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by Sandra Ferguson Ron Campbell Shannon Canard Burna Cole Sherry Davis Nikki Duncan Sandra Ferguson Willie Ferguson Andrea Geist Mary Ann Gruhlke Cheryl Hathaway Mary Karlik Christine Keniston Diana Loftin Laura Martello Mindy Obenhaus Angi Platt Jackye Plummer Beth Shriver Arline Todd Tara Waldie Carolyn Williamson
Um . . . is your name on this list? Why not?
Think of this . . . RWA® national conference will be in Dallas this year. Chances are many of you will attend, as well you should. Those who have obtained PRO status have the opportunity to register for Editor/Agent appointments before other members. Editor/Agent is in caps for a reason. Whether you’ve pitched before or not, finished your edits or not, each of you with a completed manuscript needs to sign up for an Editor/Agent appointment. If you’re terrified, awed, or simply overwhelmed by the thought of speaking with a live Editor/Agent, then sign up for one of the group appointments. Believe me, your ability to form witty sayings or drone out the perfect pitch will not be relevant. In group appointments, the agent or editor do most of the talking. Appointments are important. PRO status is important. Go to the RWA® website and get your application.
At the RWA® national conference, you will receive a ‘PRO banner’ that attaches to your conference name badge. This signifies to all, fellow members, agents, editors, book distributors and more, that you are serious about pursuing your writing career and becoming published. At a national conference, you don’t necessarily know who’s sitting at the bar beside you or waiting in line to enter one of the luncheons. People read name badges and the banners attached. That ID is important. Are you still reading? Then I haven’t convinced you yet to click on the RWA® website and fill out your PRO application.
At RWA® national conference, a PRO circuit of seminars and classes has been developed. It’s not mandatory that you attend these particular seminars at conference. But for those writers who are serious about the act of publication, the classes can supply a huge business injection. Learning about contracts, THE MONEY, the ins and outs of publishing houses, PRINT-RUN NUMBERS, listening to a panel of agents and editors speak on exactly what they want from new writers, and motivational talks from established writers can provide the perfect shot in the arm for struggling authors. These classes are only open to those with PRO membership. Remember that little PRO banner that will attach to your name badge? Here’s where it comes in -- again. So, you’re still reading this article and not at the RWA® website, then here’s another reason to go PRO.
PRO offers the loop. It’s not about chatting—at least not only about chatting. Relevant PRO issues-- changes at publishing houses, interested agents, who’s moving where in the on-going editor switch—these are all concerns discussed on the PRO loop. In addition, timely and insightful articles and PRO newsletters are available to PRO members through the RWA® website.
Now that you’ve been PROperly motivated to fill out your application, go to the RWA® website, sign in, click on Members Only (it’s on the left-hand site), scroll down through the Members Only Menu, click on PRO, scroll down to the highlighted ‘Join’ and click, the highlighted PRO application pdf link is at the top of the page. CLICK. PRINT. FILL OUT and SUBMIT, either directly to RWA® National or through your chapter PRO Liaison.
Stop waiting. PRO membership is a click away.
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Copyright 2007
Sandra Ferguson -- all rights reserved, please
obtain written permission before use. |