Chapter Events

View events hosted by RWA chapters. Looking for more chapter contests, workshops, and events? Click the links below to see what RWA's chapters are offering in the coming months.

Contests
Conferences
Online Workshops


Chapter: SVR 2020 Meetings Begin Date: 11/01/2019 End Date: 12/31/2020 Location: Rancho Cordova Register Meetings are held at White Rock Community Center unless otherwise notated. Meeting cost includes program and a light breakfast/morning snack, coffee (Keurig—feel free to bring your own pods!), water, and tea. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. Program begins at
Chapter: SRW 2020 Chapter Meetings Begin Date: 01/01/2020 End Date: 12/31/2020 Location: Register Click here for more info.
Chapter Gateway Testing Begin Date: 01/01/2020 End Date: 01/31/2021 Location: Register Event used to test a chapters payment gateway.
Chapter: HCRW Witches, Kelpies, and Fairies, Oh My! Begin Date: 04/01/2020 End Date: 04/30/2020 Location: Register My first introduction to the Otherworld, as Highlanders call it, came when I joined the Brownies. My Girl Scout handbook included a tale that explained who brownies were. Little did I realize that many years later, I would immerse myself in this strange w
Chapter: HCRW Emergency Preparedness Begin Date: 05/04/2020 End Date: 05/30/2020 Location: Register EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS- Skills for your characters, and for your own life. There’s nothing quite as sexy as a woman who knows what to do next. Don’t let an unexpected emergency stop you or your heroine in your tracks. Information and practical exerci
Chapter: HCRW Unconventional Characters Begin Date: 06/01/2020 End Date: 06/29/2020 Location: Register UNCONVENTIONAL CHARACTERS: Mayberry, Fluffy, and Aunt Mildred’s Hat - This three-week workshop will get deep and dirty into ways to turn elements of your story into “characters” to enrich your novels and reveal things about your heroes and heroines. Your
Chapter: RWF Bookmap Begin Date: 06/01/2020 End Date: 06/05/2020 Location: Register The Bookmap is a path to make sure you hit all the beats for your novel that works for pantsers and plotters. It will help you make sure you have internal, and external conflict, that keeps the readers turning the page, as well as, deep POV characterizati
Chapter: HCRW Blast off Beginnings Begin Date: 08/05/2020 End Date: 08/30/2020 Location: Register Blastoff Beginnings: Writing Opening Chapters That Take Readers along for the Ride In this month-long online class, New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight discusses how to write a beginning that will have readers clicking the BUY button.
Chapter: HCRW Writing Romantic Scifi, Fantasy and Horror Begin Date: 09/02/2020 End Date: 09/27/2020 Location: Register Love is Universal - Even for Monsters! Have you ever wanted to write in the Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Horror genre but you just aren’t sure how to meld romance and the other elements necessary to satisfy the readers of those speculative genres? Have
Chapter: RWF Writer Wellness Begin Date: 09/14/2020 End Date: 09/25/2020 Location: Register Good self-care is the new multi-vitamin! Writers should still take a multi-vitamin, and Writer Wellness is a complimentary plan to help you stay on target for writing and life. WW is a lifestyle technique for anyone who loves to create with activities to
Chapter: RWF From Giggle to Snort to LOL Begin Date: 10/05/2020 End Date: 10/16/2020 Location: Register Kilpatrick will walk you through some of the strategies she uses to make her fiction funny. Learn a strategy every few days and try your hand and punching up your prose with punch lines!
Chapter: HCRW How to Write a Successful Holiday Romance Begin Date: 10/07/2020 End Date: 10/25/2020 Location: Register What is the hype with Holiday Romances? Have you ever wondered why so many people write them Holiday Romances? Or why there are so many people that read them? This year alone Hallmark will come out with over One hundred and twenty new Holiday Romance Movi
Chapter: HCRW Hearts & Handcuffs Begin Date: 11/04/2020 End Date: 11/26/2020 Location: Register Readers love cops, but writing believable police and sheriff’s officers can be difficult if you don’t know the procedures cops use to defend themselves and investigate crimes. In this workshop, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight and her husba

Chapter Events and Contests

Local RWA chapters offer a number of conferences, contests, and workshops. Listed below are the chapter contests and conferences scheduled for the coming months.

