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Pen to Paper Accolades

Posted on 8/29/2023
When I joined Pen to Paper: Guide to Romance Writing as a participant during its first year, I didn’t know what to expect.

Message from the President - August 2023 RWR

Posted on 8/28/2023
Ah, and here we are in August. I have always seen this time of year as a season of change. It is all about endings and beginnings, which as writers we understand.

Doing Gender on Purpose: Diversity, Depth, and Character in Romance

Posted on 8/28/2023
Romance is obsessed with gender. Just think about the genre’s ever-changing ideas about what a hero and a heroine can and should be, its longstanding self-perception as by and for women, or its debates about who exactly is eligible for a happily ever

Navigating Different Types of Romance

Posted on 8/28/2023
You sit down to read a romance by your favorite author. If the author does their job well, you smile as you close the book, leave your glowing review like the good literary citizen you are, and eagerly dive into other stories by that author. But, how

Serial Publishing Primer

Posted on 8/23/2023
Most people, if they know what serial publication is, will think immediately of Dickens and his eager readers waiting at the docks to shout for updates on the newest chapter of his ongoing novel.

Industry News - August 2023

Posted on 8/8/2023
RWA's Policy Advisory Committee news and updates for August 2023.

Message from the President - July 2023 RWR

Posted on 7/25/2023
Happy July! As I sit here post conference looking at the dreaded blank page, I have a confession. I struggle most months with deciding what to say in my messages to the RWA membership.

Industry News - July 2023

Posted on 7/7/2023
RWA's Policy Advisory Committee news and updates for July 2023.

Those Characters We So Lightly Call Secondary

Posted on 6/30/2023
Think about your favorite movie or series and call up a secondary character—or, as I prefer to call them, the so-called secondary character. Really, would whatever movie or series you chose hold a place in your heart without that character? In books,

Base-Hit-Style Book Pitching: Or, Hit 'em Where They Ain't

Posted on 6/30/2023
People who “speak baseball,” as we do in our family, have a wealth of slang particular to that sport and some terminology that can be—to put it mildly—a little confusing.

Making Sense of Sensitivity Readers

Posted on 6/30/2023
Representation matters. There’s been a huge surge of authors wanting to include diverse viewpoints and characters in their stories the past few years, and it is beautiful. It’s amazing how many books are on the shelves these days featuring or written

Message from the President - June 2023 RWR

Posted on 6/26/2023
I have a confession to make. I live in Northern New England, and my favorite season is not fall. I think fall is beautiful with the colors, and I do get that cozy cuddle in with a cup of tea and read a book vibe, but I don’t like the cold.

Industry News - June 2023

Posted on 6/5/2023
RWA's Policy Advisory Committee news and updates for June 2023.

Chapter Spotlight: Connecticut Romance Writers Chapter

Posted on 5/15/2023
The Connecticut chapter of Romance Writers of America has been providing quality programming since 1981. Like so many other chapters, they are slowly bouncing back from the pandemic, and although it has taken its toll, it has also helped the chapter

Message from the President - May 2023 RWR

Posted on 5/15/2023
I have a confession to make. I live in Northern New England, and my favorite season is not fall. I think fall is beautiful with the colors, and I do get that cozy cuddle in with a cup of tea and read a book vibe, but I don’t like the cold.

Chapter Spotlight: Dallas Area Romance Authors

Posted on 5/15/2023
The Connecticut chapter of Romance Writers of America has been providing quality programming since 1981. Like so many other chapters, they are slowly bouncing back from the pandemic, and although it has taken its toll, it has also helped the chapter

Chapter Spotlight: Coeur du Bois Chapter

Posted on 4/26/2023
The Coeur du Bois Chapter of RWA, known as CBC, was established in 1991. The chapter was co-founded by Robin Lee Hatcher, RWA’s President from 1992 to 1994...

Pen to Paper Guide Spotlight: Kathy L. Wheeler

Posted on 4/26/2023
Which side of the wall are you standing on? The “I write regularly and finish what I start” side, or the “I write slow, labor over every paragraph, sentence, word...

Message from the President - April 2023 RWR

Posted on 4/21/2023
Where did April go? Here in New England the buds are budding, the grass is turning a vibrant shade of green, and the world is coming to life. Like with everything in nature, spring gives us the urge to deep clean and start fresh.

Industry News - April 2023

Posted on 4/12/2023
RWA's Policy Advisory Committee news and updates for April 2023.

Chapter Spotlight: Mosaic RWA

Posted on 3/15/2023
Mosaic CIM Romance Writers of America chapter is a brand-new online special interest chapter.

Pen to Paper Guide Spotlight: Patty Blount

Posted on 3/15/2023
Like most writers, I’d wanted to be an author since childhood. And, like most writers, I tried three or four (hundred) times to write a novel...

The Power of Word of Mouth

Posted on 2/28/2023
I remember when I first experienced the power of word-of-mouth advertising (WOM). It was a year after my book Friendshifts was published by my small press. My best friend called to tell me her daughter was in church, and the reverend gave a sermon on

A Touch of Darkness

Posted on 2/28/2023
Sparks fly even when you can’t see them. It’s been a pleasure observing the increasing inclusion of blind characters in books of all types as a necessary and potent reminder that we experience the full range of human experiences, too. It’s good to se

Taming Your Ego in Critique Groups

Posted on 2/28/2023
Critique groups can be great. You meet new people, learn about different genres and styles, and get feedback on your own work. However, hearing unpleasant feedback can be painful and jarring.