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A Difficult Decision Is Made
I’ve only been doing this writing gig eight years and it has amazed me the number of changes that have happened in the publishing world in that short time. It’s not so much that it’s surprising as the delivery of books is pushed by the advances in technology. It’s just that … wow! It’s hard to know which way to go.
When I first started writing in the summer of 2005 I had NO clue about writing a book. As a voracious reader I only knew what I enjoyed in a story and I sat down at the keyboard attempting to emulate my favorite writers. My first attempt wasn’t bad–not publishable–but not bad.
Back then most books were published at bigger publishers who accepted most submissions through agents. New writers needed to give their career credibility and prove they weren’t just doing this writing gig as a “hobby”, but were interested in making writing a profession. Enter Romance Writers of America. This national organization is dedicated to advancing the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy. Being a member and more specifically a PRO member (proof that you’ve finished a manuscript, submitted it and it’s been rejected) was supposed to prove to publishers and agents that you wanted your writing to be more than just a one book diversion, but that you were actually interested in building a business.
From the national level of RWA I found the Maine Chapter of RWA. THIS is what I needed. A group of writers who had been through the process, knew the ropes and became my guiding light in a business I knew nothing about. I branched out to several online chapters of RWA all of them grounding me in the chaotic seas of the publishing world.
But as technology has changed and publishing has changed–so have my needs. For the last couple of years I’ve held on to my RWA national membership not only to give credibility to my career, but also so I could be a member of my local chapters. But this year with my latest move, I’ve come to realize the relationships I’ve forged with the writers in Maine would continue even if I wasn’t a member of the chapter. I haven’t been able to make the monthly meetings anyway and all of my interaction was online.
With the changing tide of publishing now flowing into the author’s control I realized I didn’t need RWA to anchor me anymore. At the end of last year … I finally cut ties.
Being the rule-follower that I am, I still feel a little strange about it. Due to physical limitation, (and let’s face it–finanacial costs) I’ve never attended the RWA National convention. I don’t know if this has put me behind the eight ball in my publishing career, but I suspect (for me) I’m not missing out on anything. Writing conventions have never sparked my muse, quite the opposite in fact (but that’s a blog for another day). Still, I wonder if I ever choose to look for an agent if they’ll see it as a red flag that I don’t belong to a “professional” organization.
I know as a reader I have no idea if an author belongs to a professional organization … doesn’t make any difference to me. I want their books, not their bio. I know other authors are struggling with this same decision. So what do you think? Do professional writing organizations say anything about an author? I’d love to know what you think. Because you know me … I’m curious about stuff like this.
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I never belonged. Initially, it was too much money. Then, it was philosophical differences. The local RWA chapter in my area was too difficult to attend. Personally, I base my purchases on quality, not professional connections or prizes won OR whether or not the book is on a bestseller list. Actually, that last one is something of a turnoff. Who wants to read a book just because everyone else is reading it?
Anny – I think many readers feel the way you feel about an author’s credentials. We’re all looking for a good story, the rest of the bio doesn’t really matter.
As far as the RWA I do think fewer and fewer romance author feel they are supporting their needs.
Nina, I just deleted a whole tirade about what I think RWA should be doing for authors. My points were valid, but it involves changes that need to come from within the organization. I have never attended the National Conference, but I do get the workshops on CD and enjoy them immensely.
I don’t think it is right to require National Membership to join your local chapter. Paying both yearly sets of dues is expensive for the unpublished writer and can severely cut into the income of those that are published.
That is why I enjoy Rhode Island Romance Writers. It is an unaffiliated writers group. It runs monthly workshops and has writing requirements you must fulfill to remain a member.
Writing is lonely, even with online friends. A monthly meeting gives the writer an excuse to get out of the house, put on clean clothes, brush their hair, and talk, actually talk face-to-face with other human beings!
That is the value of a local writers group.
