How useful is joining the RWA?

heh heh heh...

**pffft**

that's the can of worms this post is opening.

Welcome to AW -

It depends on what you mean by "useful". Some people here think RWA is a must-join organization. Some do not. All have valid reasons.

I am in the latter camp. I hold on to my membership because I love my local chapter(s) and that's the only reason for me. I keep it because I have to (and come to think of it, I need to renew...)

There are a ton of threads about this subject in this area already, but the search function requires more than 3 letters. grr.

If you page through, you'll find them.

This subject has been debated a number of times and the lines are clearly drawn.

Welcome AngelaA. No worries. Nothing nasty. We disagree nicely in this forum. Here is a good and fairly recent example of that--along with RWA actions and opinions based on those actions. Happy reading.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148641

The paranormal chapter isn't new. It is not necessary to be a member of the rwa to become an author. You can find a lot of free information on writing on the web and there are lots of very useful email groups, forums etc.

I think the things that the rwa does right are helping unpublished authors with craft, networking and informing authors. But as I say you can find that elsewhere. No organisation is all good or bad, you may find it useful or you may not. I'm happy with my rwa membership - I don't particularly care about the Rita kerfuffle because I have no intention of entering the contest and I don't think it has much impact on an author - there are plenty of best selling authors who have never won a rita. Nor do I care what the RWA's position on ebooks may or may not be because they do not define me as a writer. I would like them to change their position but you need people willing to stand up on these things and you hardly ever get people willing to fill volunteer positions or voting. A lot of board positions run unopposed.