I had to post a quick blog about RWA 2010 that just finished up this past Saturday in Orlando.  The conference was AMAZING!!!  Absolutely, positively amazing.  In honor of just how awesome it was, I've made my own little Top 10 list of Conference Awesomeness and thought I'd share.

10) Time spent rejuvenating the well

As an author, it's my job to either find inspiration or wrestle it to the ground into submission.  Because it's my job, I'm very happy to do it, but….I find the annual RWA conference to be such a wonderful shot in the arm. Despite coming home tired and ready to sleep for a week, the urge to get at the keyboard is always stronger than usual and the words seem to flow with a little more speed.

9) All those books!

Yes, I'm an author, but I'm a reader first and foremost.  I've loved books since I knew what they were and that feeling of child-like wonder has never really left me (and I hope it never does!)  At the RWA conference, books are EVERYWHERE!!  Free books in our registration bags, free books on the seats at lunch, free books at the publisher signings….books, books, books.  It's HEAVEN!!!

8)All those authors!

I am endlessly fascinated to discuss writing with people.  The folks I share my daily life with (whom I love, one and all!) just don't understand the deep importance of crafting a great sentence, or point of view, or the characters that chatter in my head.  They can't appreciate the endless need to discuss theme and character arc and the hero's journey.  But at RWA….ah!!!  I'M WITH MY PEOPLE!!!!

7) The shoes….

It's no secret RWA's made up predominantly of women.  And other than a Gerard Butler sighting, there's not much else that will get a room full of women squealing more quickly than an awesome pair of shoes!  I purposely buy a new pair each year for the conference (or two or three…or maybe four….don't judge!!) and I love admiring the awesome shoes of others!

6) The bar

Okay…it's a very poorly kept secret that when writers finally get let out of their homes and away from their keyboards, we definitely have a penchant for the bar.  It's really just a huge excuse to be social, but it's always the most happening part of the entire conference. 

5) Old Friends

I've been a part of RWA since 2002 and have been incredibly fortunate to make a wonderful group of friends through my association with the organization.  I love getting together with them at the conference and catching up, hearing about each other's lives and talking about our writing.  It's the most human part of writing and I love every moment of it.

4) New Friends

One wonderful constant of RWA is that you're always meeting new friends.  I was so fortunate this year to reconnect with my sisters from the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood.  We were all part of the 2009 Golden Heart class and had a chance to spend time together at the conference. 

3) Even Newer Friends

The RWA conference is also a wonderful way to meet brand new people.  I loved meeting new people throughout the conference and hope to see all of them next year!

2) The Literacy Signing

This was my first year to have a book on the shelves, so I was able to sign at RWA's annual "Readers for Life" Literacy booksigning.  This year RWA's annual signing raised $55,000 to support literacy efforts. For anyone who attends the conference as an unpublished writer, a dream is to finally be able to sign.  The experience was everything I hoped it would be and more!!  And the people I met were absolutely wonderful.

1) And the single best thing about the RWA National conference…..

WE ONLY HAVE TO WAIT 11 MORE MONTHS FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!!

The 2011 conference will be in New York City at the end of June, 2011.  I can't wait!