I've read a few blog entries commenting/complaining about RWA (Romance Writers of America). As I read (and threw in my own uninformed two cents), I realized that I'm not even sure what I want from RWA or any other writers' organization. So I figure I'd ask you guys.

Actually, I think I do have some ideas: I want up-to-the-minute information about the world of publishers/agents etc. I can often get that from sources like booksquare and  passionatepen. I want a sense of community, whatever the heck that means.  Is that the same thing as a social group?  I'm not sure, but I suspect I'm supposed to find that on my own. Hard to do -- I get the impression that a lot of writers are basically solitary animals and the committee thing, or interacting with other people for more than a few hours, makes them break out into hives or go hide in the bathroom.

The one thing I really want from the RWA isn't gonna happen. They will not be able to give writers power to control things like bad contracts or even the right to collect information about basic matters such as print run numbers.

Too bad, but this isn't RWA's fault.  Writers don't have a lot of tools to fight back -- there are too many talented people willing to step into the breech if published authors should go on strike. I guess you get that kind of power when publishers knock on your door. Wonder how the screen actor's guild does it.

Well, as I understand, the SAG is a trade union and the RWA isn't. IMO, that is the significant difference. In other words, the SAG [or, in this case, WGA] can and do kick arses. :)

Sorry - postscript here: the thing about a trade union is it's supposed to protect you from losing your contract or whatnot if there is a need to go on strike. In the WGA's case, there *have* been a few strikes and as far as I know, no one's lost their writing jobs. Don't bet on it, though, as I'm relying on a fogged piece of memory. :) OK, I'll go and sit in a corner to play with my headless doll.

I'm one of the most vocal against RWA. Let me start the rant.
First of all, the good stuff. If you are just beginning, there is lots of great information you can get from RWA and the chapters. But the thing that bothers me is the schism between published and unpublished.

The Unpublished pay the same dues as the published. But trust me they aren't treated the same. (the term Separate but Equal comes to mind) In my chapter I had three published authors, including one who was an RWA national board member. I got very tired of listening to how the unpubs were stealing ideas, unpubs were a burden. No mention of the fact that the unpubs were the majority of the organization (they are proud of their numbers of members) and that the unpubs did most of the menial tasks (no offense to the pubs, but they aren't the ones doing the major organization of the conferences, etc.) This isn't a rant against the pubs, it's just the view from the unpub ranks.

When I first joined RWA all members could participate in the RITA judging (at that time called Golden Medallion). But then the rules where changed to allow only the published to judge the RITA. Now the official logic was to make it more like the Academy Awards. Except every member of the Academy votes for Best Picture. (It's only technical like cinematography that is judged by the "technical" people). Remember, I had a board member in my chapter. I heard the discussions of how "unpubs" didn't understand the hard work that the published went through to get a book published. And the unpublished didn't take that into consideration when they judged. Basically, they were too hard on the book. So toss out the talent portion of the contest and go with the swimsuit judging. As a consumer, I do judge where it counts, and I don't have to pay dues to be excluded from it.

Then there's PAN, where the secrets are. Only the published can get into those lectures. ssshhhh, we don't want the unpublished to know the secrets. They have

Then there's PAN, where the secrets are. Only the published can get into those lectures. ssshhhh, we don't want the unpublished to know the secrets. PAN did not orginally exist, the published needed their own group. Now should there be advanced classes. Damn right. Should published have first right to these. Damn right. But there is the little clique within the organization that are the only ones allowed.

I heard that at one conference (maybe more), the published all wore PUBLISHED name tags. Many of the unpublished did their own UNPUBLISHED NOBODY name tags. Is it a good thing that an organization makes a majority of their members feel like nobodys? (I heard that Patricia Gaffney, God bless her, wore a PUBLISHED NOBODY name tag at that conference).

The RWR is supposed to be a professional journal. It has always been light weight IMHO. The Dilyn fiasco highlights it. Do you want to pay for a professional journal or a subscription to a gossip rag like the Star or the Globe?

I was seriously thinking of rejoining at the first of the year, but Dilyn made me question why I wanted to join and was it worthwhile. The answer was No, my money could be better spent.

If it makes you feel any better, I've gone to a couple of pan meetings and they really are not interesting if you're unpubbed. Heck, they're not wildly interesting if you are pubbed.

So what could RWA do, in my very humble opinion?

