My name is Imogene and I'm a pantster.

It's true. I've tried so many times to plot but I find my writing becomes wooden and passionless. Sigh. There are times when I wish it were other. However, like most authors I know, I understand the way my muse works after bitter and long experience.

But hand in hand with this knowledge is that I like silence when I'm writing hard scenes. Give me a virgin love scene and Oh Em Gee, expect there to be SILENCE reigning in the house.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against music, in fact there are times when I need the upper of the music. 

A fine Gregorian chant or maybe the sensuality of Enigma or even a dose of The Alan Parson's Project can pull me out of a writing funk. But I'm an author, I like to control my environment. (Hmm yes, I guess I'm a controlling soul... But aren't we all?)

My office is set up to meet my writing needs. 

I have the desk set to the height that works for me and my office chair. Around me are my statues, posters and other things that are significant to me and my writing. Craft books sit on the shelf above my computer for the most used, the rest on a bookshelf behind my desk. My writer is on the left hand side, perfect for running something off, to check over.

I have smelly stuff (currently I have vanilla and lavender scents in my office) and today, (now that I've finished one of the hardest to write - ever - love scenes is done) I'm running through my iTunes library. It's an eclectic mix of music that I've gathered over time. I find it feeds my soul and soothes the after writing nerves that assail me from time-to-time.

In this space, I can stretch my writing muscles, sit and meditate, write notes to myself while Super Pup snoozes by my feet. It's not a tidy office (I don't have a tidy mind) but it's my space. One where people only come in if I invite them. I guess it's as much a hide-hole as my workplace.

But I want to ask you about your space.

What does it say about you? Is it comfortable? Does it reflect your writing personality? And how about your use of time?

Let's focus on your space first:

How easy is it to access your books? Where is your thesaurus and dictionary? Can you control your environment and achieve that perfect zen-like peace or do you have kids and animals running roughshod through area?

I know it's not always easy to achieve that level of perfection (I seriously doubt I'll ever achieve it) but there are ways you can maximise your potential in a small shared area. 

Pick somewhere comfy and set boundaries. Honestly, I can't write on the plane or in the lounge. I can't find that happy medium where the laptop sits just right. But that's me. I don't like wobbly surfaces or people and sound around me.  If that works for you, great, but remember to set some fair boundaries.

Make sure if you choose to work in that environment, you have set ground rules. Either negotiate a time or word limit you need to achieve while people leave you alone. There will be times when this doesn't work, but if you stick to it, it does become easier.

Earphones. If you're like me and you want silence, maybe investing in a good set of headphones might be in order. Just... Maybe don't wear them when cooking or with babies and small children around :D

I like to have my stuff around me. The posters jog my thoughts, the blackboard... well that's fairly self explanatory. I can also leave my computer in one place and move back and forth at will. Do you have something, even a cupboard you can retrofit?  The best small space (and maybe even renters special) I've ever seen are these. They are crafters cupboards. Can you put something like this to good use?

I love these cupboards and honestly, if I thought I could keep myself neatly organised like this, I'd go for it. But, ahem... I'm not quite so tidy or organised. (as you can see here!!)

I hope this has given you food for thought and you can step back and take a look at your writing space!

Imogene

Well, this isn't quite the blog I planned on. Instead I had set it up to blog daily, to share pics etc.,  I have to be honest, I forgot how exhausting it is... And the internet was pretty sucky, so I decided to do something completely different.

I hope someone gets benefit out of it.

Home again... Overfull suitcases, loads of washing, cats and dogs all over me like a rash...

Conference was great, but the come down is pretty harsh. After whooping it up for 4 days of fun and mayhem... yes and the occasional murder photo... (What was that? You missed it? Oh... sorry!)

Thanks to Danielle Belwater, Xanthe Luke and Mr Nix for this bit of humour!

Anyway, so there you are looking at the remains of the post conference high and thinking, "Where the hell do I go now?" Sound familiar? It is to me. This morning, after the school run, I tried to decide what I should be doing.  (Apart from housekeeping stuff, of course.)