Please submit all contest, conference, and workshop announcements to chapterevents@rwa.org. A response will be sent via return email. If you haven't received a response in 48 hours, please follow up. Thank you!

Deadline and format instructions are provided at the end of the column below. Please also send notification of broken or incorrect links to chapterevents@rwa.org. Thank you!

Updated 03/10/2020

Contests
Conferences
Online Workshops

Contests

*Open to published authors
**Open to published and unpublished authors

March Contests

The 2020 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for Unpublished Writers

Sponsor: RWA Kiss of Death Chapter
Fee: $15–30.00
Deadline: March 15, 2020
Entry: prologue/first chapter up to 5,000 words. All electronic entry.
Final Judges: See website.
FMI, http://www.rwakod.org/daphne or email Brooke Wills at daphnecontest@gmail.com.

*The 2020 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for Published Authors

Sponsor: RWA Kiss of Death Chapter
Fee: $30.00
Deadline: March 15, 2020
Entry: 2019 copyrighted mystery or romantic suspense.
FMI, http://www.rwakod.org/daphne or email Brooke Wills at daphnecontest@gmail.com.

**2020 Great Beginnings Contest

Sponsor: Utah Chapter Romance Writers
Fee: URWA Members $10 / Non-members $15
Contest opens: January 1, 2020. Deadline: March 15, 2020
Eligibility: Contest is open to published and unpublished authors. Published authors may submit only unpublished, uncontracted manuscripts that will remain unpublished until the contest has concluded.
Entry: All electronic. Enter the opening five (5) pages of your romance novel (projected length of at least 50,000 words). Submit as many different entries as you wish.
Categories: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Historical, Paranormal. Erotic entries can be entered in any category. Please indicate EROTIC in the header and on the entry form. Please review our score sheets to see which category fits best.
Judges: Every entry will be judged 3 times by trained judges and at least once by a PAN member.
Final Judges: Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency; Lane Heymont, The Tobias Literary Agency; and others TBA.
Top Prize: Each category winner receives a $25.00 Amazon gift card. All finalists receive a certificate and their name and working title announced in the RWR.
FMI, visit http://www.utahrwa.com/gbcontest.html or email Annie Whittaker, contest coordinator, at annie.whittaker@yahoo.com.

*Published Maggie Award for Excellence

Sponsor: Georgia Romance Writers
Fee: $30-40
Deadline: March 27, 2020
Entry: Digital/e-books in the MOBI or PDF format with a 2019 Copyright date are required. All eBooks must be readable using Amazon e-reader apps.
Categories: Contemporary Romance (CR), Historical Romance (HR), Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance (MFCR), Paranormal Romance (PR), Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements (RRSE), Romantic Suspense (RS), Young Adult / New Adult Romance (YANA).
Judges: acquiring librarians and booksellers
Final Judges: acquiring librarians and booksellers
Awards: First place/highest score in each category will receive the prestigious Maggie Medallion. All finalists will receive a Maggie certificate. Finalists will be notified by June 28, 2020. Winners will be announced October 3, 2020 at the GRW Moonlight & Magnolias Conference.
FMI: Please visit our website at https://www.garomancewriters.org/maggie-award or email Dianna Shuford at MaggieChair@gmail.com.

