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 01/02/2020
Contests
*Open to published authors
**Open to published and unpublished authors
January Contests
*2019 Booksellers Best Award Contest
Sponsor: Greater Detroit RWA
Fee: $30–40.00
Deadline: January 6, 2020 (books must be received by January 20th)
Eligibility: The contest is open for books published in 2019.
Entry: Submit four copies of your finished book to your GDRWA coordinator.
Categories: Many categories, including best first book.
Judges: Books are judged by booksellers or librarians from across the United States.
Top Prize: Prizes include a uniquely designed award for each winner, a badge for all finalists, and a reception for all finalists at RWA National Conference. The winners and their book covers will also be posted on the GDRWA website.
FMI, please visit
http://www.gdrwa.org/contest/.
*23rd Annual Golden Quill Contest
Sponsor: Phoenix Desert Rose
Fee: $30, single entry; $60, 2 entries; $75, 3 entries in any combination of titles/categories
Deadline: Registration and books must be received by Friday, January 10, 2020.
Eligibility: Open to any traditional or self-published RWA member-authors with an original copyright date of 2019.
Entry: Entries must be book-length fiction with a minimum of 40,000 words (except for the romantic novella category, which accepts stories of less than 40,000 words).
Categories: Best First Book, Category Series Romance, Contemporary Romance, Erotic/Hot/Sexy, Fantasy/Science Fiction/Futuristic, Historical, Inspirational, LGBTQ, Romantic Novella, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, Sweet, Young Adult.
Judges: Librarians and romance readers. Finalists announced in May, with winners awarded plaques in June and announced in the July issue of Romance Writers Report.
FMI, visit
http://drrwa.rwa.org and click on Events for complete rules, entry instructions and payment options.
*HOLT Medallion
Sponsor: Virginia Romance Writers (VRW)
Fee: $30.00
Deadline: January 15, 2020
Entry: Published fiction in one of the established contest categories. Entrants also have the opportunity to enter the “Best First Book” or “Best Book by a Virginia Author” if applicable.
Judges: Romance readers. Each book will be judged by at least 3 judges.
FMI, visit
http://virginiaromancewriters.com/holt-medallion/ or contact the coordinators at HOLTMedallion@gmail.com.
The Great Expectations Contest
Sponsor: North Texas RWA
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: January 20, 2020
Entry: First 5K words of an unpublished/uncontracted work.
Judges: First round: your fellow authors, pre- and published; final round: agents or editors.
Prize: $50 / first place only.
FMI,
https://ntrwa.org/contests/great-expectations/.
February Contests
*New England Readers’ Choice Contest
Sponsor: New England Chapter (NECRWA)
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: February 1, 2020
Eligibility: Romance novels, novellas, and short stories published in 2019.
Entry: Digital (epub, mobi, or pdf) preferred. Print accepted if no digital edition is available
Categories: Erotic, Historical, Long Contemporary (above 80K words), Short Contemporary (40-80K words), Novella (20-40K words), Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Time Travel, Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements, Romantic Suspense, Short Story (under 20K words), Young Adult Romance.
Judges: Romance readers, librarians, and booksellers.
Top Prize: Publicity package or Author Coaching package worth $250.
FMI, visit
http://www.necrwa.org/contest or email
readers-choice@necrwa.org.
The Carolyn Readers Choice Award
Sponsor: North Texas RWA
Fee: $25–30.00
Deadline: February 15, 2020
Entry: Works published in 2019.
Judges: Readers only.
Prize: Shared ad.
FMI,
https://ntrwa.org/contests/the-carolyn/.
*2020 Write Touch Readers’ Award Contest
Sponsor: Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA)
Fee: $30–35.00
Deadline: February 28, 2020 11:59pm CST
Eligibility: Each entry must have an original publication date of 2019. The contest is open to RWA and non-RWA authors.
Entry: Submit one electronic file (PDF only).
Categories (any length, no maximum or minimum word count): Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal/TimeTravel/Fantasy, Romance with Spiritual Elements, Romantic Suspense, Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance, Young Adult Romance.
Judges: Each submission will be judged by three readers of the romance genre not associated with the publishing industry.
Top Prize: The winner in each category will receive a plaque for their accomplishment.
FMI, visit
http://wisrwa.org/.
25-4-25
Sponsor: Hudson Valley Romance Writers of America
Fee: $25, nonrefundable
Deadline: Entries must be received between January 1–February 29, 2020
Eligibility: Members and Non-members may enter. Entries limited to first 50 received.
Entry: Submit your first 25 pages of your manuscript—all romance genres acceptable—and you will receive detailed line and developmental edits. Most promising entry wins prize. Criteria is same as our Hook, Line and Sinker contest, seen here:
http://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest/contest_score_sheet/. Entries must be in Times New Roman 12-pt print, double-spaced, with 1" margins all around. Entries that do not conform to these specifications will be returned.
