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

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Chapter: Kiss of Death 2021 Coffin Workshops

Begin Date: 01/01/2021
End Date: 12/01/2021
Location:
Register

Click here for more information.

RWF - 50 Ways to Leave your Muse: Creativity Hacks

Begin Date: 03/15/2021
End Date: 04/09/2021
Location:
Register

My theory about the muse is pretty straightforward: it’s a fantasy, a myth created by Greek and Roman philosophers who operated with limited resources on every level. The world was flat then. While the idea of a muse appeals to my senses, excites my imagi

A2P - Writing the Private Investigator

Begin Date: 04/01/2021
End Date: 04/30/2021
Location:
Register

Television and movies do not reflect real life. Surprised? The Private Eye's image in the mind of most Americans (and elsewhere) was formed on the screen and in pulpy mystery novels, and it's mostly wrong. We don't pull guns, beat up thugs, drink whiskey

A2P - “Where the Heck Do I Start?” (Self-Publishing)

Begin Date: 04/01/2021
End Date: 04/30/2021
Location:
Register

Thinking about self-publishing? Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of taking on what some call a monumental task? Then you definitely need this workshop which will introduce you to self-pub in a non-frightening way, give you a basic understanding of what

HCRW - What is Conflict?

Begin Date: 04/05/2021
End Date: 04/30/2021
Location:
Register

Conflict is what keeps someone reading or watching your work from start to finish. But how do you set up conflict throughout your script or story pages without slowing the pace or being repetitive? Join this interactive class where you’ll explore internal

A2P - “How’d I Miss That?” (Self-Editing)

Begin Date: 05/01/2021
End Date: 05/30/2021
Location:
Register

Sending to a contest? Sending to an agent? Sending to an editor? Self-publishing? No matter where your words and pages are headed, they need to be the best they can possibly be, and that means self-editing. Yep, the initial cleanup is your job and that’s

A2P - Novellas and How to Knock ‘Em Out Fast

Begin Date: 05/01/2021
End Date: 05/31/2021
Location:
Register

This month-long workshop will show you how to quickly write the first draft of novellas — 30-40K word stories in 7-10 days. Learn how to understand your writing schedule and the best times for writing, tricks for concentrating, how to outline, and strate

HCRW - Mindset, Motivation & Well-Being A To Z For Writers

Begin Date: 05/03/2021
End Date: 05/28/2021
Location:
Register

Mindset, Motivation & Well-Being A To Z For Writers presents a host of suggestions for overhauling your writing life inside and out. Some of the topics will resonate and some will need to percolate for a while, but everything from coping with anxiety to a

RWF - Between “The End” and the Upload

Begin Date: 05/03/2021
End Date: 05/28/2021
Location:
Register

Congratulations! You’ve just typed “The End.” Your story is done! You’ve heard all about the success and the struggle of self-publishing. Have you already decided to self-pub or do you want to know more before you take the plunge? Wherever you’re at, yo

SVR - Planning Your Next Genre Fiction Series

Begin Date: 05/22/2021
End Date: 05/22/2021
Location:
Register

Planning your next genre fiction series: turning a writing dream into a writing career USA Today Bestselling author Zoe York will break down how start planning your next romance series to build on your brand and take your writing to the next level. This w

HCRW Patchworking the Perfect Plot Through Relationship Arcs

Begin Date: 06/01/2021
End Date: 06/30/2021
Location:
Register

Do storyboards, sticky notes, spreadsheets and index cards give you hives? Does your manuscript wander in circles – yet you’re afraid a detailed outline will suck the heart and soul out of your writing? All you need is a simple word-processing program to

A2P - Writing Conflict Hurts

Begin Date: 06/01/2021
End Date: 06/30/2021
Location:
Register

Writing conflict hurts – not just because it makes your characters suffer, but also because it’s painful to create and carry through on the page. However, conflict drives story and holds an editor’s attention, which means it sells books. Conflict also en

A2P - Writing Believable Fight Scenes

Begin Date: 06/01/2021
End Date: 06/30/2021
Location:
Register

Knowing how to write a true-to-life fight scene requires getting into fights. Yes, multiple fights. Many of them. That's painful because your opponents tend to strike back. There is an alternate approach, though. Find someone who has been in their fair sh

A2P - Writing Holiday Romances that Sell

Begin Date: 07/01/2021
End Date: 07/31/2021
Location:
Register

What is the hype with Holiday Romances? Have you ever wondered why so many people write them? Or why there are so many people that read them? This year alone Hallmark will come out with over one hundred new holiday romance movies! So what does it take to

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 04/01/2021

Contests
Conferences
Online Workshops

Contests

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

April Contests

2021 Stiletto Contest

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Deadline: April 1, 2021
Eligibility: unpublished and published divisions
Categories: Contemporary short-mid-long, YA/NA, Chicklit/Women's Fiction
FMI: https://contemporaryromance.org/2021-stiletto-contest/

2nd Annual 25-4-25

Sponsor: Hudson Valley RWA
Fee: $25
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Entry: receive a developmental edit by published and soon-to-be-published authors on the first twenty-five pages of your manuscript for only $25!
Judges: experienced published and unpublished authors
FMI: entry form, rules, and a sample of the scoresheet, please visit http://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.org/25-4-25 or email hudsonvalleycontest@gmail.com.

