I always see the conference as a “recharge of my writing well”. I meet up with friends who I only get to see face to face each year in August and attend workshops with “aha” moments and generally give my creative juices a bit of inspiration. I always leave conference feeling inspired and eager to get back to my writing.
This year the conference is in Sydney (it travels to a different state each year) so it’s a bus ride (about 3.5 hours), then a short train ride and walk (about 4 hours all up). I’m very fortunate to be able to bus it with author, and friend, Elisabeth Rose. I’m sure the trip will pass pretty quickly. 
I’m only doing the core conference this year (Saturday and Sunday), deciding to spend Friday on a writing retreat rather than at either of the two full day workshops (neither were really appropriate for me so an easy decision). I’ll be retreating with authors Leisl Leighton and Marnie St Clair. I retreated with these lovely ladies earlier this year so I know the day will be fun and productive.
I get to room with my very dear friend author Nikki Logan and catch up with most of our writing group (sadly two can’t make this conference). I’m also getting to meet a cyber-friend for the first time (another Reider from agent Janet Reid‘s blog).
I’ll be staying at the conference hotel (the five-star Sofitel Wentworth) and not having to cook, clean, wash or worry about any other humans for 4 days (I’ve cooked up a storm, washed and shopped like a crazy woman so the Hub and Barbarians will be perfectly content at home – probably won’t even miss me *wink*). No wonder I leave conference feeling like I’ve recharged my batteries.
Conference really is my creative recharge – I’ll report back next week on how it went. There are other things that recharge me in other ways (I’ll post on one of them in two weeks). Do you find different things recharge you in different ways? Do you have a way to recharge your creativity?
August 15, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Have an awesome and soul-restoring time, AJ. I’m looking forward to hearing about it when you get back.
The best creative recharge for me? – that solitude we’ve recently been chatting about 🙂
August 15, 2018 at 8:44 pm
It sounds wonderful! For me, though, writing is a solitary thing. It’s great hanging out with fellow writers, but I suspect if my retreat was with others, I would become distracted. I do like to go somewhere I don’t have to be in contact with family or friends for a while, such as Apollo Bay or Sorrento.
However, it would be nice to have a science fiction writing conference rather than a standard convention, not a writing workshopsuch as Clarion, but a conference. Or another SCBWI conference for children’s writing. There are no workshops, but you do get plenty of information from industry people.
The last time I went to one of those, it was very much five star accommodation! A boutique hotel, but my room had a bed big enough for about five people, a giant TV screen and a bathroom with marble basin and Art Deco design. Mmm…
August 16, 2018 at 12:31 am
This sounds like so much fun. I have the same reaction to conferences–they recharge me, put me amongst kindred souls. I look forward to hearing what you learn there!
August 16, 2018 at 1:27 am
Recharging is good. I can see like a conference like this would help.
August 16, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Sad I won’t see you again this year but have have a fab time!
August 21, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Conferences are a great recharge. Staying at the hotel means you can be as involved (or not) as you want. I certainly took some time and space at times and took a break in my hotel room.
I’ll report back in on Wednesday =)