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BECOME A MEMBER

 

RCRW is chapter #157 of the Romance Writers of America®.  To become a member of RCRW, you must first be a member of RWA® National. Dues for RWA are $75/yr (US Dollars) with a one-time new member fee of $25.00 (US Dollars) - payable to RWA. Click here to go to the membership section of RWA's website.

RCRW annual membership dues are $30.00/yr (US Dollars). July through June. If joining between January and May, pay only $15.00 (US Dollars). To join or renew your membership you may pay by check, money order, or through Paypal with a credit card. To pay by check or money order (US Dollars), make the check out to Rose City Romance Writers. To pay by credit card through Paypal, click on the appropriate button below.

Full year dues = $30.00 (US Dollars) (a $1.00 fee is added for Paypal use to cover the charges to RCRW)


Partial year dues (January - May) = $15.00 (US Dollars) (a $1.00 fee is added for Paypal use to cover the charges to RCRW)

Contact our V. P. of Membership, Jessie Smith, and she will email you a member application.Or you may download the member application directly from here and then email it to Jessie Smith with a copy of your PayPal receipt from above. Or snail mail it to Jessie, at the address on the application, with your check for dues. If you have any other questions, please e-mail.

If you are seriously pursuing a career as a romance writer, there is no better place to start than RWA®.  At the national level, there are numerous benefits, not the least of which include networking with fellow writers and making contacts with editors and agents focused solely on the romance market.   Whether you're a beginner learning basic manuscript formatting, a writer who had completed that ever-important first manuscript and is serious in pursuing a writing career, or a multi-published author hoping to push your career to the next level, RCRW can facilitate this at the local level. 

CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

Aside from the national publication, Romance Writers' Report, RCRW members also receive their own newsletter, Writers' Serenade.  Published monthly, it not only provides current news on the membership and recaps of the chapter meetings, but includes articles designed to educate in the craft of writing and announces the most recent releases of its published membership.  To learn more about the newsletter, check out our Newsletter page.

NEW MEMBER KITS

These kits are designed to welcome new members into the chapter with some basic and very valuable information.  Assembled in a folder, they contain such items as a glossary of publishing terms, a resource list of writing references, sample manuscript page, sample synopsis page, membership brochure, bookmark with names of published authors, a copy of the current newsletter, a copy of the current roster, and a copy of the chapter Bylaws.  Current members will not receive folders, but many of the documents will be made available on the RCRW e-mail loop, in the files section.  Also available are our chapter label pins featuring the RCRW logo. You can purchase them from the VP of membership, Jessie Smith, at the chapter meetings for $7.00 each or 2 for $10.00.

CHAPTER E-MAIL LOOPS

Numerous group email lists are available at the national level, including RWAcraft, RWAindustry, RWAresearch, RWAtechnology, and RWApromotion. In addition Rose City Romance Writers has three groups of its own, available through Yahoo! Groups:  RCRW link, RCRWauthors link, and the RCRW e-publishing link. Please note these are available by invitation to members only.

RCRW Link (by invitation only)

RCRW authors link (by invitation only)

RCRW e-Publishing link (by invitation only)

CHAPTER WEB SITE

The chapter web site contains a wealth of information on the chapter, as well as links to authors, RWA®, and resource sites.  Although the site itself is not restricted to members, it has some built-in benefits available only to its membership.  Members have their published books announced on the Current Release page . Coming soon:  Our own monthly newsletter, Writer's Serenade published exclusively online. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Chapter Web Site, contact our webmistress, Heather Hiestand.

WRITER SUPPORT GROUPS

These informal get-togethers have no agenda or scheduled topic and are open to all members at any time.  The focus is on each other and writing, with no chapter business or critiquing.  Several different groups meet throughout the Portland metro area.  Please see our Meetings page for further information.

GOLDEN ROSE CONTEST

Open to all members and advertised in the Romance Writers' Report, the contest attracts entries from all over the US.  Deadline for entry is in August, with winners announced at the November meeting.  Finalists' partial manuscripts and synopses are judged by editors from several subgenres, including long and short contemporary and long and short historical romance.  The Grand Prize winner--the entry with the highest overall score--is awarded an American Beauty rose dipped in gold.  Several first place finishers have since seen their winning entries published.  For more information, please see our Contest page.

BOOKSIGNINGS & LUNCHEONS

RCRW supports our published authors! Please contact your PAN Liaison, Jenna Bayley-Burke to promote your upcoming book or booksigning. RCRW puts on a Reader's Luncheon that benefits the chapter, RCRW authors & Northwest authors, Oregon Literacy, as well as promoting the romance genre.  Contact a Board Member if you are interested in volunteering or participating.  Get involved.   It's a great way to connect with fellow writers and network.

BOOK STICKERING PROGRAM

Members can place "Local Author" stickers on RCRW authors' books at area bookstores.  This form of identification often boosts sales, especially for Oregonians who are proud to support their local authors.   If you are interested in stickering, contact a board member to obtain some stickers.

AUDIO AND BOOKS LENDING LIBRARY

RCRW buys audiotapes of workshop presenters from various RWA® national and regional conferences.  Cost of rentals is $1.00/tape.  For an inventory list of tapes, please contact our librarian, Jeanette Steinmueller. We also maintain a book lending library with books on writing craft and the writing life. Please contact our book librarian, Joy Clarke, for more information.

COLD READ SERVICE

Members can have their manuscript read, proofed and/or critiqued by another chapter member in exchange for the same for another member.  The sign-up book is brought to each regular chapter meeting, or you may email Linda Smith.

EDITOR/AGENT RESOURCE BOOK

Members are encouraged to share their knowledge or experience of particular agents and editors--their likes, dislikes, what they buy, what they won't--with the rest of the chapter through this resource book.  The information is professional in nature and does not contain any flaming or criticisms.   It is informational in nature only.

WRITE FOR THE MONEY

Referred to as "goals" at the chapter meetings, members are encouraged to make a writing goal(s) to be reached before the next regular chapter meeting.  For each goal, a dollar goes into the pot, and the goals are read at the next meeting.  Each goal achieved gets you a chance to win the pot.  You must be in attendance to collect your winnings.

USED BOOK SALE

Members can bring their used romance novels and books about writing to add to the chapter book sale.  We ask that titles not be donated until they are off the shelves so as not to undermine an author's sales potential.   In an effort to keep the collection reasonably up-to-date and relevant to the current market, we ask that titles have a publishing date of 2001 or later.