December 2025 WRW Newsletter

 

Happily Ever After — The Newsletter of the Washington Romance Writers

📌 A Quick Note

Before the holidays sweep us all away, here’s a final roundup of all things WRW—from recaps and writing challenges to big upcoming events. Scroll down for January’s workshop, February’s conference, and lots of ways to jump in and get involved!

And don’t forget: dues go up January 1—renew early and save $5!

📏 Membership Reminder

Membership dues will increase to $40/year on January 1.

Renew now and lock in the current $35 rate!

 

🧭 January Workshop: Your Best Year Yet with Angele McQuade

🗓 Saturday, January 10 | 1:00–4:00 PM

📍 James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library, Alexandria, VA + Zoom Hybrid

Join financial author and novelist Angele McQuade for Your Best Year Yet, a guided, interactive workshop designed to help you reflect on, celebrate, and release 2025—and dream big for 2026. Be sure to bring something for note-taking!

💬 Afterward, we’ll break into small discussion groups—on-site and online—to tackle everything from blurbs and worldbuilding to money questions and publishing goals.

✅ Free for WRW members

💵 $10 for non-members → Pay via PayPal and include “Angele” in the notes.

📧 Zoom link: Email Keely at programs@washingtonromancewriters.com

🌐 More info on Angele McQuade »

✨ January Writing Challenge

Kick off 2026 with 15K new words and daily WRW encouragement!

We’re thrilled to announce that Irene Vartanoff will once again run our annual January 15K Writing Challenge!

Stay tuned on Groups.io for an email with details on our Challenge subgroup and how to report your numbers—but get ready to kickstart your 2026 word count with inspiration, accountability, and WRW camaraderie.

📣 February 28: One-Day Mid-Atlantic Romance Writers Conference

📍 Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA (just north of Richmond)

🗓 Friday, February 28 | Registration now open!

Our one-day craft + community conference, co-hosted with the Virginia and Chesapeake RWA chapters, features Cathy Maxwell and Siera London as speakers—with more to come!

🎟️ $99 early bird through Jan 1. Membership is not required to attend.

🧳 Some attendees are making a weekend of it—check out hotels nearby!

 

 

📸 Follow updates on Instagram »

🙋‍♀️ Want to volunteer? Email Meg at president@washingtonromancewriters.com

 

🎄 Holiday Party Recap

We were so present in the moment that no one took a photo—oops! But the joy, laughter, and shared stories at our potluck holiday party more than made up for it. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped close out the year in style.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 WRW Directory: Now Live

The new WRW Member Directory is available in our Groups.io Files section!

Don’t see your name and want to be included (or removed)?

📧 Email Meredith Bond at memberservices@washingtonromancewriters.com

📌 Reminder: The directory is for member use only and not for promotion or distribution.

📝 RWA Reader Survey: Help Shape the Genre!

Authors: Don’t forget to promote the RWA Romance Reader Survey to your newsletter lists and social media audiences. This research effort helps all of us by collecting valuable reader insights. And take the survey yourself!

 

 

🎁 Bonus: Participants get access to free reads, including “Staying the Course” by Siera London, “Frenching My Flatmate” by Skye Knight, and more!

📣 WRW Volunteer Openings

WRW is looking for 2026 leaders, with new terms starting in July!

Are you interested in serving as our new treasurer, secretary, or president-elect?

This is your chance to get involved and shape our chapter’s future.

📧 Email president@washingtonromancewriters.com to express interest or ask questions.

📸 WRW Members Out in the Wild: Emily Dickinson Tribute Edition

This past week, Glori Medina and J. Keely Thrall attended the Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute: Celebrating Jane Austen at 250 at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The event featured readings, poetry, and reflections—including a talk from local author Nikki Payne about her book Pride and Protest, a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in DC.

📍 Folger Shakespeare Library

📅 Tuesday, December 9

🎤 Part of the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series

🔗 Learn more about Nikki Payne

 

🤝 Community Collabs: Friends to Lovers Workshop

We’ve been invited to collaborate with Friends to Lovers Bookstore on a January launch event for a journaling tool that explores real-life love stories and romance storytelling. They’re seeking WRW members who might want to co-lead a workshop around it.

📅 Tentative Date: Late January

📧 Interested? Email president@washingtonromancewriters.com

for details.

📝 Looking for Beta Readers?

Whether you’re polishing your WIP or seeking fresh eyes, WRW has you covered. Use our Beta Reader thread on Groups.io to connect with readers who understand your subgenre and tropes.

To request beta readers, reply to the pinned thread and include:

📚 Title of your book

✨ Sub-genre and key tropes

🚨 Any trigger warnings

🧮 Word count

⏳ Desired feedback deadline

We’ll post a reminder monthly, but feel free to add your request anytime!

Find the thread in Groups.io!

🖋️ Write Stuff Critique Group

Interested in a small-group critique experience? The Write Stuff Critique Group is open to RWA members and currently seeking new participants—especially in rom-com and mystery.

📅 Sign up by December 15

📎 Learn More & Apply via Jotform »

💬 Celebration Corner

🎉 WRW wins, milestones & member shoutouts!

📧  Email communications@washingtonromancewriters.com to share yours.

💌 Until Next Time…

Thanks for reading! Wishing you a joyful and restorative end to 2025. Hope to see you in January—online or in person.

❤️
Skye Knight
Communications Director
communications@washingtonromancewriters.com