What Are the Benefits of Joining LARA RWA?

LARA (Los Angeles Romance Authors) is a chapter of Romance Writers of America, and its stated purpose is to promote excellence in romantic fiction, help writers enhance their knowledge and set career goals, and provide continuing support and encouragement at every career stage. If you write romance and want craft education, peer connection, and a link to the broader RWA organization, the membership benefits below are what the chapter itself describes. If you are not yet sure, note that your first meeting as a visitor or guest is free, so you can test the fit before committing.

Education and craft development

LARA's mission statement explicitly includes helping writers "enhance their knowledge," and the chapter's programming reflects that through monthly speaker workshops. The published schedule shows the kind of content members get access to:

The February session is a practical workshop on what selling direct actually costs in money, time, and mental bandwidth, with a worksheet participants fill out during the meeting. The March session covers description and dialogue techniques, drawing on the speaker's background as an advertising copywriter, counseling therapist, and romance novelist.

Meetings are currently held via Zoom until the chapter is cleared by the State of California for group gatherings, so location is not a barrier to attending.

Support across all career levels

The mission statement is specific on this point: LARA aims to provide "continuing support and encouragement for our members through all levels of their careers." That framing matters if you are early in your writing life or navigating a transition, because the benefit is not limited to published authors. The chapter also maintains a "Member New Releases" section, which gives members visibility for their published work within the community.

Connection to Romance Writers of America

LARA is part of the larger RWA organization, and the site links members to RWA directly. Joining LARA connects you to that broader network rather than an isolated local group. If RWA membership or its resources are part of what you want, treat the LARA-to-RWA link as the pathway and confirm current RWA terms separately, since the chapter page does not spell out those details.

Member communications

The chapter publishes a "Romance Insider Newsletter," listed alongside Education and Member New Releases in the site navigation. This is the channel for chapter news and updates, and it is a member-facing benefit rather than something described in detail on the homepage.

What to check before joining

• Meeting cadence and dates: The schedule lists monthly meetings from February 2026 through December 2026, plus a January 18, 2026 date. Confirm the current calendar before planning around a specific session.
• Visitor access: Your first meeting is free, so attending once is the lowest-risk way to judge whether the programming and community suit you.
• RWA terms: The chapter links to RWA but does not state dues, membership requirements, or RWA-specific benefits on this page. Verify those with RWA or the chapter directly.
• Pre-meeting details: Several listings show "Pre-Meeting: TBD," so check closer to the date if that portion matters to you.

If you write romantic fiction and want regular craft workshops, a supportive peer group at any career stage, and a connection to RWA, LARA's own description of its purpose and programming gives you a concrete starting point. Attend a free first meeting, then decide.