Summer Fling 2025: Lessons, Laughter and My Spark Reignited
3 September 2025
A first-hand account of the RNA Summer Fling 2025 with Laurey Buckland, RNA Member.
Walking into the RNA Summer Fling this year, I wasn’t quite prepared for just how energised I would leave. To be surrounded by likeminded, passionate and dedicated writers, many juggling full-time jobs, families, and other commitments, was as inspiring as the talks themselves. The day reminded me exactly why I started writing in the first place, and gave me practical tools to carry that spark forward.
For those who couldn’t join us, here’s my round-up of the seven sessions and the lessons I took home.
Character Mottos – Fiona Lucas
Fiona opened the day by showing how a simple motto can act as a character’s compass. A motto like “Trust no one” or “What will be, will be” can be a shortcut to your character’s worldview.
Instead of filling endless character sheets, a motto keeps everything consistent. It helps you decide quickly how they would react, what they value most, and what choices would fit with their beliefs.
What I took away: A motto is not just decoration; it is the heartbeat of character. Challenge it, and you will create transformation.
My highlight was Fiona Lucas! I’m going to use the motto method in my next manuscript.Jane Simpson Anderson
Busting the Saggy Middle – Virginia Heath
Virginia tackled the notorious “saggy middle” with humour and honesty, reassuring us that even seasoned authors struggle with it.
Her advice was both practical and ruthless:
- Think rollercoaster, not flatline. Drop in twists, arguments, revelations or events that shake the dynamic.
- Do story surgery. Use a scalpel to cut filler, a diet to strip waffle, an injection to add twists or obstacles, and if necessary, perform major surgery to restructure whole chapters.
- Test every scene. If it doesn’t deliver something new whether that’s information, conflict, or change. Cut it or rewrite.
- Mind your research. Too much detail bogs the story down.
- Make banter count. If it doesn’t move the relationship forward, it doesn’t belong.
Her biggest reminder: easy reading is “damned hard writing.” Be brave, keep cutting, and know that everyone will have a COC at some point (that’s a crisis of confidence btw)!
What I took away: Middles don’t sag if we treat them as rollercoasters, full of stakes, twists, and momentum.
I loved Virginia Heath! She spoke so well and with so much energy.Jane Simpson Anderson
Love Boldly: Marketing as Matchmaking – Niamh Wallace & Marcela Torres, Boldwood Books
Niamh and Marcela reframed marketing as less about selling and more about matchmaking:
- Find your readers first. Build a profile and observe where they already spend time but don’t spread yourself thin.
- Think beyond promotion. Mix book news with behind-the-scenes glimpses, personal stories, and cultural touchpoints.
- Email is king. Newsletters are still the strongest way to nurture loyal fans. Incentives like free short stories, giveaways, or bonus scenes keep readers engaged between books.
- Reach out to influencers and reviewers. Micro-influencers often convert better than big names, while ARC/review groups like Boldwood’s “Pioneers” build buzz and loyalty before launch.
- Stay authentic. Readers connect with real voices, not polish.
What I took away: Marketing works best when it feels like belonging. Find your people, love them boldly, and they’ll champion your stories.
Writing Is Only the Beginning: The Authorpreneur Mindset – Carrie Elks
Carrie reminded us that finishing a book is just the start whereas sustaining a writing career means thinking like an entrepreneur. Setbacks are inevitable: bad reviews, poor sales, contracts falling through. What matters is resilience.
She stressed the importance of knowing where you are in your career. Don’t copy the strategies of bestselling authors with teams and budgets; match your approach to your current stage. Above all, keep your focus on readers.
Perhaps her most powerful point was that money isn’t dirty, it’s business. Know your royalties, contracts, and expenses. Pay yourself. Think about pensions. The numbers aren’t scary; they give you control.
What I took away: There’s no single path to success. Write consistently, keep your promise to readers, build systems and define what success looks like on your own terms.