Book Buyers Best Contest for Published Authors

Sponsor: Orange County (CA) RWA
Fee: $30
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Eligibility: a romance novel traditionally, or independently published in 2020
Judges: readers of romance
Top Pick Judge: librarian or bookseller
FMI: http://OCCRWA.org

May Contests

On the Far Side Contest

Sponsor: Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal RWA
Fee: $20–25
Deadline: May 9, 2021
Entry: back-cover-style blurb and up to the first 5,500 words of an unpublished manuscript. Entry must not be part of an existing published series.
Final Judges: please see website for complete list of final-round-judges.
FMI, visit OTFS Contest page of the FF&P website (https://ffprwa.com/contests/on-the-far-side-contest/) or email the Contest Coordinator at OTFS@ffprwa.com.

The Rudy Writers Award

Sponsor: Chesapeake Romance Writers
Fee: $25, CRW members; $30, non-CRW members
Deadline: May 17, 2021
Entry: the first 20 pages of an unpublished manuscript
Judges: first round, trained judges; second round, industry professionals
FMI, visit http://chesapeakeromancewriters.com.

**19th Annual Romance Through the Ages

Sponsor: Hearts Through History
Fee: $20–25
Deadline: May 31, 2021
Entry: first 15 pages and (optional) two-page synopsis.
Final Judges: editors and agents TBA.
FMI, visit https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/rtta-contest/ or for additional questions, email rtta@heartsthroughhistory.com.

Conferences

April Conferences

In the Company of Writers 36th Annual Conference & Retreat

Sponsor: Washington Romance Writers
Location: Virtual
Fee: $109, RWA members; $129, non-members (includes conference and access to recordings)
Date: April 10–11, 2021
Speakers: Roan Parrish, Angela James, Priscilla Oliveras, & WRW homegrown talent.
Conference Features: multi-track workshops, Master classes, Panels, Editor/Agent appointments, American Author, Networking, Prize Drawings & Raffles.
FMI, visit https://washingtonromancewriters.com/ or email retreatwrw@gmail.com.

Retreat from Harsh Reality

Sponsor: Mid-Michigan RWA
Location: Virtual
Fee: $30, MMRWA members; $40, nonmembers
Date: April 23–24, 2021
Speakers: Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Conference Features: workshops, scavenger hunt, breakout sessions, auction.
FMI, visit: http://midmichiganrwa.org/retreat-from-harsh-reality/

Online Workshops

April Online Workshops

The Creative Brilliance Academy Part 2

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: April 1–30, 2021
Presenter: Deb Riley-Magnus
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Ground You Readers from Page 1

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: April 4–30, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

How to Write Sports Romances (Craft)

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: April 4–30, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Take Your Characters from Flat to Fabulous

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: April 4–30, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Manage Your Social Media with HootSuite

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: April 5–11, 2021
Presenter: Denise Alicea
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Bling Your Book! Self-Editing for Novelists

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $20, KOD members; $25, RWA members; $35, non-members
Date: April 5–30, 2021
Presenter: Preslaysa Williams
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

On Your Mark, Get Set — Starting Your Novel in the Right Place

Sponsor: From the Heart Romance Writers
Fee: free, FTHRW members; $25, non-members
Dates: April 5–30, 2021
Registration Deadline: April 2, 2021
Presenter: Catherine Chant
FMI, http://fthrw.com/workshops

Reflective Writing: A Journal Workshop for Writers

Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: April 5–30, 2021
Presenter: Joy E. Held
FMI, http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings

Weapons and your Characters: Let’s Get Real

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $20, KOD members; $25, RWA members; $35, non-members
Date: April 5–30, 2021
Presenter: M.A. Taylor
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Writing the Comedic Mystery

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15, KOD members; $20, RWA members; $30, non-members
Date: April 12–23, 2021
Presenter: Beth Daniels
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

The Novel Brain Map: How to Create Intricate Plots and Unforgettable Characters

Sponsor: Georgia Romance Writers
Fee: free, GRW members; $25, non-members
Date: April 17, 2021
Presenter: Shirley Jump, NYT and USA Today bestselling author
FMI, visit http://georgiaromancewriters.org.