**18th Annual Romance Through the Ages

Sponsor: Hearts Through History
Fee: $20 - 25
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Entry: first 15 pages and (optional) two-page synopsis. Open to published and unpublished authors
Final Judges: editors and agents
Top Prize: $50 cash for all first place winners
FMI, visit https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/rtta-contest/

April Contests

**2020 Fool for Love Contest

Sponsor: Virginia Romance Writers (VRW)
Fee: $30–35; $5 discount for judges
Deadline: April 3, 2020
Entry: beginning of manuscript up to first 7,500 words (prologue included) of unpublished/uncontracted work.
Judges: first round, at least one published and one unpublished author.
Final Judges: agents and editors.
FMI, visit http://virginiaromancewriters.com/fool-for-love-2/

**2020 Rosemary Contest for Unpublished Young Adult and New Adult Manuscripts

Sponsor: YARWA
Fee: $15–25
Deadline: April 3, 2020
Entry: first twenty-five pages of manuscript. Submitted manuscripts must be new, original YA or NA fiction that has not been published, self-published, or contracted to be published. Manuscripts must have a word count of at least 40,000 words.
Judges: writers and publishing professionals.
FMI, visit http://yarwa.com/contest-2020/ or email the contest coordinator at yarwacontestcoord@gmail.com.

*Book Buyers Best

Sponsor: Orange County (CA) Chapter RWA
Fee: $30
Deadline: April 15, 2020
Entry: any work of romantic fiction published in 2019.
Judges: readers of romance.
Final Judges: booksellers and librarians.
FMI, visit http://www.occrwa.org, email BBBContest@occrwa.org.

**The 29th TARA Contest 2020

Sponsor: Tampa Area Romance Authors
Fee: $25–30
Deadline: April 26, 2020
Entry: first 4,500 words of a manuscript.
Judges: first-round judges are TARA members who are published authors, RWA PRO, and/or trained and certified by TARA. Second-round judges are acquiring editors.
FMI, visit http://www.tararwa.com. Please email questions to taracontest@gmail.com.

Golden Rose Contest

Sponsor: Rose City Romance Writers
Fee: $25–35
Deadline: April 30, 2020
Entry: first 10,000 words, electronic entries only.
Judges: three trained judges in the first round.
Final judges: one editor and one agent for each category.
FMI, entry form, and rules, go to http://rosecityromancewriters.com.

May Contests

*The Beverley Award for Published Romance

Sponsor: Colorado Romance Writers
Fee: $35
Deadline: May 1, 2020
Entry: this contest named for the late Jo Beverley focuses on the initial hook of the story. Novels and novellas published in 2019, nine categories. Electronic entries only.
Judges: romance readers, authors, and librarians.
FMI, go to http://coloradoromancewriters.com/.

**On the Far Side Contest

Sponsor: Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal RWA
Fee: $20–25
Deadline: May 10, 2020
Entry: back-cover-style blurb and up to the first twenty pages of an unpublished manuscript. Finalists will be asked to include an unjudged synopsis for agents and editors.
Final Judges: please see website for complete list of final-round judges.
FMI, visit https://ffprwa.com/contests/on-the-far-side-contest/ or email the contest coordinator at OTFS@ffprwa.com.

25-4-25

Sponsor: Hudson Valley Romance Writers of America
Fee: $25
Deadline: May 31, 2020
Entry: first 25 pages of your manuscript to receive detailed line and developmental edits.
Judges and Final Judges: published and soon-to-be-published members of HVRWA.
FMI, visit https://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.org/25-4-25.html. Questions? hudsonvalleycontest@gmail.com.

Conferences

April Conferences and Workshops

Story Crafting: A Masterclass with Grace Burrowes

Sponsor: Maryland Romance Writers
Location: The Columbus Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Fee: $40–55
Date: April 18, 2020, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Speaker: Grace Burrowes
Topics: what editors don’t tell you about pacing and tweaking your prose to greatness.
Workshop Features: workshop, beverages & snacks, a free book. Lunch on your own.
FMI, http://marylandromancewriters.com/events.