Carrie Elks’ reality check about taking charge of your writing business was invaluable. Publishing is most definitely a business.Helen Gaskell
The Secrets of a Bestseller – Charlotte Ledger, One More Chapter
Charlotte pulled back the curtain on what makes a book break out using The Pumpkin Spice Café as a case study. The secret? Start with readers, not retailers. Readers don’t care about publishers or sales strategies; they care about emotional connection, stories that speak to them, and packaging that makes them feel something.
She outlined a winning formula:
- Spot the trend. Pumpkin Spice Café worked because it tapped into a cultural mood of cosy autumn vibes and comfort reads during turbulent times.
- Package clearly. Covers, titles, and blurbs must instantly signal genre and emotional promise. Readers are busy and money-conscious, so we need to make the choice easy and obvious.
- Build a world. Readers binge when they fall in love with a place or community. Series and recurring characters encourage loyalty and re-reads.
- Let community spread it. Virality comes from real readers authentically sharing love on TikTok or Instagram, not polished ads.
- Deliver consistently. Readers want “more of what they love” quickly. Indie authors have an edge here, but even in traditional publishing, speed and consistency help build momentum.
- Be honest. Manage expectations around spice levels, tone, and genre. A misled reader won’t come back.
What I took away: Bestsellers don’t happen by accident. Spot a trend, package it clearly, deliver emotional escape, build a bingeable world, then let the community do the shouting for you.
The origin story of The Pumpkin Spice Café was remarkable. To hear it began with a title, cover and author name before the story was written was fascinating.Helen Gaskell
Rev Up the Tension with Mills & Boon – Annie Warren & Helena Bacon
Annie and Helena broke romance writing down to its beating heart: the Three Cs. Without them, a love story risks fizzling out before the happily-ever-after.
- Chemistry: energy shown through dialogue, body language and small moments.
- Conflict: external barriers raise stakes, but internal fears and wounds drive story.
- Construction: tension escalates to a crisis and resolution that comes from character growth.
They reminded us that readers turn pages for tension and the anticipation of “will they, or won’t they?” It’s that strong internal conflict tied to the crisis point that makes the payoff feel earned.
What I took away: Chemistry is the engine, conflict the fuel, and construction the track. Get them right, and readers will stay hooked.
Time Management & Procrastination – ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ Panel: Seána Talbot, Ruby Basu, Lisa Firth & Liam Livings
The closing panel tackled a topic every writer knows too well: procrastination and time management. What made it so powerful was the blend of honesty and practical tips, with a strong reminder that protecting our joy in writing matters most.
Key takeaways included:
- Guard your mental health. Don’t linger on bad reviews or toxic groups. Even the greatest authors (and Stonehenge) have critics.
- Find your village. Writing is lonely. Accountability partners, critique groups, or writing sprints can make all the difference.
- Tame technology. Use apps to block distractions or placeholders to keep moving forward.
- Create sustainable habits. Stop mid-sentence to make restarting easier, write in short bursts, and use rituals to tell your brain: it’s writing time.
- Understand procrastination. It often masks fear of not being good enough, or of failing. Small starts, like a 25-minute timer, can break the freeze.
- Balance all the balls. Writing isn’t just books: it’s also marketing, admin, and life. Rotate your focus so no area is dropped completely.
- Rest counts. Burnout is not block. Sometimes “not writing” is part of writing.
And of course, Liam gave us all a new phrase to take home: “I’ll just write two pomodoros.”
What I took away: Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Protect your joy, lean on your community, and remember rest is part of the process.
By the end of the day, I felt both exhausted and exhilarated. What struck me most was the honesty of every speaker: writing is joyful, but it’s also hard, messy work. And yet, with community, craft, and a little stubbornness, we can all push through the saggy middles of both our novels and of our writing lives.
“It was an inspiring day with plenty of time for chat with friends old and new.” – Sue Moorcroft
“Everything was fantastic: the speakers, the venue and the wonderful company. I left with the hugest smile on my face, uplifted and inspired.” – Emma Robinson
Leaving the conference, my passion for writing felt reignited. I hope these highlights help light that spark for you too, whether you were there in person or seeing it through my eyes.
Here’s to cosy autumn vibes and all the creativity it brings you!
