RWA Files for Bankruptcy

 

RWA Files for Bankruptcy

I’m a bit late to the game on reporting this, but better late than never. If you’ve been around the romance industry for the past several years, you probably saw this one coming: RWA has filed for bankruptcy. Romance Writers of America was, until recently, the organization to join if you were a writer (or hopeful writer) of romance. For an annual dues fee, aspiring and published authors could receive access to members-only workshops, chapter membership, classes, news, a monthly publication, and a chance to attend writer’s conferences including the annual RWA conference, which was a huge event held in various places around the United States. I joined in 2008, and not only did I learn a lot about the craft, but I also made friendships that will last a lifetime.

What a heartbreaker that this is what RWA has come to.

How it Happened

RWA’s bankruptcy move was a result of a precipitous drop in membership after the organization repeatedly ignored member and public outcry for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in its author awards, board membership, and support for aspiring novelists. I was one of the members who left, not directly due to the DEI fallout, but certainly my decision was accelerated by it. Details on the bankruptcy filing here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/romance-genre-thrives-despite-rwa-bankruptcy-diversity-controversies-rcna155497

You can read a full writeup on RWA’s behavior that resulted in the bankruptcy filing here: https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2024/05/30/rwa-goes-bankrupt-its-not-dei-its-the-bigotry-and-racism/

What disappoints me is that the organization had multiple chances to make good on its past wrongs, and instead of righting the obvious exclusionary practices, it doubled down on its mismanagement. Now that the organization has filed bankruptcy, it seems to be “blaming” DEI instead of simply citing its drop in membership (around 7,000 members, reportedly) as its inability to continue. Granted, the membership drop was a direct result of the fallout from RWA failing to honor the diversity of its membership and readership, but the fault lies with RWA, not DEI. It’s disingenuous to say otherwise.

A Need for New Blood

Authors need community. I’m living proof that without the support of like-minded community, some of us will never get published. I went from a scared-of-her-shadow, painfully shy scribbler to a multi-published, award-winning author thanks to the people I met and things I learned in such an organization as RWA. I will always be grateful for that, but more importantly, I have become aware of the privilege I have had to learn and advance my career. Anyone who wants to publish, no matter their race, religion, creed, or persuasion should be allowed the chance to do so…and to learn how. Now, more than ever, the romance writing community needs an organization that teaches its membership, but also listens to them and supports them.

All of them.