Writers Forum #99 January 2010

SRTNARA SPECIALPLINE HERE
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
The RNA strikes At the start of a
special anniversary year,
GOLD
Sue Moorcroft takes a
look at the excellent
work of the Romantic
Novelists’ Association
T
hat their magazine is called to provide support and services exchange of information, news
Romance Matters tells you to its 700 members, as well as a and views.
everything you need to know quarterly magazine. At the RNA’s annual luncheon
about the Romantic Novelists’ Attending an RNA party is a in London, the winners of the
Association. Romantic fiction great way to meet editors and Romantic Novel and Love Story
certainly matters to the book- agents.Going along to the annual of the Year are announced.
buying public who, despite the conference, held at a different The RNA offers three types of
global economy, are reading university each year, is even bet- membership: Full (£40 per year),
feel-good, love-along books in ter. Workshop and network; pitch for authors of published novels,
growing numbers as the RNA your work in one-to-ones; learn novellas or serials (minimum
reaches its fiftieth anniversary.
Romantic fiction is a broad
genre of bright, emotional, in-
volving, intelligent stories about
Without it, romantic ﬁ ction would
love and desire; traditional
not be the popular genre it is today.
romances but also gritty sagas,
bestselling chick lit and come-
And writers would have less fun!
dies, gripping historicals, steamy
erotica and heart-stopping spec-
ulative romances. about the publishing industry 30,000 words) with a central the career of many novelists –
If your novel contains a and its bestselling genre, roman- romantic relationship; Associate including me!
romance that’s central to the tic fiction. (£50), for industry professionals
story, you might to want to learn Further talks, panels and such as agents, publishers and • For more information visit
more about the RNA. seminars are provided at meet- librarians; and the ever-popular www.rna-uk.org. And see next
Founded in 1960 to enhance ings throughout the year, some New Writers’ Scheme member- month’s issue for an overview
and promote the expanding and in London and others at the ship (£93). from Melanie Hilton, organiser
developing genre of romantic 17 Chapters dotted around the The reputation of the New of the New Writers’ Scheme,
fiction, the RNA uses an effective country. And there’s also ‘Romna’ Writers’ Scheme is well earned. It plus contributions from writers
mix of social and business events – a valuable email forum for the has played its part in launching who the scheme has helped.
Chair KATIE FFORDE tells us me then and I’ve believed in it, romantic fiction would not be
why she joined the RNA them ever since. They are sup- the popular genre it is today.
portive, fun and writing would And writers would have much
T
o be honest, I didn’t feel I be a lonely business without less fun! We all benefit from the
was a natural for the posi- them. In return, I’ve created the support and wonderful parties.
tion of chairman of the RNA Katie Fforde bursary for those The genre gets broader every
but I realised the reasons for just bubbling under publication. year. We have lots of bright
asking me were valid. I love the It’s quite hard to keep going young members writing great
RNA and felt I had to do what when you’re so near yet so far, books, sometimes in the most
they wanted me to. so I wanted to do something for edgy forms of the genre, such
I have a wonderful commit- those people. I was in that posi- as paranormal romance. I’m so
tee and I delegate! And I collar tion for ages. proud of them.
people I know to speak, judge, When I was in the New Romantic fiction has to move
or help out. I also ask everyone Writers’ Scheme, Hilary Johnson, with the times. Women like to
I meet to join. who was running it, found me recognise their interests – and
I’ve been a member of the my wonderful agent. That is themselves – in the novels they
RNA for more years than I can pretty major. read or they’d stop buying.
work out and it was a brilliant I suspect that without the I’m sure I’ll be a member of
support for me during the eight RNA I might have given up the RNA forever. And romantic
long years I was an unpub- writing – then what would I fiction will be popular as long as
lished writer. They believed in have done with myself? Without people go on falling in love.
40 Writers
’
FORUM #99
WF99JAN40.indd 1 24/11/2009 10:11:06
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