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Since I was a young girl, I’ve had only one dream--to write novels and see those novels on the shelf at the book store. Like so many people I put my dreams on hold for years, partly because life got in the way, but partly because I so firmly believed that published authors were made of something I didn’t have.
One day in early 1992, I walked into a romance friendly bookstore in my neighborhood and began talking to the bookseller. Before I knew it, I was confessing my fondest dream to a perfect stranger. In return, she pointed me toward Romance Writers of America as a resource to help me get started.
When I attended that first meeting as a member of my local chapter, I was both stunned and delighted to discover that published authors weren’t so different from me after all. In that moment, I realized that I could achieve my dream if I was willing to work hard enough. Today, more than thirty published novels later, that simple lesson remains one of the greatest gifts Romance Writers of America has given me, but there are many other, more tangible benefits that come with your membership in RWA.
RWA is the largest organization for writers in the world. We are over 9,500 members strong. We are also one of the few writers' organizations that welcome unpublished members. More than 1,600 of our members are published in book-length romance fiction. More than 50% of our members are published in other types of fiction or in nonfiction. Of those who are not yet published in book-length romance fiction, more than 2,000 are actively pursuing careers in romance by completing and submitting romance manuscripts to agents and/or publishers. Every month we celebrate the first sales of a few more of our members.
What are the benefits for you as a member of RWA? One of them is a subscription to the Romance Writers Report (RWR), the monthly journal of the organization. It’s full of articles on the writing craft, career choices, market information, interviews with successful romance writers, and one-on-one Q&A sessions with editors and agents. It also contains information about chapter-sponsored writing contests and conferences, as well as the nationally sponsored contests, the Golden Heart and RITA. The RWR is one of the most helpful tools I know of for both aspiring writers and published authors.
This Web site is also a terrific member benefit. In the Members’ Only Section you’ll find archived articles from past issues of the RWR and access to member discounts. Members are eligible to subscribe to a variety of RWA-sponsored listservs where they can discuss craft, industry, research, technology, organizational issues, and the writing life. The listservs are a popular way to interact with romance writers all over the world via e-mail. Those who qualify to join the Published Authors Network (PAN) have access to information that relates to careers of those who are actively writing and selling their work. Those who are not yet PAN eligible but who can prove serious pursuit of a romance writing career have access to a wealth of information through RWA’s very popular PRO program.
In addition, RWA holds a National Conference each year with hundreds of workshops on all phases of writing, industry, and the writing life. The conference also provides an opportunity for individuals to schedule brief appointments to meet with editors and agents. There’s something for everyone at the conference, from the writer who’s just beginning her journey to the most successful New York Times bestseller. This year's conference will be held in San Francisco -- a beautiful location that will draw hundreds of authors and industry professionals.
Another important benefit for members of RWA is the opportunity to join local and special-interest chapters. Currently, more than 150 chapters are affiliated with RWA, all offering support and educational opportunities for their members. Chapters based on locale usually meet in person once a month, offering informative programs and interesting speakers. Chapters that meet on-line conduct their chapter business primarily through e-mail listservs and chat rooms. Chapter membership provides the RWA member an opportunity to ask questions of published writers on a one-on-one basis, and to interact with people who understand the joys and frustrations of being a writer. Most chapters sponsor critique groups, on-line discussion listservs, contests, and even local conferences. Check the list on this Web site for those chapters that interest you.
If you are serious about pursuing a career as a writer of romance fiction, I urge you to consider membership in Romance Writers of America. Browse our Web site, read our industry statistics, look at the information about our National Conference and our many chapters. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call our corporate office in Houston and talk to one of our friendly staff members. I hope you'll then fill out the membership application on this Web site and join the most helpful and friendly writers' organization I know.
Sherry Lewis
RWA President