If they truly want to be a professional organization they need to be a published only organization. But of course that would not allow them to brag about being a 7000+ member organization. And they would lose most of the dues and efforts of those members.

Second option: Set up an apprentice level for serious, but unpublished members. This membership would be for a specific period of time, 5 to 7 years say. During that time, the apprentice would be allowed to learn and sharpen their craft. If at the end of their apprenticeship they were not yet published or have reached a level set somehow (no i haven't figured that out, i'm not perfect ;) ) then they are no longer members.

But as long as everyone pays the same dues they deserve the same benefits.

As Dennis Miller would say, that's just my opinion and I might be wrong. :)

Kate, I'm an information junkie, also my degree's in political science. I love boring, dry lectures. ;)

I think at one point they did have different levels of membership? But once the unpubbed membership outnumbered the pubbed, then the whole organization voted to make the unpubbed and pubbed unseparated and more equal. Or maybe I'm imagining that?

Anyway, as you point out, it's obviously impossible to have it both ways: a valuable tool for the unpublished at the same time it's a real organization (with clout) for the published. One or the other, not both, is possible. Or maybe your apprenticeship plan would be cool -- if the pubbed got charged more because they got a different level of service.

Lemme see if I can dig out the notes from the various pan things I've gone to. I'll post them in my blog if they're any good and then PAN will have to hire a mercenary [ex-SEAL no doubt] to hunt me down and kill me, I guess. There was gossip, which is always fun and a very bad idea to put in a blog, but by now it's all outdated. Phew.

and come to think of it, even the gossip I recall was dull. Will H/S kill off their historicals? Will they bring them back? kind of speculation. Nothing like Writer A's taken out a contract on her agent. (I'm blood thirsty today. No doubt it's the influence of three boys at home with too little to do)

Well, I posted a LONG missive ;) on my feelings here on Sylvia Day's blog: http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2004/12/28/248/

SandyO - A LOT of the changes within RWA have, believe it or not, come about from the threat of lawsuits. RWA is a scaredy-cat when it comes to those threats. Why do GH entries no longer get comments? Lawsuit threats. And as a published author who has worked full time for many many years and has never traveled to local conferences or attended local meetings due to time constraints, let me say that published cliques are JUST as bad as aspiring cliques. Right now, being in RWA is awesome for authors aspiring to publication. But for published authors? I've yet to see a reason to belong - and I've belonged for FIFTEEN YEAR *ggg* - other than the cost break on entering the RITA contest! (And, btw, EVERY published author whether a member or not can now enter the RITA. And why? Threats of lawsuits and restraint of trade!)

Yeah, wasn't it threat of lawsuits that also stopped the GH training for judges? The golden heart is a prestigious award, but unless you win or final, it's useless to the entrants (except as a fundraiser for the organization)

I knew why they no longer have comments on GH. In many ways that is sad. Many years ago, I knew a woman who entered GH. One of her judges was brutal and cruel, s/he made Simon on American Idol look like Mother Teresa. There was no tact, no politeness, it was beyond harsh (it would have destroyed me) But it was accurate. The entrant did not fold up and quit, she realized her weaknesses, she worked on them, she conquered them. And she is now a very successful published author.

It's very unfortunate that others didn't take their comments with a thicker skin, because those comments were useful (you have to use your judgment) to all entrants.

Wow!! Great info. I love blog posts and comments that teach me something. As a relatively new RWA member (2004 was my first year) I have a lot to learn about the organization. Thanks to everyone who's sharing their POV! :)

Interesting site and thread. I'm an aspiring author, but have delayed joining RWA. I recently went to a local chapter meeting and was dismayed to learn that, though there were several published members, none of them attended the meetings. Those in attendance weren't experienced enough to answer my questions. I belong to one very solid online critique group, and most of the information one might join RWA to gain can be gathered there. I paid the bigger fee to enter the GH rather than join this year. I've found the chapter contests a non-member is permitted to enter very constructive and helpful. I've also found this community as a whole to be friendly and willing to share information--up to a certain point:)

One weird thing, though. I got my GH confirmation e-mail, then about a week later, another e-mail asking me to be a judge and telling me how to go to the website and enter my member number to volunteer. I'm chalking it up to contest entry overload at RWA HQ, but shouldn't they know who their members are? They didn't have any problem cashing my check for the 'non-member' amount...

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