Sac Writer's Conference: Day 2

Some (not all) things I learned today:

* A lot about how to write well and structure
* Robin Burcell is a great mystery writer and an even greater person. And there is a difference between thrillers and suspense books.
* Romance genre is highly competitive and not as easy as it looks (luckily perhaps, thats not my focus)
* Researching, talking is NOT writing. Only writing is writing
* (Reinforced message) A good story is a good story no matter what genre so don't just read one genre, read everything.
* You cannot improve if you are not open to listening and learning constantly
* It may be possible even now that I can write and it won't just be a "book of pain"
* Everyone feels like their work is crap and they can't finish it. EVERYONE.
* YAY! I learned how to approach edits/revisions - look at a scene or sentence. What is the point? Does it help tell the story or forward the plot? Remove it. If you take it out does it take anything away from the story? If not lose it. Don't get hung up on it either.
* There is *always* something to write about

There's more but I'm sleepy...