#HNSA2017 Brilliant!

What a fantastic, inspiring conference was HNSA 2017! This second Historical Novel Society Australasia Conference, I have to say, was even more brilliant and better than the first.

The hugely diverse and wide-ranging program of speakers, super sessions and workshops provided so much choice – from sessions on ‘personal histories’ with renowned writers such as Kate Forsyth, Sophie Masson and Deborah Challinor, giving insight into their processes and work, to panel discussions on Modern Voice in Historical Fiction and Authenticity Vs Truth to the insightful publisher Pathways to Publication and First Pages critiques. There was also a separate academic program and hands-on opportunities to learn of armour and armouring and historical costumes.

The conference was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with many writing friends and fellow authors and to meet quite a few new ones during the frequent breaks and/or the cocktail party and dinner nights.

I had a fabulous time and came away inspired, motivated and with lots of new resources and authors to check out.

I got a bit excited too on the tweeting side, and, with so much of value to share, rather than go into all the insights and memorable moments, I’ll share them again below in tweets.

Love the theme of #HNSA2017 “Identity: Origins and Diaspora” – so connected to my novels’ themes. pic.twitter.com/Ka3kDRbvjV

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 8, 2017

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Agents/publishers look for hidden histories told with passion @lisachaplin62 #hnsa2017

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 8, 2017

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Love this advice – Paint the background (of your story) as if you’re Monet, not a botany textbook @NightingaleRA #hnsa2017

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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@wendyjdunn @NightingaleRA @BGDenvil Stephanie Smee & chair @GillianPolack show how to transmute research into compelling fiction #HNSA2017 pic.twitter.com/8sNnpZlTFk

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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When pitching choose an excerpt that speaks to the story – Alison Green @PanteraPress First Pages Contest #hnsa2017 @HNSAustralasia

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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Love it when in a conference session & subject connects with your own story and yr imagination starts buzzing – World War Fiction #HNSA2017 pic.twitter.com/G8Jx7AQ8N7

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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Ready to go for brave authors – First Pages Contest judges @SophieMasson1 @mandy_brett Alison Green narrator @NightingaleRA #hnsa2017 pic.twitter.com/raeLctZA2z

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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@katemildenhall reached point when her character had to have her own agency & autonomy beyond any fact/history Modern Voice #hnsa2017 pic.twitter.com/vt3wkdYU5P

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 10, 2017

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@katemildenhall ensured her character’s world view correct. What did she know about science/how the world worked? Modern Voice #HNSA2017 pic.twitter.com/seHr9nfN6E

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 10, 2017

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About to learn Difference Between Hist Romance & Hist Love Stories @AnnaCampbelloz @lisachaplin62 @IsoldeMartyn @AlisonStuart14 #hnsa2017 pic.twitter.com/MQ2IlvsYA4

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 10, 2017

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@KateForsyth is a beautiful oral storyteller too, her Personal History and its impact on her writing fascinating & emotive to hear #hnsa2017 pic.twitter.com/bioCHzQVSx

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 9, 2017

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Balance how much research you include. You can have a good book or you can have a boring book @aliisanoun #HNSA2017 @HNSAustralasia

— Chris Bell (@chrisbellwrites) September 10, 2017

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If you’d like to check out any other snippets of wisdom I shared or pics, you can find them on my Twitter feed @chrisbellwrites.

I’d like to say a special thank you to Elisabeth Storrs, Chris Foley and the wonderful Historical Novel Society Australasia team for an amazing event. Roll on 2019.

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