RWA for the Uninitiated

It occurred to me, reading the posts from the last few days, that readers of our blog who are not members of RWA might wonder what the heck we've been talking about and why we serious, highly intellectual writers (cough) are suddenly worried about hair, cocktail dresses, strappy sandals etc.

First, some background.

RWA is basically a not for profit group of romance writers.

The mission of Romance Writers of America is to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy.

On the surface, it's like many other writers' organizations, but it differs in a few fundamental ways.  Some differences for the better, while for some it's debatable whether or not they are for the better... But overall, I think the organization is pretty great.

I've been a member since some time in 2002, even though I'm not currently writing romance. In fact, Sinead and I were talking the other day and I realized I gave up on trying to write romance in the summer of 2004 -- yet I still belong to RWA and have trouble breaking the habit of belonging to RWA and going to the conference. There's a real energy and lots to learn and people to meet and it's just plain exhilarating. And exhausting. And I've learned so much about character development and arcs and injecting emotion into the stakes and the words from romance writers, that I'm a little addicted to romance writers and RWA, even though it's not the genre I'm writing in.

But back to RWA.

From everything I've heard and seen about other writers' organizations, RWA is the most focussed on education -- learning to write and learning about the business of publishing. I think this is awesome. Many other groups you can't join until you've published (and getting to that point is a huge mystery--like a secret club where no one will give you the key), but in contrast anyone who aspires to write a romance is welcome to join RWA. This is both a fabulous and sometimes negative thing. It's positive because there are so many opportunities to learn and the published authors are for the most part accessible. (Just don't try to talk to Nora if she's wearing her sunglasses indoors.)

But on the other hand, with the mix of unpublished members and various states of published authors (the definition of which has become broader these past few years),  it's hard for the organization to cater to each and every member's needs. But on balance, I think this diversity is one of the very biggest strengths of RWA. It's welcoming. Here, come join our club, work hard and we'll help you get where you want to be.

Another difference between RWA and most other writers' groups is that it's mostly women. And this too can be a plus or a minus, but overall I think it's a plus. That said, I have found it refreshing to go to a few writers' conferences where there are more men. :) But on balance, I think women tend to be more humble and willing to learn from and help each other. And that yields great opportunities to learn and improve.

Yes, there is some craziness within the RWA ranks --  what group of 10,000 plus members isn't going to have some crazy?-- but on the whole, the vibe is supportive and helpful and very "high tides raise all boats".

So, what are we all getting ready for? (Except Sinead this year. *pout*) Every summer, RWA has a National conference, usually held in mid-July, but the dates vary. It's a pretty huge conference with about 2,200 members in attendance. Everyone who's anyone in the romance publishing world is there. All the big name authors. All the big agents. All the editors from the romance imprints at the big publishers. Etc. Etc.

RWA's National Conference is not a fan conference. Although I have met people who seem to go for a chance to meet their favorite authors and get free books--and there are a lot of free books-- the vast majority of the people who go to the conference are working hard at their careers as authors. (At whatever stage in their careers they might be.)

Overall, it's an educational and business conference. Writers go to learn, to meet other authors, to have meetings with agents and editors and marketing staff, and to network with other authors. But it's also a place to schmooze and have fun.

The 4 day conference climaxes (word chosen carefully) with a big ceremony for the Golden Heart and RITA awards. The RITAs are like the Oscars for romance novels and the Golden Heart is the little sister but for unpublished work. Everyone gets very dressed up.... Especially for writers who mostly live in sweat pants or pajamas. I'm on a loop with this year's GH finalists and there's some serious panic going on about hair and nails and dresses and shoes. It is a lot of pressure. If you do win and have to walk up on stage to give an acceptance speech, not only are you in front of over 2,000 people, there are HUGE screens and people taking pictures, and all that.

The first year I went to the National conference it was held in Dallas and we happened to be in the same hotel as a Mary Kay conference. That was interesting. Some might think that the two groups would have a lot in common, but actually, it was shocking how different we were. How easy it was to instantly spot which conference any woman you spotted was attending. (Even before considering all the pink.)

The Mary Kay women were so coiffed and put together, and some scolded writers in the elevators for dressing too casually and not wearing panty hose or makeup... But I digress. The main reason I thought of the Mary Kay women was that it seemed like every night they'd get dressed up in serious ball gowns for an awards event and we'd see them on the elevators wearing beauty-pageant style sashes and tiaras and huge ribbons better suited to a horse show.

I scoffed. We writers were so much more dignified.

But I have to say, one of the things I'm most looking forward to at this year's conference is wearing two very special ribbons on my name tag: GH Finalist and First Sales. But they'll be much smaller and totally more dignified than the huge Mary Kay ribbons  :)

And that wearing these ribbons matters to me makes me realize, romance writer or not, I've joined the cult. And it's suddenly all about the ribbons. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek.)

But seriously... the ribbons represent real milestones and even with all that's going on with me right now, it's nice to have something to feel proud about.

And can't wait to see Molly with her RITA Finalist Ribbon!!!