Romance Writers of America

Romance Writers of America is a professional organization founded in 1980 to support romance authors and the genre’s publishing community through education, networking, advocacy, and awards.

RITA Award: A romance-fiction award presented by Romance Writers of America from 1982 to 2020. The organization’s best-known award recognized excellence across romance subgenres.
RWA founding: The 1980 establishment of Romance Writers of America by romance authors seeking professional organization. The founding formalized a national community for romance writers.
Romance Writers of America controversy: A series of disputes over discrimination, governance, and organizational accountability, especially in 2019 and 2020. The disputes exposed tensions over whose work and concerns the organization represented.
Mystery Writers of America: A professional organization supporting writers of crime fiction and mystery. It serves a different genre through a comparable national professional association.
Golden Heart Award: A Romance Writers of America award established for unpublished romance manuscripts. It gave unpublished writers a route to industry recognition.
Romance fiction: A fiction genre centered on a developing romantic relationship and an emotionally satisfying, optimistic ending. The organization formed to serve writers working in this genre.
RWA restructuring: The governance and operational changes Romance Writers of America undertook after its 2019–2020 crisis. Restructuring followed resignations, member departures, and public criticism.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association: A professional organization for writers of science fiction, fantasy, and related speculative fiction. Its genre focus contrasts with RWA’s romance-centered membership and programs.
Romance Writers of America National Conference: An annual professional gathering organized by Romance Writers of America for romance writers and publishing professionals. The conference brought education and professional networking together.
Category romance: Romance novels published in recurring series or lines, often with shared length and editorial conventions. Category publishing was a major part of the market its early members entered.

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