Categories: All romance genres will be judged by RWA author member who specializes in that genre.
Judges: Published and soon-to-be-published members of HVRWA.
Final Judges: Published and soon-to-be-published members of HVRWA.
Top Prize: Free one-year premium membership to Querytracker.net. Winners will be announced in early June 2020.
FMI,
http://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest,
hudsonvalleycontest@gmail.com.
Conferences
January Conferences and Workshops
Branding: Unlock Your A Game with Damon Suede
Sponsor: Space Coast Authors of Romance
Location: Ocean Landings Resort, 900 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, Florida (discounted rooms available)
Fee: $55. FREE for Spacecoast Authors of Romance members
Date: January 18, 2020, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Speakers: Damon Suede.
Workshop Features: Fee includes continental breakfast, beverages and snacks. Lunch on your own.
FMI,
http://authorsofromance.com/masterclass/.
Hearts in the Sand Conference
Sponsor: Southwest FL Romance Writers
Location: Embassy Suites, Estero, Florida
Fee: $125.00
Date: January 31–February 1, 2020
Featured Speaker: Master Class—Before You Hit Send with industry veteran Angela James. Develop a checklist of techniques and processes for enhancing self-editing skills and polishing future manuscripts. Learn how to make the new knowledge a habit when writing future books.
Conference Features: How to Make Your Posts Go Viral by social media maven Tara Settembre; opportunity to pitch; 1-page critiques; networking; raffle baskets; and prizes.
FMI,
www.swfrw.org.
February Conference
Hearts in the Sand Conference
Sponsor: Southwest FL Romance Writers
Location: Embassy Suites, Estero, Florida
Fee: $125.00
Date: January 31–February 1, 2020
Featured Speaker: Master Class—Before You Hit Send with industry veteran Angela James. Develop a checklist of techniques and processes for enhancing self-editing skills and polishing future manuscripts. Learn how to make the new knowledge a habit when writing future books.
Conference Features: How to Make Your Posts Go Viral by social media maven Tara Settembre; opportunity to pitch; 1-page critiques; networking; raffle baskets; and prizes.
FMI,
www.swfrw.org.
Online Workshops
January Online Workshops
Time Management for Authors
Sponsor: From the Heart Romance Writers
Fee: $25.00
Date: January 2–30, 2020
Presenter Mary Thompson
FMI, Ruchama Burrell, workshop chairperson,
wokshops@fthrw.com
Up Your Writing Productivity
Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: January 2–30, 2020
Presenter: Joanna Jast
FMI,
https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/
The Department of Homeland Security: Do you know, or do you think you know?
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: January 2–31, 2020
Presenter: Kristie Wolf
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
The Glue that Connects Your Story (Master’s Level)
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: January 2–31, 2020
Presenter: Alicia Rasley
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
Creating a Social Media Content Plan
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: January 5–31, 2020
Presenter: Lisa Catto
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/.
Inside Out: Crafting Your Character’s Internal Conflict
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: January 5–31, 2020
Presenter: Linnea Sinclair
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Writing the Romantic Novella
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: January 5–31, 2020
Presenter: Cathy Chant
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Infusing the Romance Novel with Emotional & Sexual Tension
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Laurie Sanders
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN
Plotting Your Novel Boot Camp (Limited 10 Students)
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN
Press Kits for Writers
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Kathryn Jane
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN
Schmoozing 101
Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20.00
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Jacqui Jacoby
FMI,
http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/
Tech for Writers
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Kerry Blaisdell
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN
Writer Wellness: A Writer's Path to Health and Creativity
Sponsor: RWA Online Chapter
Fee: $15 (free for RWA Online Chapter members)
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Joy Held
FMI,
https://rwaonlinechapter.org/
Writing a Short Story
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: January 6–31, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JAN
How Can Evernote Help You Write?
