ACCEPTANCE, INSTRUCTION, SUPPORT
The 3 the key ingredients to a successful writing group
27 years and counting - that's how long I have belonged to my writing home, The Alberta Romance Writers' Association. ARWA is one of the longest running, self-supporting craft oriented writers' groups in Alberta. We started as romance writers dedicated to supporting and educating romance writers. We're still here. We must be doing something right.
Time changes all things and our group is no exception. Our members now write not only romance but also mystery, suspense, crime, paranormal, SIFI, fantasy and more both for the adult and YA markets. Numerous members are published in short stories and poetry and many wrote or write non-fiction on the job and in magazines, newspapers and books.
Over 400 people have belonged to the group at one time or other with about 50 active members each year. 30% of our membership are distance members - either living outside Calgary or traveling much of the winter and the average attendance at meetings is fifteen.
WHY DOES THIS GROUP SUCCEED?
- First and foremost it offers a safe haven for all writers- those who want to publish and those who write for themselves. Within a policy of maintaining non-judgmental attitudes members are encouraged and shown how to use feedback methods that support and inform.
- Educating writers on how to write better remains at the core of workshops, events and discussions. The accumulative expertise within the membership is astronomical.
- Active, engaged members share their knowledge, in writing skills, career expertise and technical assistance for social media, MS formatting, marketing and more.
- Hard working volunteers run the workshops and fund raising events (with a breakeven-or-better philosophy) and provide liaisons with the larger writing community.
- Low annual fees. I know of no where else to get the level of professional training ARWA offers for $50 a year. (Subject to change although it has not changed in over a decade.)
ARWA MEMBERS WRITE
- 14 novels published this year (2013-14)
- 5 more scheduled to publish before the end of 2014
- 16 short stories published
- 12 or more finished first drafts
ARWA PROVIDES
- craft and marketing workshops (1 evening and 1 Saturday per month- 10 months a year)
- a public web site and Facebook page
- a private Facebook page for members
- 10 newsletters a year
- challenge teams (writing support pods geared to various levels and stages of writers )
- Beta Readers, cover input, assistance in areas of self-publishing or traditional submissions
- launches and blog boosts for our published books
- outside speakers on various topics from police work to play writing
- camaraderie and support
- shared information on all things writing related
