Friday, April 22, 2011

A to Z Blog challenge: R is for...

Oooh...we're so close to finishing this challenge I can taste it!



R is for: RWA!



RWA is the Romance Writers of America.
As one of the largest writers associations, Romance Writers of America leverages its influence and credibility to advocate for improving business conditions in the romance publishing industry. Also, RWA promotes the romance genre through outreach programs for librarians and booksellers.

I've been a member since 2005. My membership was actually a Christmas gift given to me by my hubby. I had wanted to join before that but was afraid of investing the money in a membership I wouldn't use or had no business having. But the hubby surprised me and thought it was something I should have if I really wanted to be a writer. It was the first time that I really felt he had taken my interest in writing seriously and he wanted to me to grow and do well with it. What a sweetie. *sniff sniff*

The RWA has been good to me. It's given me lots of resources and writing information and I've met wonderful writing friends through it too.

Although I do belong to my local state chapter and have attended conferences before, this year I'll be attending my first National Conference in NYC this summer. WOO-HOO! I'll actually get to see Nora Roberts, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Meg Cabot (among my other writing idols) up close and in person and just... absorb it all.

I JUST registered so I'm very excited!

What about you? Do you belong to any writing organizations?
Do you belong to the RWA? Are you going to Nationals too?

23 comments:

Karen Baldwin said...

Glad you're going to RWA nationals. Maybe I'll see you there?

Dru said...

I'm not a writer, but I'm going to the Literacy Event.

Andrea Mack said...

Wow, your hubby sounds so romantic! That's my idea of a great gift.

Jessica R. Patch said...

That sounds exciting! I've read all of Nora Roberts' books. Have a great time and take lots of pics for us! Groups I belong to? ACFW, Christian Writers Guild, American Christian Writers, and BCW--a local chapter of American Christian Writers. Happy Easter!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

You know, this has been on my brain lately b/c I'm considering joining. I don't write romance exactly...but they've opened a women's fiction group w/in RWA. So...I'm still thinking and like you, it's the money I come back to, especially if I hope to attend ACFW in Sept.
~ Wendy

Jeanette Levellie said...

Congratulations on finding a husband who supports your gifts!!!! And I hope you have a splendind time at the RWA conf in NYC. Are we a society of initials, or what???

TTFN,
Jen

Ciara said...

I hope you have a fantastic time at RWA Nationals. I'd planned to go but had to cancel. :( I had a great time at the Orlando conference last year. Learned lots! Enjoy!

Ruth @Welcome to me said...

What a great gift.

Linda G. said...

Have fun at Nationals! :)

Anonymous said...

I love visiting NYC! And, wow, R already. Great work! I belong to local writer guilds, but my reward when I finish my first novel will be a national conference.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I like your R today, and those initials, when spoken like a word, sound like a cheer. Cheers to you for joining a professional writer's group. And, cheers to your husband for showing his love and support - RWA! I've joined the SCBWI (children's wriers), and just joined the one for women playwrights. It tells me that I'm taking myself seriously as a writer. Write on!

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

Awesome that is so fun. It is so nice when our loved ones take interest and support us in our dreams. Also just so you know I awarded you the stylish blogger award.

Nancy said...

Your husband is so sweet. They can be so supportive. Mine bought me a mail-order Children's Lit course some years ago.

Have a great time at the National.

Talei said...

An excellent writing organisation. Alas, I've not signed up yet but I am going to join the RNA in the UK which Talli posted on recently. Happy Easter!

Lindsay said...

Sounds like it's going to be fun. I don't belong to any writing organisations yet, but maybe in the future :)

Carol Kilgore said...

RWA, MWA, and SinC. Have fun at Nationals!

Shelley Munro said...

I think we joined around the same time, Jennifer. I belong to only RWA at present. I've had to trim my memberships a little due to bedget constraints. You'll love Nationals. It's exhausting and so much fun. Pack as lightly as you can to leave room for free books!

Bluestocking Mum said...

Great 'R' post Jennifer!

I'm a member of the Romantic Novelists Association (Uk version.) I'm on their New Writer's scheme and am hoping to go to their Writer's Holiday conference in Caerleon in July. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet with like-minded rookie writer's and mingle with the accomplished, published authors and glean tips, encouragement and support. It's a super organisation.

And I'm glad to be able to mix with my fellow Romantic Novelists across the miles and in cyber-space.

x

Unknown said...

So cool! I want to join a mystery organization someday.

Amy Wood said...

Hope you have a great time! I've never attended a big conference before. The smaller one I went to, hosted by a community college, wasn't very helpful. I'm not really sure which genre I belong in so I'm not sure if RWA would be right for me.

Natascha said...

Love my RWA chapter :) Best thing I ever did for my writing career.

Alison Miller said...

I have a bunch of writer friends going to that conference - should be quite the learning experience ... and a blast. Have fun!

sugeng prajitno said...

I am not a writer, but I like your posts