View source for Romance Writers of America

[[Category:Writer Organizations]][[category:Romance Resources]][[category:Romance Writers of America]]
== About ==
[[Romance Writers of America]] (RWA) was founded in Houston, Texas, in 1980 by 37 [[Romance Writers of America Charter Members|charter members]]. The purpose of the organization was to organize writing conferences and to create a network to provide information and support for romance writers and other professionals. RWA now has over 9,500-member members worldwide; with 1,600 members published in book-length romance fiction. It is the largest fiction writing group devoted to a single genre. Unlike many writers' organizations, the RWA is open to both published and unpublished authors. RWA has more than 140 chapters throughout the world, with chapters in almost every state in the U.S. Some individual cities have multiple chapters--such as the three chapters in Houston, Texas.

The [[RWA Annual Conference]] is held during the summer. It is an important meeting for the romance industry, including a literary book signing and the giving of the various awards and contest winners. Among the committees that promote the goals of the RWA is the [[RWA Published Authors Network]] (PAN) which serves the needs of the group's published authors by providing supported and specialized [[RWA Annual Conference|conference]] programming. The RWA also offers an annual [[RWA Academic Research Grant|Academic Research Grant]].

* [[Romance Writers of America Presidents]] - Members who have served as President of the RWA
* [[RWA Controversy]] - A look at the various controversies and scandals that have rocked the Romance Writers of America over the years.

==On The Web== 
The [http://www.rwanational.org/ Romance Writers of America] 

==Awards==
* The [[RWA Hall Of Fame]] honors a select group of top authors. 
* The [[Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award]], presented at the [[RWA Annual Conference]] honors an author's entire body of work. 
* The [[PRISM]] award winners for [[Science Fiction]] and [[Fantasy]] romance novels published in the previous year are announced prior to the Romance Writers of America national conference
* [[Emma Merritt Service Award]]
* [[RWA Service Award]]
* [[Vivian Stephens Industry Award]]
* [[Steffie Walker Bookseller Of The Year Award]]
* [[Librarian Of The Year Award]], and the [[RWA Veritas Award]].

In addition to these major annual awards, RWA also honors members who have published 100 or more books with a [[Centennial Award]].

== Contests ==
* [[Golden Heart]]
* [[RITA]]

== Chapters ==

=== Special Interest Chapters ===

* [http://www.celtichearts.org/ Celtic Hearts Romance Writers]
* [http://www.chicklitwriters.com/ Chick Lit Writers of the World]
* [http://www.espan-rwa.com/ Electronic and Small Press Authors Network] (ESPAN) - An on-line chapter for electronic and small press authors
* [http://www.elementsofrwa.com/ Elements of RWA] - Chapter #211, authors with a special interest in non-traditional romance fiction.  
* [http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/ Faith, Hope, & Love] for writers of inspirational romances
* [http://fthrw.com/index.php From the Heart Romance Writers] - an online chapter 
* [[Futuristic, Fantasy And Paranormal RWA]] - [http://www.romance-ffp.com/ Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal RWA]
* [http://www.thegoldennetwork.com/ Golden Network Chapter] - winners of the Golden Heart competition
* [http://www.gothrom.org/ Gothic Romance Writers]
* [http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/ Hearts Through History Romance Writers] for writers of historical romances
* [http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/ Kiss of Death Chapter] for writers of mystery/suspense romances
* [http://www.oirw.net/ Outreach International Romance Writers] - an online chapter available no matter where the member lives
* [[Passionate Ink]] - [http://www.passionateink.org/ Passionate Ink] for writers of erotic romance
* [http://www.pasic.net/ Published Authors Special Interest Chapter/PASIC]
* [http://www.heartbeatrwa.com/ RWA Heartbeat] - Medical Romance subgenre
* [http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/ RWA Online] - Chapter #136, the first online chapter
* [http://www.scriptscene.org/ Scriptscene] - for authors who want to write screenplays
* [http://www.thebeaumonde.com/ The Beau Monde], which aims to 'to promote excellence in romantic fiction, set primarily in the Regency period (1811-1820)'

=== Local Chapters ===
==== US Chapters ====
'''Alabama'''<br>
* Southern Magic<br>

