I’ve just returned from the biannual HNSA Conference (at Parramatta this year), with my head buzzing. Wow! What a weekend! Hats off to the committee for a fabulously well-organised three days with a wealth of writing experts discussing their craft.
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| Thanks Pamela! |
The Friday craft workshop on Making Research Work for You with the oh-so-knowledgeable Pamela Hart was brilliant. I’ve come away with so many great tips on researching. Honestly, I can’t wait to get started on her suggestions. If you get a chance to take part in any workshop of Pamela’s, just do it!
The Introduction to the weekend was made by the beautiful Kate Forsyth (who I could listen to endlessly because her passion for writing comes through with such heartfelt enthusiasm).
Paula Morris gave the Keynote Address on the theme of History Repeats. The key thing I took from this was something I already knew, (and I’m sure you do, too) but it certainly bears repeating: “History exists in voices, and voices disagree.’
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| Paula is very funny and not nearly as stern as she looks here! |
Jackie French was the worthy Guest of Honour. I particularly liked her suggestion that ‘If writing a book sounds too terrifying, think of it as writing a scene each time you start to write. A book is a series of scenes.’ I will also keep in mind (in my timeslip work-in-progress) her advice that ‘It’s important to know what REALLY happened, rather than what we wish happened’, as so many people (myself included) learn their history from historical fiction.
Here are just a few snippets from the panel discussions I attended (some may be paraphrased):
Stoking the Flame (sizzle vs slow burn): ‘It should be a meeting of the minds before a meeting of the bodies.’ Elizabeth Ellen Carter. (So succinct!)
Stoking the Flame (sizzle vs slow burn): ‘It should be a meeting of the minds before a meeting of the bodies.’ Elizabeth Ellen Carter. (So succinct!)
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| Love that these ladies dressed up for the occasion! |
Learning from History: ‘Having an emotional connection to a place will come out in the words you put on the page.’ And ‘Atmosphere is created through characters; how they relate to what is around them, how they feel, what they see, hear and touch.’ Winton Higgins. (Important things to keep in mind.)
Personal Histories: ‘Setting is a tapestry upon which the story is woven.’ Ella Carey. (So eloquently put!)
I am Camera (point of view): ‘Ask yourself, which character has the right to tell this story?’ Julian Leatherdale. (I take this as meaning the character with the most at stake, which makes sense to me!)
Walking Side by Side (collaboration between historical novelists and historians): ‘There is power in standing (in your characters’ shoes), in standing where your characters have stood.’ Gay Hendriksen. (I’m a strong believer that nothing can beat actually walking the grounds of your book’s setting.)
The hands-on session of Medieval Armour and Armouring was a real hit! The opportunity to handle replica swords, daggers and shields, and to try on chainmail and helmets was way too good to pass up. AJ and Matthew really knew their stuff!
There was also a fantastic fencing display over lunch.
At the Conference Dinner, the ever-affable Anna Campbell showed off her considerable photographic skills with stunning photos of Scotland’s Small Isles, an area of inspiration for her with her popular Lairds Most Likely series. Huge congratulations to Christina King, winner of the ARA Short Story contest, and to the two winners of the Inaugural Colleen McCullough Residency on Norfolk Island, Sally Colin James and Chris Bell (so jealous!), also announced on the night.
Random photos...
What do you love about conferences?
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Love to Love spending time with friends, old and new.
Love to Laugh at Enisa and I trying to catch a taxi at 10 pm on a Saturday night in Parramatta! (What were we thinking???)
Love to Learn the thought processes of other authors.
Oh, I love being called Ever Affable! Thank you. So lovely to see you and Cassandra and Enisa at the conference, Marilyn. I'd hoped we'd get a chance for a bit more of a chat, but it was so packed full, it was hard finding the time. So glad you enjoyed the event. I sure did!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna! So lovely to catch up with you, too! There's never enough time at these things to spend as much time as you'd like with people you'd love to chat more with, is there? Loved your 'slide show'. Who would have thought so many people had visited Egg Island???
DeleteHi Anna. So good catching up with you. And your slide show had me yearning to go back to Scotland and to those gorgeous islands in search of the Laird's Most Likely.
DeleteI could only attend on Friday for the workshops - but they were excellent! Well done HNSA
ReplyDeleteHi Kerry! I was only able to do Pamela Hart's workshop on Friday, but I've heard great things about all the other workshops. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteWow, that looks so wonderful! Love going to conferences, you just soak up the vibe and being with like-minded people about whatever it's about. I adore historical romances, and this looks like just so much fun! Am tempted to consider it next year! Glad you had such a wonderful time, you must have burnt the midnight oil to get this to print before it went live this morning. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHi Miranda! The conference was a heap of fun, and you're right about burning the midnight oil - it was about that time that I got to bed. Early night for me tonight!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I got to attend this conference. So many authors. So much history to embrace. Loved being there, experiencing it all with you and Cassandra.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great weekend, wasn't it? And we got a heap of exercise walking to and from the hotel - win win! xx
DeleteMarilyn what a winderful summation of the conference. I certainly concur with everything you said. Lived seeing so many RWA members there too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cassandra! It was great catching up with so many friends, wasn't it? xx
ReplyDeleteThe conference sounds amazing. So much inspiration and so many great ideas. I think I would have loved the medieval session with the armour and weapons. We visited a medieval exhibition in the White Tower when we were at the Tower of London. It was fascinating. They had the armour Henry VIII wore and armour that must have been specially crafted to fit a young child. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteThe medieval sessions were great to have as an adjunct to the panels. Not as much concentration needed. ;)
DeleteIt was a fabulous conference, I agree.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne! Lovely to see you here! One of my favourite panels of the weekend was Stoking the Flame, with you as chair. Not only was it a great discussion, but I loved that you, Lizzi, Elizabeth and Renee all dressed for the occasion.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful conference. I've started the third novel in my medieval series and would have enjoyed it - nothing like a bit of added inspiration!
ReplyDeleteIt was great, Alyssa! Ooh, the 3rd in your series? Can't wait!
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