In the Company of Writers 36th Annual Conference & Retreat

Sponsor: Washington Romance Writers
Location: Westminster, Maryland
Fee $435–550
Date April 24–26, 2020
Featured Speaker: Reese Ryan.
Conference Features: multi-track workshops, Master classes, panels, Editor/Agent appointments, Marlene awards, American Author, Cocktail Reception, Moonlight Madness, Massage, Networking, Costume Contest, Prize Drawings & Raffles.
FMI, visit http://WRWDC.com; for questions, e-mail retreat@wrwdc.com

Retreat from Harsh Reality

Sponsor: Mid-Michigan RWA
Location: Bay Pointe Inn—Shelbyville, Michigan
Fee: $198
Date: April 24–26, 2020
Speaker: USA Today best-selling author Sonali Dev
Conference Features: Friday evening welcome talk; Saturday workshop “Finding Deep Point of View at the Intersection of Author Voice and Character Voice”; dedicated time for writing, plotting, critiquing, and social networking.
FMI, visit http://midmichiganrwa.org

Spring Fling 2020

Sponsor: Chicago-North RWA
Location: Sheraton Grand, Chicago, Illinois
Fee: $250–299
Date: April 30–May 2, 2020
Featured Speaker: Alyssa Cole.
Conference Features: master classes, workshops, multi-track, panels, pitch appointments, Friday night Gala, book signing, Saturday night cocktail party.
FMI, http://www.chicagospringfling.com.

May Conferences and Workshops

Strengths for Writers with Becca Syme

Sponsor: Missouri Romance Writers of America
Location: Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Creve Coeur, Missouri
Fee: $45–65
Date: May 16, 2020
Presenter: Becca Syme of The Better-Faster Academy
Topic: All Day Writer Strengths and Strategic Planning workshop
Workshop Features: Top 5 Clifton Strengths test, lunch included
FMI, email vp-programs@morwa.org or visit http://www.morwa.org/.

Online Workshops

March Online Workshops

Sympathy for the Devils: Using Psychology to Write Compelling Villains

Sponsor: Western New York Romance Writers
Fee: $20–40.00
Date: March 21–April 17, 2020
Presenter: Margaret Bates
FMI, http://www.wnyrw.org/workshops/

April Online Workshops

Regency Weapons

Sponsor: The Beau Monde Chapter's Regency Academe
Fee: $15–20.00
Date: April 1–7, 2020
Presenter: Bill Haggart
FMI, https://thebeaumonde.com/resources/academe/

Finish That Book with The Chunky Method

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: April 1–30, 2020
Presenter: Allie Pleiter
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

The Making of a PI—Private Life and Business

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: April 1–30, 2020
Presenter: Steven Kerry Brown
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Social Media 101

Sponsor: Maryland Romance Writers
Fee: $20 MRW members; $30 non-MRW members
Date: April 1–30, 2020
Presenter: Ines Johnson
FMI, https://marylandromancewriters.com/event/social-media-101/

Writing the Reverse Harem Romance

Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: April 1–30, 2020
Presenter: Serena Lindahl
FMI, https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/

Creating Unforgettable Worlds: World-building in Speculative Fiction

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Midnight Voss
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#APR4.

Emerging Publishing Platforms

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members / $25 RWA Members / $35 Non-RWA Members
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Kilby Blades
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Layering as an Editing Tool

Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Cassandra Carr
FMI, http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/

Making It Pretty, Part 2 (weeks five thru eight)

Sponsor: Yosemite Romance Writers (YRW)
Fee: $20 YRW members/$25 non-members
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Kayleigh Sky
FMI, https://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/workshops.

One Month to Smoother Writing

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Laurie Sanders
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#APR3.

So, You Want to Self-Publish Your Book

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#APR2.

When Two Authors Are Better Than One, a Co-writing Class

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Midnight Voss and Ivy Quinn
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/.

Writing Sex in Contemporary Romance

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Kay Harris
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Writing a Synopsis BootCamp

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: April 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#APR1.

Fake It Til' You Make It: Beginner Technology Tips for Authors

Sponsor: RWA Online
Fee: $15
Date: April 6–May 1, 2020
Presenter: Kerry Blaisdell
FMI, http://rwaonlinechapter.org/

Mindset, Motivation, and Well-Being A to Z for Writers

Sponsor: RWA-San Diego
Fee: $35–40
Date: April 6–May 01, 2020
Presenter: Joy E. Held
FMI, https://rwasd.com/classes/

WEBINAR: What Your Crit Partners Won’t Tell You

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: April 21, 2020
Presenter: Grace Burrowes
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

May Online Workshops

Back Cover Copy “Shoot Me Now!”

