Creativity in Community

Please note that this newsletter has officially migrated to Ghost, mostly because I was increasingly unhappy with the way Substack was profiting from and promoting Nazis (paywall). At the moment, the lovely people who sign up for That Healey Girl on Substack are being manually migrated, because there are a few wrinkles I haven't had the time/energy/willpower to smooth, but if you're recommending this newsletter to friends (bless you) please recommend Thathealeygirl.com.

It's the most hectic time of year for my day job, where I normally work three days week. I was asked if I'd like to pick up some extra hours, and I said, yes please - I like my colleagues and I like having more money so I can do things like, oh, commission the cover for the Olympus Inc. collection I want to release later this year. But now I'm working five days, plus my usual Saturday morning writing classes.

So, if you're keeping track, this means that for most of August I am doing non-writing work five and a half days a week. A day and a half to do some writing and make sure my house isn't a complete loss doesn't sound too bad. Except this weekend I am attending the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference Friday-Sunday, so that's twelve and a half days in a row.

All this extra work is great for my finances! RWNZ is teaching me so much and introduce me to so many great colleagues! And, of course, my creative output has gone completely awry. There are some people who can handle this kind of schedule and writing, but I am not one of them. I'm very pleased I made the decision earlier in the year to move the Love, Laodice release date from tentative-September to early December. Sincere thanks to Past Me for that one!

I've also had to manage my peopling time a little. I noped out of some talks this morning, and I'm sitting in the quiet room set aside for us at the hotel (an excellent suggestion that should be incorporated into all conferences, even the non-writing ones) instead of going to a probably very good workshop on mystery writing.

But even though I'm pushing my energy reserves, I love creative conferences. I love talking to people who love the same things I do. I love complimenting people's outfits, or earrings, or great choice in T-shirt slogans. I love those gorgeous, synergistic moments where I realise I am among people who get it, and I have permission to be exactly who I am - a smart, loud woman who loves story more than anything in the world.

And I really, really love learning. My brain is lighting up as I form connections between what the speakers are saying and what I do, discarding what I don't think will work for me and delighting in new-to-me methods and processes that I think are definitely worth trying.

As a side effect, I always come away from creative conferences with a bunch of new plots.

Here are the four that have nourished themselves to blurb point so far - a trilogy I had vaguely envisaged but hadn't plotted, and an entirely new standalone that appeared in the middle of Sacha Black's excellent workshop on writing to market.

• Nerds Go Pro. Eden, Felix, Willow and Ken have been creating their actual-play podcast for four years, and signing up with a network has made it possible for them to reach more people and quit their day jobs. Willow, Eden's younger sister, loves playing Brenda the Black, a rowdy, lusty barbarian, but in real life, she couldn't be more different. Sparks fly when their brash and irritatingly handsome new marketing director starts pushing her to reveal more of her true self. Will Willow keep rolling 1 on real life charisma, or can Caleb help her develop proficiency in being a nerdy pro?
• Nerds On Tour. The nerds are on tour, doing the con circuit and actually selling out theatres with their live show! Ken Tanaka is a laid back actor and musician who's never taken anything too seriously - but a one-night encounter with a cosplaying fan has made him very serious about her. Serena Lane was delighted to leap into her favourite actor's arms - but she knows everything about Ken, and can't believe he wants more than that. Can a man who's always been easy-come easy-go convince the woman of his dreams to stay?
• Nerds in the Studio. After their sell-out tour and marketing push, the nerds are at the top of their game! It's time for their second big campaign - and Eden Carrick is turning over the DM reigns to her frenemy/colleague/there-was-that-one-time-we-thought-there-was-something-more-but-we-don't-talk-about-that Felix Powell. Can Eden relinquish her need for total control? Can Felix make compromises? Could the second campaign be a second chance?
• Billion Dollar Biker Bitches. Laura Heron has always been a good girl, ready to follow her husband's lead and devote herself in service to him. But when three leather-clad women rob their small town bank on an otherwise-ordinary Wednesday, Laura's husband demonstrates just how little he values her own life above his. Now Laura's on the run, with three beautiful, tough, dangerous women who would kill to protect their "hostage" - and Laura's starting to wonder what she's really worth.

This last standalone doesn't fit either the Karen or Kate Healey "brand", being much wilder and less sensible than my usual romances, so if I do end up writing it, it'll likely be under a pen name. But it burst straight into my head, and has the kind of trope subversion/fuck you societal expectations I like*, so watch this space!

Anyway, that's what happens at conferences, where my creativity sparks off community. Coming up with ideas has never been a problem for me, though remembering them occasionally is; I wrote down the ones above at least partially so that I have a record of them. If I do write any of them in full, you can say you saw them here first.

I'm halfway through the conference. I can't wait to see what my brain comes up with next.

*Only ask me what I think of the trad wife movement if you have at least an hour.