It's that time of year again: the RWA annual conference is on at Coogee and it's pumpin'

I'm used to it by now. The quizzically raised eyebrows, the poorly concealed snigger, the patronising, "How interesting."And so it goes whenever I tell people that next week I'm off to the RWA annual conference. The RWA stands for Romance Writers of Australia.

I don't tell many people I write romance (or fiction with romantic elements). I'm more inclined to refer to it as plain "chick lit", though that is also likely to be dismissed as lightweight formula fiction.

The truth is RWA represents a hugely diverse group of writers. Sure, category romance is well represented and the publisher Harlequin is a gold sponsor of the event (Baci is the silver sponsor - yummy).

But romance doesn't stop at category. Some of the genres and subgenres include Young Adult (YA) fiction, historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy, steam punk, single title and crime fiction.

The conference caters to this with workshops that span topics for every writer, no matter what the genre. For example, on the Friday I'm doing a goal, motivation and conflict workshop. I reckon a lot of your so-called 'literary' writers could learn a thing or two from this.

The same can be said of the weekend workshops, which cover author promotions, making the most of the web, tips for crime writers, the art of writing fight scenes and the relationship between writer and editor.

It's gonna be a big weekend.

And I don't care what the literary snobs think. I'm excited!

Do you really want to be JK Rowling?

'Wish you were JK Rowling?'

This is the opening line to a promo for a workshop on fantasy writing being run by a local writers' centre.

When I saw it, my initial reaction was: "Yes!"

Who wouldn't want to be JK Rowling, the world's most successful author in recent history?

But then, I thought, what would be the point of being JK Rowling if I couldn't still be me?

And do I really want to be JK Rowling, or am I only after her success and fame (and brilliant mind)?

And what is the value of these things if I haven't achieved them all by myself?

That's why questions that address the reader are so frustrating. Often there's not a straight answer.

So, no, I don't want to be JK Rowling.

I'd like to have a chat with her over a cup of Twinings English Breakfast Tea served with warm scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream (maybe we could meet for high tea at her estate) and it would be fun to have her as a critique partner.

But I don't want her fame or fortune (OK, maybe just a small portion of her fortune - enough to buy a holiday house on the south coast!).

In the cut-throat world of writing, authors have to create their own 'unique' voice in order to be read. There's only room for one JK Rowling.