Comments on: Sigh

By: writtenwyrdd

writtenwyrdd — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:09:00 +0000

I can see why you’re pissed. The thing that gets me is that they call themselves professional org when they don’t have any criteria for membership, like actually being published, even in a small way.

By: laughingwolf

laughingwolf — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:11:00 +0000

you and seeley nailed it, from what i can see… brava!

By: BernardL

BernardL — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:22:00 +0000

As you’ve pointed out, if membership plummets, they’ll change… or cease to exist. In the end, writing is something we do alone. RWA will not get you a contract or an agent; but your writing will. Yours did.

By: December/Stacia

December/Stacia — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:23:00 +0000

Oh, yeah, Tyhitia, this has been going on for a few years now, with them making ever-more-ridiculous and byzantine rules to keep erotic romance from being recognized as a valid subgenre.

Yea, Charles, I know several people have great local chapters they're very happy with. And apparently if you do join a local chapter you will get more out of the group. But I never bothered; not only would it be hard for me to find them time, but the thought of being in a big room full of women makes me feel icky.

By: Charles Gramlich

Charles Gramlich — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:38:00 +0000

I know some folks who are in RWA, but for the most part they’re in it because of the local chapter, which is quite good. I’ll have to see what their experiences have been.

By: Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Wow. I had no idea about this. I have heard things about them in the past, but I didn’t keep up with it since I don’t write romance. That’s terrible. No wonder you didn’t want to continue your membership, December. :-/

By: December/Stacia

December/Stacia — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Yes, well, I TOTALLY agree with you there, Seeley. Yes, the vast majority are unpublished, and are likely to stay that way. I don’t really get how they can call themselves a pro group either, when anyone can join, and most of their benefits seem aimed at those people. It’s long been one of my beefs with the RWA; there’s tons of info and help for unpubbed members but very little of anything is offered to those who are actually published, save editor/agent appts. at the convention.

And that’s partly what my point is, too; being scared by or feeling under the control of the RWA is the height of silliness. No other pro writer’s group is so useless.

By: Seeley deBorn

Seeley deBorn — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:17:00 +0000

I think calling the RWA a "professional association" is a huge mis-nomer.

They are not.

Sure they're self-goverend, have a bunch of codes and principles, and claim to represent "professional" writers, but the fact of the matter is that the vast (I was told near 90%) majority of the membership is unpublished and not writing for a career.

I've belonged to professional organizations. They have entrance requirements. Educational requirements. Ongoing professional development requirements. They also offer group benefits like insurance and legal assistance. I can't see where they can claim any kind of a professional organization.

If they were to restrict full membership to those with mass-market production, advance offering contracts, they'd go broke. RWA seems more like a social support group for people who want to write, maybe are writing, and might have even finished a couple stories. (Oh, yay, you, that's such a big step *pompom swish*)