'''Alaska'''<br>
* Alaska Chapter of RWA<br>


'''Arizona'''<br>
* Saguaro Romance Writers (RWA - Tuscon)
* Valley of the Sun Romance Writers of America<br>


'''Arkansas'''<br>
* Diamond State Romance Authors<br>


'''California'''<br>
* [[Los Angeles Romance Authors]]<br>
* [[Orange County Chapter]]<br>


'''Colorado'''<br>


'''Connecticut'''<br>
* Connecticut Romance Writers<br>


'''Delaware'''<br>


'''Florida'''<br>
* Central Florida Romance Writers<br>
* First Coast Romance Writers<br>
* Florida Romance Writers<br>
* [[Southwest Florida Romance Writers]]<br>


'''Georgia'''<br>
* [http://www.georgiaromancewriters.org/index.php Georgia Romance Writers]<br>


'''Hawaii'''<br>


'''Idaho'''<br>
* Coeur du Bois Chapter (Boise, ID)<br>

'''Illinois'''<br>
* Heart & Scroll RWA<br>
* Windy City RWA<br>


'''Indiana'''<br>
* Indiana Romance Writers<br>

'''Iowa'''<br>


'''Kansas'''<br>
* Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)<br>


'''Kentucky'''<br>


'''Louisiana'''<br>
* SOLA (Southern Louisiana)<br>


'''Maine'''<br>


'''Maryland'''<br>
* Maryland Romance Writers<br>

'''Massachusetts'''<br>


'''Michigan'''<br>
* Mid-Michigan RWA<br>


'''Minnesota'''<br>
* Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW) [http://www.midwestfiction.com/home.html MFW website]<br>
* Northern Lights Writers<br>

'''Mississippi'''<br>

'''Missouri'''<br>
* Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)<br>
* Missouri RWA [http://www.morwa.org/ MORWA website]<br>


'''Montana'''<br>


'''Nebraska'''<br>

'''Nevada'''<br>

'''New Hampshire'''<br>
* New Hampshire Romance Writers of America<br>

'''New Jersey'''<br>


'''New Mexico'''<br>
* Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA)<br>
<br>

'''New York'''<br>
* Central New York Romance Writers<br>
* Hudson Valley RWA<br>
* Long Island Romance Writers<br>
* RWA New York City<br>
* Saratoga Romance Writers<br>
* Southern Tier Authors of Romance<br>
* Western New York Romance Writers <br>


'''North Carolina'''<br>
* [[Heart of Carolina Romance Writers]]<br>

'''North Dakota'''<br>


'''Ohio'''<br>


'''Oklahoma'''<br>


'''Oregon'''<br>
* Rose City Romance Writers<br>


'''Pennsylvania'''<br>
* Pennsylvania Romance Writers<br>
* Three Rivers Romance Writers<br>
* Valley Forge Romance Writers<br>


'''Rhode Island'''<br>


'''South Carolina'''<br>
* Lowcountry RWA<br>

'''South Dakota'''<br>


'''Tennessee'''<br>
* Music City Romance Writers (Nashville)<br>


'''Texas'''<br>
* Austin RWA Chapter<br>
* Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA)<br>
* Heart of Texas<br>
* Houston Bay Area<br>
* North Texas RWA<br>
* San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA)<br>


'''Utah'''<br>


'''Vermont'''<br>


'''Virginia'''<br>
* Chesapeake Romance Writers<br>
* [[Virginia Romance Writers]]<br>


'''Washington'''<br>
* Evergreen RWA<br>


'''Washington, D.C. '''<br>
* Washington DC Romance Writers<br>


'''West Virginia'''<br>


'''Wisconsin'''<br>
* Wisconsin RWA<br>


'''Wyoming'''<br>

==== Canada Chapters ====
* Calgary Association of the Romance Writers of America<br>
** Greater Vancouver Chapter<br>
** Marshlands Romance Writers (Moncton, New Brunswick)<br>
** Ottawa Romance Writers Association<br>
** Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia)<br>
** [[Toronto Romance Writers]]<br>
** Vancouver Island Chapter (Victoria, British Columbia)<br>