I know there are pros and cons about the merits of belonging
to the writers’ organization, Romance Writers of America. Some feel RWA is a
proprietary specialty group of haves and have nots. Whether you’re a member or
not, or feel the organization meets your needs as an author, attending the
conference they put on each year is something to experience. I just got back
from their latest.
In my opinion, RWA2017, the 37th Annual
Conference of Romance Writers of America, held July 26-29 in Orlando, Florida
was a huge success. I attended as President of my local RWA group, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America.
Since its creation in the 1980s, if nothing else, this group
does strive to support romance writers in their craft and their career. The
Annual Conference is one way of doing that. A definite something for everyone affair,
at RWA2017, there were events of interest for those members who are emerging as
authors and pre-published to those seasoned, multi-published masters.
The conference included four plus days of networking,
agent/editor pitching, spotlights on publishing houses, and workshops—lots and
lots of workshops—focused on career, craft, research and wellness. You name it;
rather them, in the publishing world and they were represented in some form or
other, either through personal, one on one appointments, workshop
presentations, or receptions.
Awards and awardees were there in abundance.
The RWA Service Awards honored six members, at both the
national and local level, for their volunteer efforts on behalf of RWA. Two
Chapters, Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers (with less than 50 members) and
San Antonio Romance Authors (with more than 50 members) received Chapter
Excellence Awards for exemplary programming, community outreach, membership
recruitment and retention, chapter promotion, industry engagement, and
professional development.
Awards also recognized the efforts of the authors themselves
with their, pre-published manuscripts and current published works, the Golden
Heart and RITA respectively.
Although there was no way to attend it all, I did take in a
few workshops, and a publishing house spotlight. A real high note for me was
when I met, for the first time face to face, a fellow Wild Rose Press author
friend I’ve known on-line for close to ten years. It was great to finally
connect with her up close and, well, personal. We at The Roses of Prose talk
about having a member reunion. Let me tell you, it will be well worth the
effort, if we can ever pull it off.
But, back to the Conference. There was so very much to
choose from and, as I’ve said, something for everyone. For traditionally
published authors, indie authors and everything in between, along a wide, wide,
wide spectrum of genres within romance.
I plan to attend RWA2018 in Denver. It’s a great way to
connect with authors, editors, agents and publishers. Maybe meet up with an old
friend or two. Care to join me?
A side note bonus I just have to share - Yesterday, I got to enjoy another face to face meeting with an on-line friend. Our own Alicia Dean aka my editor extraordinaire Ally Robertson and I had lunch together yesterday. We talked and shared and talked some more. There's nothing better than sharing with a fellow writer.
A side note bonus I just have to share - Yesterday, I got to enjoy another face to face meeting with an on-line friend. Our own Alicia Dean aka my editor extraordinaire Ally Robertson and I had lunch together yesterday. We talked and shared and talked some more. There's nothing better than sharing with a fellow writer.
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