What Is LARA RWA.com?

Updated

LARA RWA.com is the website of the Los Angeles Romance Authors (LARA), a chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). It serves romance writers at all career levels by promoting excellence in romantic fiction, helping writers build knowledge and career goals, and offering continuing support and encouragement. If you write romance and want craft education plus a writing community, this site is the hub for LARA's meetings, events, and member resources. Visitors and guests get their first meeting free.

Who LARA Serves

LARA's stated mission is to:

  • Promote excellence in romantic fiction
  • Help writers enhance their knowledge and establish career goals
  • Provide continuing support and encouragement through all levels of members' careers

That scope covers unpublished writers through established authors, not just one tier of experience.

What the Site Offers

Area What it provides
Meetings & Events Regular chapter meetings with speakers and workshops
Education Craft and business workshops (see upcoming topics below)
Member New Releases A showcase of members' published books
Romance Insider Newsletter Chapter newsletter
Meet the Board Chapter leadership information
Go to RWA Link to the national organization

Meetings and How They Run

Meetings are held via Zoom until the chapter is cleared by the State of California for group gatherings. Each meeting lists a pre-meeting slot (shown as TBD) and a featured speaker with a topic.

Upcoming 2026 meeting dates listed on the site include February 15, March 15, April 12, May 17, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, and December 13.

Sample Upcoming Sessions

February 15, 2026 — Alexis Roark: "Pulling Back the Curtain on Direct Selling" A workshop on what selling direct to readers actually involves — the costs in money, time, and attention — and how to judge whether it fits your situation. Attendees fill out a worksheet during the session and can ask questions at the end.

March 16, 2026 — Laurie Schnebly: "The Double D's: Dynamic Description & Delicious Dialogue" A craft workshop on description and dialogue, aimed at writers who are stronger in one than the other. The speaker's background includes advertising copywriting, counseling therapy, and romance novel writing.

Attending as a Guest

  • Meetings currently take place on Zoom.
  • Your first meeting as a visitor or guest is free.
  • Check the meetings/events section of the site for current details before attending.

Who Should Use This Site

  • Romance writers in or near Los Angeles looking for a local chapter community
  • Writers seeking craft and business workshops without committing to membership first
  • Published authors who want to list new releases and connect with peers
  • Anyone considering RWA membership who wants to see what a chapter offers before joining