What Are You Doing To Make Things Better

This popped up in my email today and I had to say something about this...

Over the last year, the Romance Writers of America has gone through a lot of turmoil. Writers were up in arms. When the conference was still scheduled to go, major publishers and agents pulled out in solidarity with the authors who were upset. They screamed for change. They wanted action.

Members of the board resigned, lawyers were hired... things were happening.

And yet, what did we see? Authors who, instead of wanting change, left. Instead of trying to be part of a solution, it must have been easier to just walk away.

But the RWA still plunged forward. They started in on a process to make things better. These people knew what RWA had done for them as they moved from the hobby writer to a professional writer. They knew what their writing chapters had done for them.

And then this email showed up.

They were in the middle of making some big amendment changes, trying to, again, "make things better." The results?

Results

Eligible Voters: 5,124
Percent Returned: 15.93%
Total Returns: 816

That's right...not even 16%. REALLY?

As those of you who know me, I love watching the Food Network. On CHOPPED one day, one of the chefs made a comment that he had learned something from a fellow colleague.

DON'T GET BITTER, GET BETTER!

It is all to easy to get on social media and complain about everything going on around you. You can complain about how your publisher didn't do something for you. You can complain about your royalty statements. But I hate to break this to you. Just complaining is not going to fix anything. CHANGE TAKES ACTION!

I personally am applauding that 15.93% for doing something. I thank the Board for doing something. Do we have more to do? Sure!

But if you write romance and women's fiction. If you are someone who had a chance to pitch to an editor or agent at the RWA conference and then "got the call";  If you are someone who had a chance to work with new authors at the annual conference, or even worked with them in your local chapter; if you are someone who was motivated when another member of your local RWA chapter sent you a big congratulations for writing THE END; If you are a past recipient or nominee for either the Golden Heart or the RITA; If you are someone who was selected as a key note speaker... I ask you.

 

Do you remember what you got out of it?

Are you part of the change?

And as always, RWA Board, Greyhaus Literary Agency is here if you need the help. I have offered. Just give me a call.