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RWA Strategic Plan: 2018–2021

Approved March 2018

Goal: RWA is considered the informational hub for the romance genre.

  • Strategy: Create infrastructure for the hub
    • Tactic: Determine who is in charge of developing the hub
    • Tactic: Identify educational needs of members and potential members
      • Action Item: Gather data through regular member outreach to keep RWA on the forefront of publishing tactics, author concerns, helping RWA keep content fresh and relevant
      • Action Item: Audit content we currently have to find holes
    • Tactic: Create incentives for members to contribute content/share knowledge on hub
      • Action Item: Fees for RWR articles, RWA U presenters, conference workshop presenters
    • Tactic: Develop coordinated educational offerings between all media outlets (RWR, RWA U, workshops, eNotes)
  • Strategy: Be viewed as leaders in changing publishing models and income streams
    • Tactic: Identify people in the community who have knowledge
    • Tactic: Determine how to compensate/reward forward-thinking leaders
    • Tactic: Be more nimble as an organization
    • Tactic: Communicate reasons for changes
    • Tactic: Evaluate current programs for effectiveness and, if no longer effective, take appropriate action (e.g., Golden Heart contest and Editor/Agent Appointments).
  • Strategy: Be the source of industry statistics and other market information
    • Tactic: Commission reader and industry surveys
    • Tactic: Make survey results available to public so that RWA is sourced in articles, research, etc.

Goal: RWA is considered the premier community for romance writers and industry professionals.

  • Strategy: Restore culture of trust among current community members
    • Tactic: Ensure all members are aware of community standards
    • Tactic: Create a publicity/communication plan for RWA values
  • Strategy: Reach out to writers who are not currently part of the RWA community
    • Tactic: Identify concerns these writers have about joining RWA
    • Tactic: Develop communications/recruitment plan to attract new members (see below)
  • Strategy: Ensure that RWA membership is diverse and inclusive
    • Tactic: Request members to voluntarily provide demographic data once annually after the new iMIS software has been implemented.
    • Tactic: Identify ways to include members from a wide range of Diverse Backgrounds in RWA programs and services.
    • Tactic: Identify and recruit board, committee, and chapter leaders from among diverse members
    • Tactic: Request feedback from diverse members regarding experiences with publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians in order for RWA to provide programming to those related industry professionals.
    • Tactic: Continue to fund Spectrum Grants
    • Tactic: Continue to work with publishers and agents to provide an equal playing field for writers regardless of their race, gender, sexuality or religion.
  • Strategy: Be known as advocate for romance writers
    • Tactic: Maintain open lines of communication with all vendors and publishers
      • Action Item: Staff recommends a reception for staff, RWA leaders, vendors, and industry professionals at the 2019 conference in New York.
    • Tactic: Identify threats (e.g., scammers), research potential solutions, and communicate them to members
    • Tactic: Publicize successes both internally to RWA members and externally to potential members
      • Action Item: Create space on new website for quotes/testimonials
      • Action Item: Use current communications tools (i.e., eNotes, RWR, social media) to communicate successes to members and nonmembers
  • Strategy: Help people find their peers within RWA
    • Tactic: Identify communities in RWA with specific needs
    • Tactic: Determine if current communities of practice are meeting the members’ needs
    • Tactic: Develop means for networking and information sharing among members with specific needs.
  • Strategy: Strengthen chapters
    • Tactic: Provide chapters with resources they need (staff support, technology, management templates)
    • Tactic: Provide more frequent education for chapter leaders
  • Strategy: Restructure the RITA so it will continue to meet its goals
    • Tactic: Evaluate current judging system and implement changes
    • Tactic: Find a way to accommodate all romance novels

Goal: RWA’s membership model supports the organization’s mission and goals

  • Strategy: Increase associate member base
    • Tactic: Identify what incentivizes associate members to join
  • Strategy: Increase general membership base
    • Tactic: Run a dedicated membership campaign
      • Action Item: Allocate adequate funding for the campaign.
    • Tactic: Identify and reach out to potential members who do not feel RWA is the place for them
    • Tactic: Run dedicated PR campaign around Goals 1 and 2 to show potential members that RWA is where they can find the Information and Community they need to become successful romance writers
      • Action Item: Allocate adequate funding for the campaign.
  • Strategy: Examine the communities of practice structure and potentially transition to interest group-based communities
    • Tactic: Define interest groups needed
    • Tactic: Determine best way for members to access interest groups
    • Tactic: Create group rules and moderation formats