I’ve tried to become part of RWA a few times. I like the promotional opportunities they give authors (RWR and Romance Sells) I t’s encouraging that most members of RWA love it and think it rocks.
Me? I’ve never been a huge fan. Maybe it’s because I write erotic fiction and erotic romance, and that holds a certain stigma to them. It was a battle for RWA to finally accept it’s own Erotic Romance Chapter when YA and Inspirational had no such problems. But the biggest reason is because I never really got anything out of it. I live in an area with no local chapter, and I found the online ones I joined to be nothing but gossip loops and promotional opportunities that I could get elsewhere. That’s just my opinion, my experience. Others love the organization and get plenty from it. For me it was simple, *I* wasn’t getting anything out of it so I cancelled my membership and never looked back.
However, I want to give RWA credit and a big cheer for revoking Harlequins approved publisher status after they implemented the Harlequin Horizons Vanity Publishing line. They are looking after author rights here, and despite not being a member anymore, I want to say Thank You.
If you want to read a fabulous breakdown on the whole thing, visit Jackie Kesslers Blog and read THIS POST.
Shiloh Walker also has some great points about it in herHere’s Why I care post.
At GenReality best selling thriller writer Bob Mayer posts a You Tube video that sums up a few things in an interesting way..
And Mystery Writers of America is not far behind RWA with possible sanctions.
Just let my RWA membership lapse. I feel exactly the same way. I don’t get anything from the chapters. The only thing I love about them is RWR & $85 is a lot to pay for a magazine.