Become a Member

RWA membership offers romance writers the opportunity to stay on top of the latest trends in the industry, technology, and craft. As the world of publishing shifts, RWA is able to adapt and provide information to help its members pivot within their careers as the landscape changes. RWA advocates for romance as a whole as well as stepping in to help individual members and groups of members when the need arises.

A membership in RWA provides the opportunity for education and networking on national, regional, and local levels. Whether you are just beginning your career or are trying to figure out what is next on the horizon, RWA offers its members data, advice, insight and encouragement.

• General RWA membership is open to published and unpublished romance fiction writers who are interested in creating and maintaining a long-term career writing romance.
• Associate membership is open to people writing romance but who haven't completed a novel/novella, people writing solely in genres other than romance, as well as publishing industry professionals, and bloggers.
• Librarians and booksellers who support the romance genre are welcome to join as an Affiliate member. Learn about Affiliate membership.
• Student discount: General and Associate Member applicants or renewing members who are enrolled full time at an accredited institution/program are eligible for a 60% discount on their annual dues! Learn more and apply here.

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Member Types

Which member type is right for you? Read through the descriptions below to see which type best fits your current career status.

General Membership ($99)

General membership is open to all persons seriously pursuing a romance fiction writing career. Only General members shall have all rights of membership, and only General members shall have the right to vote and the right to hold office in RWA.

General members must prove serious pursuit of a romance writing career. Please read more about our Serious Pursuit qualifications.

All qualified applicants are automatically approved as Associate-Writers. Once applicants provide proof of serious pursuit of a romance writing career, Associate-Writers become General members.

Associate Membership ($99)

Associate membership is open to all other individuals, including employees of RWA and its contractors, who support the organization and its purposes but who do not meet the requirements for General membership or who are not permitted to participate on RWA’s general discussion forums by reason of being involved in the acquisition process*, i.e., publishers, acquiring editors, or agents who actively acquire romance fiction or actively offer representation to writers of romance fiction, as further described in RWA policy. Associate members shall not have any voting rights or the right to hold office in RWA.

Associate members have access to the RWA website (with restrictions to industry professional access to General member forums), RWA University (only for Associate members who are writers), member resources, and receive the member rate for RWA conferences and workshops.

RWA asks those pursuing membership as Associates to indicate if they fall into one of the following areas:

• Associate-Writer: A writer who has not yet submitted proof that they are seriously pursuing a career as a romance writer or does not fit the Serious Pursuit qualifications for General Membership.
• Associate-Acquiring: A publisher or acquiring editor or agent.
• Associate-Other: A person who supports the purpose of RWA but does not meet either of the qualifications described above and does not qualify for General membership (not seriously pursuing a career as a romance writer).
  *“Acquisition process” means the process by which manuscripts are reviewed and evaluated by any individual who is employed or contracted by a publisher that actively acquires romance fiction or by a literary agency that represents authors of romance fiction, for the purpose of either recommending that a manuscript be considered for acquisition or representation, or be rejected and removed from consideration by that publisher or literary agency.

Affiliate Membership ($10)

Affiliate membership is open only to booksellers and librarians. Affiliate members shall not have any voting rights or the right to hold office in RWA.

Affiliate members have access to specific sections of the RWA website and special librarian and bookseller forums. Affiliate members receive the member rate for the RWA Conference. Click to learn more about and apply for Affiliate Membership.

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