Frequently Asked Questions

Select a category of questions and then select a question to view the answer.

1. Membership Questions

   1. I belong (or want to belong) to Romance Writers of America^®.  Is this their website?

   2. How do I join RWA^® Online?

   3. I submitted my application, but I lost the payment address.  Where do I send a check or how do I pay by PayPal?

   4. Do I need to join RWA^® before I apply for my membership with RWA^® Online?
       

2. Computer Questions

   1. What kind of computer do I need to use RWA^® Online?

   2. I use a Mac computer.  Am I going to be able to use RWA^® Online with my computer?

   3. Do I have to be really good with computers to join RWA^® Online?

   4. I was told I need to create a board log on.  How do I do that?

   5. Why don't you use screen names in your forums?
       

3. Workshop Questions

   1. How do I sign up for a workshop?

   2. Do I have to belong to RWA^® Online to participate in a workshop?

   3. Do I have to belong to the Romance Writers of America^® to take a workshop?

   4. What is the difference between being a chapter member and a non-chapter member?

   5. How much do workshops cost?

   6. After I sign up for a workshop, do I get it by email?

   7. What is your refund policy if I can't make the workshop?

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   I belong (or want to belong) to Romance Writers of America_®.  Is this their website?

   No, this isn't the website of RWA_®.  RWA_® Online is an affiliate chapter of the national organization.  Please visit their website at www.rwanational.org.

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   How do I join RWA_® Online?

   To join our chapter, visit our JOIN US page for complete details. 

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   I submitted my application, but I lost the payment address.  Where do I send a check or how do I pay by PayPal?

   If you missed where to send your payment, click here.

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   Do I need to join RWA_® before I apply for my membership with RWA_® Online?

   No!  While you must also be a member of RWA in order to be a member of our chapter, we'll let you apply for our chapter while you wait for your membership paperwork to be processed at National.  However, you need to provide us with your RWA membership number within 90 days of your admission to the chapter.  Failure to do so will result in suspension from the chapter.  Chapter suspension also results in forfeiting chapter dues and, at our option, denying readmittance to the chapter.

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   What kind of computer do I need to use RWA_® Online?

   Our site is completely web-based.  It doesn't matter what kind of computer you use as long as you can connect to the internet.  Most of our chapter members use Internet Explorer as a web browser, but you can use Netscape, Mozilla, or Safari.  It doesn't matter whether you use dial-up or broadband or whether you use AOL.  We haven't met a chapter member who can not access our boards yet.

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   I use a Mac computer.  Am I going to be able to use RWA_® Online with my computer?

   Yes!  We have several members who use Macs and they have no problems at all using our site.  There's no computer-discrimination here!  RWA_® Online's board has been successfully tested on Mac computers using OS 10.3 and the following browsers:  Internet Explorer (for Mac) 5.2, Safari 1.2.4 and Netscape 7.1.

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   Do I have to be really good with computers to join RWA_® Online?

   We know that everyone's computer literacy is different.  Our discussion boards are pretty easy to use and there are lots of people who are usually willing to help you out.  To get the most benefit out of our chapter you will need to have some standard computer skills. You need to be able to open a web browser, identify and click on links in a page that are identified with picture icons, special text words, or standard hyperlinks.  That's about it. A word of caution, if you don't like spending time on the computer, you may want to consider another chapter.  Membership in our chapter can be highly addictive!

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   I was told I need to create a board log on.  How do I do that?

   All of our chapter activities take place in our Discussion Boards.  If you are becoming a new member or are attending a workshop or chat, you will need to register for access. 

   Registration consists of simply entering your name as it appears on your membership application in the USER NAME box and creating a personal password.  Once your registration is submitted and confirmation of your payment is received, your account will be validated.  You will get an email from the RWA Online Discussion Boards when you've been granted access to the boards. Until your membership is finalized, feel free to drop a note in our GUEST LOUNGE forum, which is open to all public visitors.

   NOTE:  User names MUST be your first and last name as it appears on your membership application!  Screen names and pseudonyms are not allowed.  Although, if you'd like the chapter to know your pen name, create a name such as "Jane Smith (w/a Howard Snellingham)".

   Register for the Discussion Boards Now! (Using this link will open a new page)

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   Why don't you use screen names in your forums?

   RWA_® Online is a professional organization committed to furthering the careers of is members.  We don't operate our site for entertainment (although we do have a lot of fun) so we ask our members to use their real names instead of disguising themselves with screen names.

   Members are requested to use the name by which they hold their RWA_® National membership.  We are required to validate our membership roster with National on a yearly basis and the paperwork is much easier if we can match everyone up.

   Published authors who use pen names can, if they prefer, create a screen name such as "Wilma Flintstone (w/a Gracie Smith)" so that they can begin to build name recognition within the chapter. 

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   How do I sign up for a workshop?

Go to our Writer's Campus page for all the information on a workshop.  You'll need to fill out the registration form, submit your payment via PayPal or snail mail (instructions will be available at the Writer's Campus page), and create a board login. 

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Do I have to belong to RWA_® Online to participate in a workshop?

Do I have to belong to the Romance Writers of America_® to take a workshop?

NO!  Our workshops are open to everyone who wants to participate.  You don't even have to be a member of RWA_®, just a writer with an interest in the subject.

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What is the difference between being a chapter member and a non-chapter member?

Chapter members attend our workshops for free.  Chapter members are those who've previously joined chapter #136 and are carried in our membership rosters as an active (paid-up) member.  A lot of people confuse being a member of ANY RWA_® chapter with being a member of our chapter.  Only RWA_® Online chapter #136 members attend workshops as a part of their chapter membership!

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How much do workshops cost?

Workshops cost $15 each, unless the Writer's Campus page says otherwise.  We accept PayPal and snail mail payments, but because of the time for checks to arrive, PayPal is more likely to assure your place in class.

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After I sign up for a workshop, do I get it by email?

No.  RWA Online conducts its workshops on our web-based discussion boards.  We don't conduct our workshops by email loop because we think our boards create a better sense of community.  Instead of being delivered to your inbox, you will have to visit our workshop website during the workshop period.  Usually the presenter posts a new discussion issue every day and participants visit at their convienence throughout the day to read the messages.

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What is your refund policy if I can't make the workshop?

Our workshops are archived so if circumstances prevent you from attending, we can send you a copy of it.  They're also available for up to one week after the workshop end date as well.  We will consider refunding workshop fees on a case-by-case basis, however we treat our workshops as professional events and expect participants to make every effort to attend.

Our system has been used successfully by over three hundred users with no compatibility problems.  We will not accept "computer malfunctions" as a reason to refund fees.

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