My summer home is a cottage on the east coast of Georgian Bay. Weather permitting, I swim laps across our small bay for an hour. Before I hit the water, I don my wetsuit. That’s right, a wetsuit.
Why should a tough Canadian need a wussy wetsuit? We’re all polar bears, right? Um, not so much. I wear the wetsuit for safety, buoyancy, and warmth. Besides, the hubby thinks it’s hot! Isn’t every man’s dream to have his very own Bond girl?
So, what’s a wetsuit got to do with romance writing?
The Romance Writers of America is your wetsuit in the deep and chilly waters of romance fiction.
SAFETY: Through its myriad chapters, the RWA provides a safe place for a newbie to learn the endless craft of romance writing. Local chapters have monthly meetings and there’s the mega-conference known as Nationals. My local chapter, the Toronto Romance Writers, has offered fabulous workshops with amazing speakers such as Mary Buckham, Dianna Love, and Donald Maass—and that’s just in the last three months! Editor panels at the larger conferences give a peek at the inner workings of publishers large and small, print or electronic.
BOUYANCY: Got rejections deep enough to drown in, or plot problems sinking your story, or writer’s block pulling you under like cement overshoes? Fear not, there’s a whole raft of romance authors out there to boost you to the surface and float you along, giving you the strength to carry on. Critique groups, brainstorming groups, blog groups like right here at RWA-WF or From the Heart Romance Writers give a helping hand or a place to blow off steam.
WARMTH: Is there anyone better in the whole wide world than your romance “peeps” for a dose of the warm fuzzies to celebrate your achievements? Cabana boys and chocolate, champagne and roses, hugs by the score are delivered in real space and cyber space when you break through with that first stupendous sale.
Safety, buoyancy, and warmth by the lakeful, the RWA is a wetsuit for writers.
Where does your wetsuit hang?
Joan Leacott
heart, humour, and heat…Canada style
Joan, love the wetsuit analogy. And great photo!
RWA-WF is great! I also belong to Amy Atwell’s first GIAM group, and that’s my wetsuit.
Great analogy, Joan! The virtual (and real) cabana boys, chocolate, champagne,roses and hugs are a definite plus of belonging to an RWA chapter.
Cheers!
Great premise. Now, whenever my finger is hovering over the “send” button to submit another query, I’ll envision myself wearing the RWA wetsuit. (Or possibly chainmail. ;-D)
Joan, I totally agree with your analogy. Where would I be right now without my lady-writer friends, as my family refers to you all. You’ve given me support, guidance and you share your brilliance with me. What more could I ask for? Oh I know…Where do I get one of those wetsuits??
Hi Edie, I checked out Amy’s website. The GIAM looks like a great “wetsuit” kind of place. Thanks for the tip.
Joan, you look great in that swimsuit. Hot, yes.
RWA and my chapters have been my wetsuit. And my critique partners, the much appreciated raft before submission, after rejection and when the Call came.
Hey Brooke, Where would be without our cabana boys? Shh! Don’t tell the afore-mentioned hubby.
Storm, The RWA as chainmail? Hmm, that could work–all that lovely protection. Not to mention the knight inside.
Claudia, “Lady-writer friends” LOL. If only they knew how UN-ladylike we could be. But, don’t tell them, they’d just want part of the action.
Gee Mona, I’m blushing. Time for a swim.
Your analogy is great, and you look better in a wetsuit than many of us, too!
Hey Liz, glad you like my analogy. It just came to me during a swim. Thanks for the compliment. A wetsuit sometimes feels like a full-body girdle.