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members/$30 Non Members
Date: May 1–29, 2020
Presenter: Kathryn Jane
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Insights into the Mind of a Computer Geek

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members/$30 Non Members
Date: May 1–29, 2020
Presenter: J.T. Evans
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Keeping Your Characters – And Readers – On Edge: Tension and the Contemporary Romance

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: May 1–29, 2020
Presenter: Beth Daniels
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Press Kit “Trust Me, You Need One Now!”

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: May 1–29, 2020
Presenter: Kathryn Jane
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Women at War

Sponsor: The Beau Monde Chapter’s Regency Academe
Fee: $25–30
Date: May 1–31, 2020
Presenter: Bill Haggart
FMI, https://thebeaumonde.com/resources/academe/

50 Ways to Leave Your Muse: Creativity Hacks

Sponsor: RWA-San Diego
Fee: $35–40
Date: May 4-May 29, 2020
Presenter: Joy E. Held
FMI, https://rwasd.com/classes/

Be a More Productive and Vibrant Writer!

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: May 4–29, 2020
Presenter: Deborah Magnus
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

From Austen to Aliens

Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: May 4–29, 2020
Presenter: Jacqui Jacoby
FMI, http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/

Writing With Splash: Enrich Your Writing with Sensory Language

Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: May 4–29, 2020
Presenter: Zara West
FMI, https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/

“Bulletcatchers—it ain’t all glory…”

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: May 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Joe Collins
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAY5.

Critiquing with Grace and Compassion

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: May 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Debbi Cracovia
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAY3.

Plotting Your Novel BootCamp

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: May 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAY1.

Promoting Your Book BootCamp

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: May 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAY2.

Writing Conflict, Action and Suspense

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: May 6–30, 2020
Presenter: Elf Ahern
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAY4.

Head Games: Writing Deep Third POV for Maximum Impact

Sponsor: Western New York Romance Writers
Fee: $20–40.00
Date: May 16–June12, 2020
Presenter: Linnea Sinclair
FMI, https://wnyrw.org/workshops/

The Secrets to Getting More Book Reviews [WEBINAR]

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: May 19, 2020, 5 Pacific/8 Eastern
Presenter: Penny Sansevieri
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

CONTEST FORMAT: Contest Name
Sponsor (chapter name)
Fee
Deadline
Eligibility
Entry
Categories
Judges
Final Judges
Top Prize
FMI (entry form, rules, score sheet, contact, Web site info)

CONFERENCE FORMAT:
Conference Name
Sponsor (chapter name)
Location (place, city, state)
Fee
Date
Speakers [up to five individuals (authors, agents, editors, specialists, etc.), also indicate which ONE speaker is to be featured in the RWR]
Publishing Houses (house names only, no additional individual editor names)
Agencies (agency names only, no additional individual agent names)
Conference Features (workshops, multi-track, panels, appointments, critiques, awards, book fair/signing, raffles)
FMI (contact, website info)

WORKSHOP FORMAT (FOR INTENSIVE, HANDS-ON, SINGLE-TOPIC, OR SINGLE-SPEAKER CONFERENCES):
Workshop Name
Sponsor (chapter name)
Location (place, city, state)
Fee
Date
Presenter
Topic
Workshop Features (critiques, book fair/signing)
FMI (contact, website info)

ONLINE WORKSHOP FORMAT:
Online Workshop Name
Sponsor (chapter name)
Fee
Date
Presenter
FMI (contact, website info)

Deadlines are firm. Deadline for the June issue (which will include items with a contest deadline or conference date in July, August, or September or with an online workshop date in August) is April 1. Deadline for the July issue (which will include items with a contest deadline or conference date in August, September, or October or with an online workshop date in September) is May 1. Please follow the formats at the end of the website listings, not in the abbreviated RWR listings. Email submissions confirmed by reply—if no reply is received in 48 hours, please resend or follow up. Send to chapterevents@rwa.org. Thank you!