Now, it had been a successful weekend. Last night I popped into Facebook and liked/commented etc.,  I added new friends and dealt with the social side of being home. I emptied my suitcase and piled up all the books I acquired... (Personally I came out with 13 new books) plus one for youngest daughter, one of Mother In Law and a stuffed cat for the oldest. With all of the basic stuff attended to, it's time to go deeper.

Deeper? What do you mean, I hear you asking. Well, as many know, I pitched Dark Souls, my completed work to a range of houses and agents. (Think deep deep breath here!! It was both scary and energising.)

I had 4 requests and I need to deal with them. The immediate reaction is to send them out immediately. To collect the synopsis, write the letters and whack those manuscripts  out into the world.

WAIT! DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU'VE READ ON!!!!

See, if there's nothing else I've learned it's to stop. Breathe deeply and reorganise my mind. I could round up what I have and send it straight out, but I won't. Not yet.

Take that action in haste and repent at leisure. We all know that saying and in writing it's no different. I was asked twice for something I wasn't intending to pitch, but I want to sit down with those manuscripts (written right back at the beginning of my writing career) and re-evaluate them, re-write the synopsis for each and polish them till they sparkle.

One thing I did do though, is open word and MAKE A LIST.

If you haven't worked it out yet, I live and die by the list.

The longer you go, between receiving the "yes" and sending in the item you've promised, is that it becomes cloudy in your mind. My advice is to use either a spreadsheet or word doc, write down the Who you pitched to, the House, the Email address and WHAT they specifically asked for. While I do write it on the business cards, it's easy enough to misplace them, and this becomes my backup.

Next up, I'll go through everything I received, conference booklets, hand outs, notes and even business cards and make a notation as to what other follow ups I need to do. 

RWAus does suggest a 3 month window of opportunity, which I think is great, because it's not too late to miss the interest of the editor/agent or miss the boat if the topic is particularly hot, but gives us time to make the final push and prepare our titles for the reading of the editors.

BUT what that does mean, is making a commitment to following through. Now I have heard that a lot of people secure the pathway through the pitch but DON"T follow through. So mark a date on your calendar that you will finalise and email your submission through. Make yourself accountable.

For anyone who missed the fun and games of the RWAus2014 crowd, I recommend popping into Facebook or twitter and searching by the keyword #RWAus2014.

If you're an Aussie romance writer and aren't a member, you may wish to consider joining. To do so visit www.romanceaustralia.com to find out more!

Imogene

Okay, as we all know, its conference season. That means manic planning, flights, suitcases and maybe even babysitters! (I'm kind of passed that point... Phew!)

But I'm probably even more frazzled than I usually am... Why? This year I have so much planned for the 4.5 days away.

• 4 pitches
• 6 sessions
• 1 cocktail party
• 1 formal dinner
• catching up with CP's, writing friends, the Erotic Writers of Australia & those from the same publishers.

Looks like a lot? Well, I'm also going onto the Committee of the Romance Writers of Australia so at some point I also have to get some paperwork that's heading my way. All in all, makes for a huge trip. Not to mention I'm leaving at 5am tomorrow morning to drive to Brisbane and catch a 10.30am flight.

So yes, my packing has been more than a little frantic. But I was chatting with a friend yesterday who's in even more of a tizzy and I thought, "Likely I'm not the only one trying to get organised." So here is my list of Must Packs and Must Do's before leaving.

