To all the writers reading this…what do you think of RWA?

Is it something helpful to you?

Did you ever join and if not…why?

I’m a member and I’m probably going to stay that way.  The recent ‘changes’ had me irked, yes.  Then there was a revised statement and I’m more satisfied but it’s more on a principle level than a personal one because the changes really didn’t affect me and I’m not trying to say, well if it doesn’t affect me, I’m not going to worry about it.  Personally, I think we should all show a little more concern for people in general.

Why this didn’t bother me so much is because I really don’t use RWA much for its resources and even if I was inclined to try, I wouldn’t know where to start. I see it mentioned that RWA protects the interests of the author but is that the main benefit?  Doesn’t make much sense to me because I think authors in general can’t rely on an organization to watch out for them…the author needs to do that. 

I stay with RWA for my local chapter.  That’s what has been the benefit to me and none of the proposed changes, actual changes or revised changes is going to affect how the local chapter benefits me.  It wouldn’t change how I write or how I market what I write or who I use as my agent/publisher/fill in the blank.

I do my own homework on things and I don’t rely on RWA for that homework.  I don’t expect them to protect my interests.  That’s my job.

But that’s just how I look at it.  Keeping up with all that goes on within RWA, utilizing their resources, yeah, it might be helpful but don’t I have enough to do, writing for three publishers, raising three kids, being a mom and a wife?  I’ll leave RWA and all it’s political ins and outs and hoopla alone and just keep going as I have.  So far, it’s worked.

Am I the only one?