NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

CRUISING WITH THE MUSE

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I think I can fairly say that my writing chapter Florida Romance Writers was one of the first to switch its conference from land to sea.  On February 5th, we’ll set sail on our biannual writing adventure on the Liberty of the Seas once again.

 

One obvious advantage of a writing cruise: editors and agents are a captive audience. Other than the port layover, they’re not going anywhere.  They speak at workshops, do appointments and in our case, judge Floridian Idol, giving helpful suggestions on the entries.  


 
At dinner they’re assigned a table where you can get to know them on a casual basis.  On an even more casual basis, they can be found in the piano bar at night with the group singing a rousing version of ‘Piano Man’


.or wearing balloon hats in Cozumel


 
You also rub elbows with the keynote speaker and listen to inspiring advice. In 2013 we had the wonderful Charlaine Harris. This cruise our keynote is New York Times bestseller historical romance author Julia Quinn. Informative workshops run from building a better website to writing deep POV. For those with editor/agent appointments, we help perfect pitches.

Our port of call is once again Cozumel with a vast array of shore excursions. If those activities don’t float your boat [sorry, I couldn’t resist!], FRW is doing a writer’s retreat on board the ship this year against the beautiful vista of the Cozumel port.


Later, we’ll meet at a portside bar to celebrate.



In addition to the writing enrichment, an attendee can enjoy the onboard activities from the ice skating shows, massages, shopping along the Promenade
 or running along the track. Talk about refreshing the well of creativity.   Before closing out the conference by saluting the last sunset with a drink, I always experience at least one light bulb going off.



 

Have you been to any recent writing conferences and what experience stands out for you?

Carol Stephenson


 

 

 

 

 

               

5 comments:

Rita said...

Carol this looks wonderful. Hope you have a glorious time. I prefer reader writer conferences. No classes just interaction.

jean harrington said...

Glad to know writing can be so much fun!

Anne Marie Becker said...

Wow, that looks like such fun! I've heard of this cruise. :)

Wynter said...

That sounds like so much fun. One of these days I'm going to come along. Have fun!

J Wachowski said...

Wow. Nice change of venue! My last conference was in the woods. The bathroom had dead bugs lining the window sills. Very amityville horror....and inspiring in its way. ��
Not sure I'd know how to pack for a writing cruise. But, I bet I could rock that balloon hat!

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