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: January 7–18, 2020
Presenter: Denise Alicea
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Horses in Everyday Regency Life
Sponsor: The Beau Monde Chapter's Regency Academe
Fee: $25–30.00
Date: January 15–February 15, 2020
Presenter: Kim Lambert w/a Arietta Richmond
FMI,
https://thebeaumonde.com/resources/academe/
Being Doing, Becoming–The Heroic Flaw and The Heroic Journey (Groundwork Level)
Sponsor: Western New York Romance Writers
Fee: $20–40.00
Date: January 18–February 22, 2020
Presenter: Alicia Rasley
FMI,
http://www.wnyrw.org/workshops/
Journaling Your Way to Success: Clear Vision for 2020
Sponsor: RWA San Diego
Fee: $35–40.00
Date: January 20–February 14, 2020
Presenter: Pamela Moran
FMI,
https://rwasd.com/classes
February Online Workshops
Motivate Your Character to Create the Plot
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $20 CRW Members/$30 RWA Members/$40 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 1–14, 2020
Presenter: Alicia Rasley
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
When Two Authors Are Better Than One, a Co-writing Class
Sponsor: Maryland Romance Writers
Fee: $20 MRW members; $30 non-MRW members
Date: February 1–29, 2020
Presenters: Ivy Quinn and Midnight Voss
FMI,
https://marylandromancewriters.com/event/when-two-authors-are-better-than-one-a-co-writing-class/
Advanced Tarot for Writers
Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Elizabeth Delisi
FMI,
https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/
All About Character
Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Carol A. Henry
FMI,
https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/
The Art of Writing Novellas Quickly
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Margaret Bates
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#FEB5
Austen to Aliens: Creating the Classic Tough Chick
Sponsor: RWA Online Chapter
Fee: $15 (free for RWA Online Chapter members)
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Jacqui Jacoby
FMI,
https://rwaonlinechapter.org/
Demystifying Police Work: Understanding Police Roles in Fiction
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Wesley Harris
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
Finding Your Writing Muse
Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Joy Held
FMI,
https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/
How to Disappear
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Frank M. Ahearn
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#FEB4
Make Descriptions Earn Their Keep
Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Mary Marvella
FMI,
http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/
Scrivener Scene by Scene
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Ines Johnson
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
The Word-loss Diet—Professional Editing Techniques for Fiction Writers
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Rayne Hall
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#FEB3
Writing Conflict Hurts
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Melinda Curtis
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
Writing Diversity in Genre Fiction
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members / $25 RWA Members / $35 Non-RWA Members
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Eliana West
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Writing Erotic Romance and Erotica
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#FEB2
Writing a Series or Trilogy BootCamp
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: February 3–28, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#FEB1
Creating Unforgettable Worlds: World-Building in Speculative Fiction
Chapter: Yosemite Romance Writers (YRW)
Fee: $20 YRW members; $25 non-members
Date: February 3–29, 2020
Presenter: Midnight Voss
FMI,
https://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/workshops
March Online Workshops
Active Rest for Creatives
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: March 1–14, 2020
Presenter: Merien Grey
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Don’t TELL Me That
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: March 1–27, 2020
Presenter: Leslie Scott
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
More Than Just Window Dressing: How Secondary Characters Make Your Novel Come Alive!
Sponsor: Maryland Romance Writers
Fee: $20 members; $30 non-members
Date: March 1–31, 2020
Presenter: Linnea Sinclair
FMI,
https://marylandromancewriters.com/march2020
Georgian Dublin: From the Castle to Hell
Sponsor: The Beau Monde Chapter's Regency Academe
Fee: $15–20.00
Date: March 2–14, 2020
Presenter: Cora Lee
FMI,
https://thebeaumonde.com/resources/academe/
Back Cover Copy
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Kathryn Jane
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAR4
Bookkeeping for Writers
Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Pepper O’Neal
FMI,
http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/
Creating Great Villains
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Rayne Hall
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAR3
How to Write a Romance Novel
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAR2
Making It Pretty: Part One (Weeks 1–4)
Sponsor: YRW (Yosemite Romance Writers)
Fee: March Only: $20 YRW members; $25 non-members; March and April: $30 YRW members; $35 non-members
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Kayleigh Sky
FMI,
https://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/workshops
Promoting Your Book BootCamp
Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers
Fee: OIRW Member $55| Non-Member $65
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Susan Palmquist
FMI,
http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#MAR1
Where Craft and Marketing Collide!
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Deborah Magnus
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/
Writing a Sex Scene: From First Blush to Climax
Sponsor: Southern Tier Authors of Romance
Fee: $25 RWA Members | $30 Non-RWA Members
Date: March 2–27, 2020
Presenter: Jennifer Bokal
FMI,
https://starrwa.org/on-line-workshops/
Criminal Fun With E-Devices, Round 2—Cybersecurity 20/20
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: March 2–31, 2020
Presenter: Ann D. Zeigler
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
“Now What?” What to Do Once You’ve Finished That First Novel
Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15 KOD Members / $30 Non Members
Date: March 2–31, 2020
Presenter: Leslie Scott
FMI,
https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin
Critical Lens
Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Online Chapter
Fee: $15 CRW Members/$25 RWA Members/$35 Non-RWA Members
Date: March 2–April 3, 2020
Presenter: LaQuette
FMI,
http://contemporaryromance.org/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/
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 March issue (which will include items with a contest deadline or conference date in April, May, or June or with an online workshop date in May) is January 1. Deadline for the April issue (which will include items with a contest deadline or conference date in May, June, or July or with an online workshop date in June) is February 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. No attachments please. Send to chapterevents@rwa.org. Thank you!