Wordcraft -- Romance is in the air, on the page

Dropping in on last weekend’s RT (Romantic Times) Booklovers Convention reminded me that maybe I’ve been shortchanging writers (and readers) of romantic fiction on these posts. This year’s convention in Dallas hosted nearly a thousand authors, and several thousands of readers and fans. Avid fans filled the author signings to near gridlock.

And while recent polls have found that nearly a quarter of Americans never read a book (not even on the internet or in audio form), and that more than half of us read no more than five books annually (including those never-readers), the majority of people who read romance chug through at least one book a month, per readership statistics posted by Romance Writers of America. It’s not unheard of for avid romance readers to read several books a week. For authors, truly there’s gold to be mined in writing for such generous readers.

If there’s a downside to such a market, it’s that feeding it means writing as generously as its readers read. Romance writers I’ve talked to think nothing of publishing several books a year. Say half a dozen books a year at approximately 60,000 words and you’ve got yourself a fulltime writing fix. Fortunately, there are support groups for that.

North Texas boasts three not for profit chapters of romance writers: Dallas Area Romance Writers (DARA) meeting monthly in Richardson, North Texas Romance Writers of America based in Colleyville, and Yellow Rose Romance Writers in Grapevine. All chapters require co-membership in the national Romance Writers of America (RWA). All provide monthly meetings and newsletters to educate their members on the craft and business of romance writing.

Dallas Area Romance Authors, or DARA (Chapter 56 of RWA) meets the fourth Saturday of each month (that’s this Saturday, May 23) in the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Road. Meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Parks Room. This Saturday, two editors from Harlequin visit via Skype for a submission blitz. DARA dues are $45 annually. For information, see DARA.

North Texas Romance Writers (Chapter 33 of RWA) meets the third Saturday of each month at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant, 5250 Highway 121, in Colleyville, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Lunch optional.) Not sure it’s for you? Visit twice before you need to make a decision to join. Annual dues are $30, prorated for mid-year joiners.

Yellow Rose Romance Writers (chapter 188 of RWA) meet the second Saturday of each month at the City of Grapevine, Merlot Room, 4500 Merlot Avenue, from 10 a.m. – noon, with optional lunch afterward at the Cotton Patch Café. Annual membership dues are $25. Guests are welcome to visit three times before joining.

Although the chapters and parent organization Romance Writers of America are non-profit organizations, dues are not deductible as charitable contributions, but may be deductible as business expenses.

Besides these RWA-associated chapters, there’s also Plano-based popular literature organization Fresh Fiction, with reviews and events designed to connect readers and writers. Although Fresh Fiction doesn’t limit itself to romance books, it is heavily oriented to romance, with annual events “Boas and Tiaras” (June) and “Readers ‘n’ ritas” (November) that are magnets for romance readers and authors. And for would-be writers looking for professional connections, the November 2015 “Readers ‘n’ ritas” will include guest Candace Havens, an editor for the romance imprint Entangled.

Oh, and that RT book fair whose appearance opened this discussion? Visit RT Book Reviews to subscribe to its hundreds of reviews in each monthly issue, or try a sample copy for free.

Wordcraft – Need a writing group? Try one of these

Last week’s post about writing contests and seeing how many of them are sponsored by organizations got me thinking about writing groups. So, do you have a tribe, a writing tribe, that is? That group of people you can feel comfortable baring your writing soul to? I’ve tried a lot in the North Texas area, and I’ve got a few suggestions. The ones that follow are groups I’ve belonged to or visited or sometimes just ones who sound interesting, but I’d be happy to hear your suggestions as well.

Dallas Mystery Writers – This is the Dallas chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. However, membership in the national MWA is not required. In lieu of annual dues, the Dallas chapter charges $5 to attend meetings the first Saturday of each month, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Texas Land & Cattle, 812 South Central Expressway, Richardson, Texas. (Cash only, exact change is appreciated.) Monthly meetings include discussions by writers in the mystery/thriller/suspense genres, craft discussions, and critiques. Members often stay for lunch to continue their discussions. For information, see http://dallasmysterywriters.com or contact james@gaskin.com/.

Dallas Screenwriters Association – I don’t have screenwriting aspirations, but what writer in any genre doesn’t write dialogue? And who doesn’t wonder what that dialogue sounds like when real people speak it? I dropped by one of the DSA’s monthly screen reading sessions recently to find out. You have to be a member to get up to 10 pages of work read by local actors, but anybody is welcome to listen to the readings, held the last Tuesday of each month in the community room at HalfPrice Books, 5803 E. Northwest Highway, in Dallas. Members who want their pages read must bring them by 6 p.m. Casting follows immediately, and readings start at 7 p.m.

Want more? Join at $85 yearly for free meetings on craft the third Friday of each month, as well as other benefits. Nonmembers may drop in on meetings for $10 at the door. Discounted memberships are available for students and additional family members. See www.dallasscreenwriters.com/.

DFW Writers Workshop – This is one of the first places I found when I started writing fiction. The workshop meets every Wednesday at the Simmons Center, 508 Simmons St. in Euless, holiday or not. (So you desperately need to escape family the day before Thanksgiving, or whenever? Tell them you’ve got to go to your writing group!) Meetings run 7 to 10 p.m., but visitors should arrive by 6:45 to sign in to the guestbook. Want to talk more writing? Follow the group to a nearby IHOP restaurant to continue the discussions after hours. Annual dues are $100. Or try a 30-day trial membership for $25. Nonmembers may also visit free twice yearly to observe, although participation is limited to members.

The workshop breaks into small critique groups with everybody reading and commenting. And oh, yes, DFWWW also sponsors a wonderful annual conference (which I’ll post more about next week). For more information, see https://dfwwritersworkshop.wordpress.com/.

Sisters in Crime North Dallas – This local chapter of the national Sisters in Crime organization meets the fourth Sunday of each month (note: no May meeting), 2- 4 p.m. in the fourth floor McCallum Room of Frisco Library, 6101 Frisco Square Boulevard, Frisco, Texas. Meetings include networking, craft, and speakers (learn about polygraphs, aka lie detectors, from a DEA agent at the June meeting). Annual membership is $25. Chapter membership is open to any national member of SINC. See www.sistersincrimenorthdallas.com/.

Writers’ Guild of Texas – Meets the third Monday of each month (except January, when the meeting moves to the fourth Monday due to a holiday), 7-8:30 p.m. in the basement of the Richardson Library, 900 Civic Center Drive, Richardson. The WGT’s critique group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. and online critique groups are also available. WGT also sponsors semiannual writing workshops. Annual membership is $25. See http://writersguildoftexas.org for information and lists of even more writing groups to check out!