At this point in time, I don’t think tagging RWA pro-member onto your correspondence means what it once did. It is what a writing group does for your morale, learning process, and friendships that really make them priceless.
Carolyn – I think more small RWA chapters are finding a benefit from stepping away from the larger organization. As you mentioned, the dues to be a member of RWA is so high, tack on yearly fees for local chapters and it is quite a bit of money.
And like you, I’m not sure if being a PRO member (or even PAN–Professional Author Network) holds the same clout it once did. There are stories daily of writers who have made an extremely successful career in the self-publishing arena. It seems to me that is more telling of the drive of an author to truly make writing a career.
You are not alone in this. I’ve been dealing with that question for the last couple of years. If I had to list the benefits of the national organization I would have to say it is only one… the local chapter. But then, I haven’t been to many of those either in the last couple years. I do miss the feeling of sisterhood (and brotherhood) that I get with my local chapter, but even then I am finding that they are not as great as they were. I love the people, first and foremost, but I need it to be an interactive relationship. RWA is not interactive. As the organization grows we are smaller and smaller entities. I’ve tried different chapter, even different organizations… and yet, I can’t seem to get that piece that missing from the puzzle. I find that there are plenty of people willing to share their knowledge without the ties of a national organization. Would I have met them without it? Probably not. I’m not the most socially adept person. But I do know that keeping those friends and fellow writers will continue… with or without my national membership.
Teagan – You said it so well. For me as well, RWA was the in road to finding like-minded writers who inspire and support me. I will always be grateful for that. But now that I’ve been in the publishing world for awhile, I just wasn’t finding any benefit of staying with the National organization.
I think the problem with organizations like RWA is that once the author gets published, she’s gone. At least, that’s the way it seems to me (and I’ve only been at this thing since 2009). They certainly don’t show up to the monthly meetings. Maybe they think they won’t get anything out of it, and maybe they won’t, but they’ll certainly give something to the group. Don’t you think?
I’ll stick with RWA and hope I can continue to afford the membership (It would be nice if the local chapters were free, though – or at least RWA could give you one free chapter membership when you join, but I digress). WHEN (being positive here) I get published, I will do my best to continue going to the meetings (and it’s an hour drive for me). Who knows, maybe I’ll inspire someone! If anything, it gets me out of the house.
Stacy – I LOVED my local chapter. And I do mean LOVED! I travelled 4 hours one way most months to make the meetings. What those writers offered me in the beginning was invaluable. And once I was published I kept going. I love talking writing whether it’s to new writers or established writers. If I could make the meetings I would suck up the cost of RWA national (and not complain too much) just to remain a member of my local chapter.
I think what happens with published writers is that their needs change. The workshops offered at the monthly meetings aren’t something they need or they’ve heard many times and just don’t want to hear it again. It’s easier to stay home and write or catch up on the laundry that’s been piling up. I went regardless of the workshop because it was the connection with other writers that kept me going back.
And unfortunately, RWA can’t afford to offer its members a free chapter. The small chapter I belonged to needed the membership fees just to keep running. (They rent meeting space.) And I don’t think RWA can afford to drop their yearly fee as their membership is probably dropping and their overhead is high.
Though I do think RWA continues to look at the changes in the publishing industry and does their best to meet the needs of its members. Unfortunately publishing is changing rapidly and a large organization like RWA takes a long time to change. I fear they’ll continue to lose ground if they can’t keep up with the ever-changing publishing landscape.
Hmm interesting enough I agree with most points…RWA is expensive, and the nearest chapter is a three hour drive one way to attend. I’ve never really been a joiner – but I’d love to have a writers club locally that offered the things I know authors are looking for.
For me personally, being a member of an organization doesn’t mean a thing when I’m shopping for a book. Its about the story, the author’s style and voice, and whether I want to read that book.
Patricia – I don’t think readers really care about a writer’s credentials. Like you, they want a great story that will sweep them away. But I continue to wonder if it matters to editors and agents.