Twitter Pitching: #FUN

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: April 17, 2021, at 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST / 5 p.m. PST
Presenter: Mariah Ankenman
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Plan to Succeed

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: April 24, 2021, at 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m. CST/10 a.m. PST
Presenter: Camille Pagán
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

May Online Workshops

Inside Out: Crafting Your Character's Internal Conflict

Sponsor: Western New York Romance Writers
Fee: $20–40
Date: May 1–28, 2021
Presenter: Linnea Sinclair
FMI, http://www.wnyrw.org/workshops/

Writing Fat Characters

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15, CRW members; $25, RWA members, $25, nonmembers
Date: May 1–31, 2021
Presenter: Marianne Kirby
FMI, https://contemporaryromance.org/

Irresistible Blurbs

Sponsor: RWA Online Chapter
Fee: $15 (free for our chapter members)
Date: May 3–14
Presenter: Siri Caldwell
FMI, https://rwaonlinechapter.org/workshops-3/may-2021-irresistible-blurbs/

Business on a Shoestring

Sponsor: NEORWA
Fee: $20
Date: May 3–28, 2021
Presenter: Pepper O’Neal
FMI, http://www.neorwa.com/online-workshops/upcoming-meetings/

Over Writing Oh No!

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: May 3–28, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Perfect Pairings: How to Build Characters Who Capture the Hearts of Your Readers, Your Editors, and Each Other

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $20, KOD members; $25, RWA members; $35, non-members
Date: May 3–28, 2021
Presenter: Allie Pleiter
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Story Structure: An Essential Building Block of Your Craft

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: May 3–28, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Violence 101: How to Write about Violence with Authenticity and Responsibility

Sponsor: Kiss of Death Chapter
Fee: $20, KOD member; $25, RWA member; $35, nonmember
Date: May 3–28, 2021
Presenter: Martin Roy Hill
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/upcoming-murder-one-classes/

Writing Conflict Hurts

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: May 3–28, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Writing MM/MFM Romance (Craft)

Sponsor: OIRWA
Fee: $25, members; $35, non-members
Date: May 3–28, 2021
FMI, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

The Fine Art of Killing Words: Editing for a Lean, Mean Manuscript

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: May 3–31, 2021
Presenter: Beth Daniels
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops

Heiress Seeks Paupered Peer: The 19th Century Marriage Mart Across the Pond

Sponsor: Hearts Through History
Fee: $15, HTH members; $25, non-members
Date: May 3–31, 2021
Presenter: Beth Daniels (aka Beth Henderson, J.B. Dane, and Nied Darnell)
FMI, https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/workshops

Horses in Life in the Regency Era

Sponsor: Hearts Through History
Fee: $15, HTH members; $25, non-members
Date: May 3–31, 2021
Presenter: Kim Lambert
FMI, https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/workshops

Those Who Forget History: Using Backstory to Enhance Your Novel

Sponsor: From the Heart Romance Writers
Fee: free, FTHRW members; $25, nonmembers
Date: May 3–31, 2021
Registration Deadline: April 29, 2021
Presenter: Cynthia Owen
FMI, http://fthrw.com

How to Teach an Online Class

Sponsor: Hearts Through History
Fee: $15, HTH members; $25, non-members
Date: May 10–17, 2021
Presenter: Margaret “MA” Taylor and Pamela Moran
FMI, https://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/workshops

Crafting a Captivating Submission Package (Beginner)

Sponsor: Kiss of Death
Fee: $15, KOD members; $20, RWA members; $30, non-members
Date: May 10–21, 2021
Presenter: Katie McCoach
FMI, https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

Secrets of a Bestselling Amazon Book Page

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: May 15, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT
Presenter: Penny Sansevieri
FMI, http://contemporaryromance.org/workshops/

Setting Up the Basics: World-Building and Beyond

Sponsor: Contemporary Romance Writers
Fee: $15 for CRW members; $25 for RWA members; $35 for non-RWA members
Date: May 29, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT
Presenter: Tanya Agler
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

Content Dates	Online Workshop Month	Issue	Due Date
February/March/April	March	January	November 1
March/April/May	April	February	December 1
April/May/June	May	March	January 1
May/June/July	June	April	February 1
June/July/August	July	May	March 1
July/August/September	August	June	April 1
August/September/October	September	July	May 1
September/October/November	October	August	June 1
October/November/December	November	September	July 1
November/December/January	December	October	August 1
December/January/February	January	November	September 1
January/February/March	February	December	October 1

Deadlines are firm. 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.