1. Organise for someone to care for pets/children/mail/papers and anything else that may be delivered or in need of care.  Thankfully DD#1 drives and works, so we've arranged for her to work 1 day out of the local office, take one day as an RDO (Rostered Day Off) and DD#2 gets the Ekka Holiday on Monday. That means someone is here in the vicinity the whole time.  Makes it easier for DD#2 to do her after school hours shift at work, have someone get the mail from the Post Office and walk the dog.
2. As silly as it sounds, with teens at home, I find preparing a Jobs/To Do list helps. Saves those "I didn't know" arguments afterwards. 
3. Frozen dinners. Now, I know not everyone does this - it's something I do because then I know exactly what my daughters are eating (and one has a bigggggg problem with sugar) so I prepare frozen dinners in a variety of options. This trip they have lamb chop dinners, roast chicken dinners  and sausages and mashed potato. I know they will probably treat themselves to dinner one night, but this means, if something happens, all they need to do is reheat and eat. Saves a lot of hassle in the long run.
4. Print out paperwork. It's my experience that if you don't have it, something will go wrong. So, remember flights details, hotel details, transfers from airport to hotel, conference confirmation, pitch details and anything else that you have signed up for/paid for on the trip. It's better to have it and not need it than get caught with nothing to refer to.
5. Check you have phone (and double check your data allowance if you are using it for internet), laptop and ALL the power cords. Nothing worse than trying to hire/borrow/buy a replacement in a town you don't know! 
6. Organise your promo packs way in advance. This means less stress for you. Trust me. Been there, done that, got the tshirt! Remember business cards, flyers, bookmarks and something different that stands out. This year I have ... Lipstick Pens! Last time it was sleep masks. I like to mix it up and keep it different!
7. Clothing. I limited myself to 3 pairs of shoes (one to wear & 2 to pack) Long pants - seriously they take up very little space but look sensational when teamed with nice tops. A wrap or coat...  Never leave home without one :)  Dresses - yep, at least one. Trust me... If you have any costume events, arrange them in advance so you aren't running around at the end trying to put something together.
8. Pitch sheets - sure most people don't use them in Australia. I do. I like to hand them to the person who's taking my pitch. I also have a print out of my elevator pitch to pop in my pocket.
9. Bags are nice, but honestly? This time I have a backpack, an evening bag and nothing else. You get a little bag on registration, which I use, so you probably don't need a handbag.
10. Lip Balm. Important. Trust me!
11. Camera. Lots of photographic occasions will arise. I also add a couple of spare memory cards.
12. Cosmetics. After a night of partying I don't want to look like the old hag from the west! 
13. Toiletries... ditto :) Oh! and don't forget some Berocca and Panadol if you plan to swing the night away!
14. A book to read. I find traveling includes long periods of nothing. 
15. Notepad... For me, this is where the iPad kicks into gear.

One last piece of advice... As you can see, organisation is to me, the lifeblood of travelling. I highly recommend checking all bookings in advance, flights at least 24 hours before (even if it's just online!) and packing at least 24 hours ahead, that way nothing is left to chance.

Have I missed something? I hope not, but if you can think of anything, just leave me a comment.

Looking forward to RWAus2014! Hopefully I'll see you there.

Imogene

Here I am, sitting in front of my computer just 3 days from heading off to the #RWAus2014 conference and considering my pitch.

This could be one of the most important reasons for attending the conference (much as I'd love to say it's the networking and sessions,) this is the highlight for me.

But even me, who has pitched now several times gets the jumbly belly butterflies. So I thought I'd bring you my list of does and don'ts for pitching.

1.   Be Prepared.
      Nothing says unprofessional more than a jumble of half considered ideas that have no cohesion. It's important to have a      
      clear idea of what you want to say

2.   Have something to hand the agent/publisher.
      Even a business card (and yes, even unsigned authors need them) should have that to hand over. It says I'm ready to 
      sell my book and idea.

3.   Look the part.
      This year, I'll be in long black pants and a variety of tops, and even a dress, because it's about letting the agent/publisher 
      know I not only believe in my work, but also me. Business casual is fine, but before you dress, take a good look and ask 
      yourself what does your appearance say about you.

4.   Turn off your phone.
      Seriously, turn it off. This is your chance to impress the agent/publisher. The world will continue to revolve without you for    
      5 - 10 minutes.

5.    Arrive early.
       This gives you time to calm your nerves and run through the pitch one last time in your head.

6.    Go to the toilet a good 10 mins before your visit.
       Sure, this probably seems silly, but trust me, it bears saying.

The first video below is really worth watching. There are other great ideas, that you can use in preparing for your pitch.

Of course, this next one is a fave of mine. It shows you how not to pitch! I love the humour but a word of advice... Prepare to cringe!

Well, that's all from me! Good luck to all those who are pitching at conference. I'd love to hear how you got on!

Imogene