Nina, I joined RWA for a year, but chose not to renew. I just didn’t see the benefits. Maybe I would have if I attend a few chapter meetings. In the end it was just a cost I couldn’t see paying when I wasn’t getting anything out of it.
Rita – And there it is. I think most writers don’t see the benefits of a National organization. There isn’t anything the national organization offers that most writers aren’t getting in their small critique groups or online connections.
It is a difficult decision. One you’ve been struggling with for a long time. I don’t blame you for not renewing. Most of us aren’t getting what we’d like to get out of RWA. I do love the local chapters. One of the problems I’ve seen is that people like you are leaving the chapters in droves and that leaves a few people to stay to run things. The local chapters are suffering when it comes to volunteers. I love my chapter and I am very thankful for the women who have decided to stay on to help run things, but I’m not sure how long organizations can continue to run if there is no value coming from the national organization. IMO.
Oh and we’ll miss you, Nina.
Michelle
Michelle – *sniff sniff* The ache from not seeing all of you is like an arrow in the heart. You know I’d be there volunteering if there were any way. It is going to become more difficult for small chapters to keep going if writers leave RWA and can’t be members of their local chapter. Without the member resources of time and finances it means more and more chapters will be closing their doors. It’s a sad situation all the way around. I can’t even imagine how I would have found my way in the beginning without the help of authors who had travelled the path before me. Hopefully this is just a growing phase with all the aches and pains of change and soon things will find a new balance for both the national organization and the local chapters.
I’ve been struggling with this too. I’ve only renewed the last few years to keep my chapter memberships active. My RWA renewal is up in March and I have a big decision.
I don’t keep it for an agent. I have taken some free courses though so it has paid for itself in some ways.
See, confused.
Amber – I hear you! My decision was made easier when there were no longer local chapter meetings for me to attend. I know things would have turned out differently if I had moved to Maine rather than Vermont.
I can never have the benefits of belonging to a local chapter of anything, because we live 200 miles form the nearest town. I can only meet other authors online, and find that they are all in the same boat as me (their own individual boats, of course).
I am done with the ‘proper’ book trade altogether. They have made money out me over the last few years, but I have not seen much of it myself. Instead, I have started an author’s cooperative group – Yellow Silk Dreams. The idea is we all release similar books, and each time anyone of us puts a book out, we all promote it. We have a edistributor who does a pretty good job of spreading our books around, but the books remain ours and we sell parallel editions as we like. ALL the revenue goes back to the author.
What we get is mutual, practical support from other authors, and that is what we contribute too. We’re small yet, but word is getting around and money is coming in. Not flooding in yet, but who knows?
Jacqueline – Wow! What an amazing way to think outside the box! Sounds like an interesting model for publishing books. Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and share your model. Wishing you and the other authors much success!
Well, Nina, if you have suitable story sitting on your shelf, drop me a line. The (very flexible) guidelines are 10,000 to 25,000 words, cheap, cheerful and romantic. Probably sexy too.
Thanks for the invitation!
I’m going to be totally honest here, Nina. The ONLY reason I continue to keep my RWA membership is because without it, I’d lose my membership with several of my chapter groups. And I LOVE them.
As a writer, I get a multitude of benefits from being in a chapter (Celtic Hearts, Hearts Through History, OVRWA) and I can’t stand the thought of walking away from them. HOWEVER, I know exactly what you’ve struggled with because I too am struggling with it. I have not yet made the decision, like you, to terminate my membership yet, but I can see it possibly becoming an issue in the future.
In a perfect world, I could still belong to my chapters and not have to renew the highly expensive RWA dues each year. Here’s to perfection, Nina!
Renee – I just said goodbye to my chapter group. I live too far to make meetings anymore and just decided this was the time. But I have to say, it’s effecting more than I thought it would. I’m really sad. I do wish there was a way to pay maybe a lower level rate to RWA if all you want from them is one or two of their chapters.