calgaryrwa.com

The Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America (CARWA) applies RWA's Antidiscrimination and Antiharassment Policy to all members. In plain terms, RWA states that it is committed to providing every member with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, and that discrimination and harassment of any sort are prohibited. The stated purpose is to create a safe and respectful environment.

What the policy covers

Based on the policy language published on calgaryrwa.com, the key points are:

• Who it applies to: all RWA members, which includes CARWA chapter members.
• What is prohibited: discrimination and harassment "of any sort."
• What RWA commits to: an environment free from discrimination and harassment for all members.
• Why: to create a safe and respectful environment.

The policy is written as a broad prohibition rather than a list of specific banned behaviors, so it does not itemize examples of what counts as discrimination or harassment.

Where this fits in the membership experience

The conduct policy sits alongside the practical side of belonging to CARWA. Membership includes chapter-sponsored events, discounted workshop registration, an email loop, a private Facebook group for "water cooler discussions," a public Facebook page for promoting members' books, and access to the current membership list for networking. Meetings take place on Zoom, with occasional in-person meet-ups.

Because much of that activity happens in shared spaces — the email loop, the Facebook groups, and Zoom meetings — the policy functions as the baseline expectation for how members treat each other in those settings.

What the policy does not specify

The published text does not describe:

• a reporting process or who to contact about a concern;
• how complaints are reviewed or what consequences follow;
• definitions or examples of prohibited conduct.

If you need those details, they would have to come from RWA directly rather than from the chapter page.

Practical takeaway

If you are considering joining CARWA, the conduct expectation is straightforward: RWA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any sort and commits to a safe, respectful environment for all members. That applies across chapter activities, including the Zoom meetings, email loop, and Facebook spaces. For anything beyond that general commitment — such as how to raise a concern — you would need to check with RWA or the chapter directly, since the published policy does not spell out a procedure.

If you're new to Ahrefs and want to run your first SEO audit, the fastest path is: open Site Explorer, enter your target URL, review the Overview for a health snapshot, then dig into Organic Keywords, Top Pages, and Site Audit to find specific problems. From there, build a short prioritized to-do list instead of trying to fix everything at once.

This tutorial walks through that workflow using a realistic starting scenario, explains what the numbers mean, and shows how to turn findings into actions.

Before You Start: Pick a Narrow Scope

A common beginner mistake is auditing an entire large website on day one. The reports become overwhelming, and you can't tell which issues matter.

Instead, choose one of these starting points:

• A single important page (your homepage or a key product/service page)
• A small site (under ~50 pages, e.g., a personal blog or small business site)
• One section of a bigger site (e.g., /blog/)

For this tutorial, assume you're auditing a small business site with about 30 pages. The same steps scale up later.

You'll need an Ahrefs account to follow along. Ahrefs offers paid plans, and pricing and feature limits change over time, so check the current Pricing page for what's included in each tier before committing.

Step 1: Enter Your Target in Site Explorer

Site Explorer is Ahrefs' core tool for analyzing any website or URL.

1. Open Site Explorer from the top navigation.
2. In the search box, paste your domain (e.g., example.com).
3. Choose the Exact URL or Domain mode depending on scope. For a full-site view, use Domain or Prefix; for a single page, use Exact URL.
4. Press Enter.

You'll land on the Overview report. Don't try to absorb everything — focus on four numbers first.

Reading the Overview Snapshot

Important caveat: Ahrefs' traffic and keyword numbers are estimates based on its own data. They won't match Google Search Console or your analytics exactly. Treat them as directional, not absolute.

Step 2: See What You Already Rank For

Go to Organic Keywords in the left sidebar. This shows queries where your site appears in search results.

Sort by Traffic (descending) to see which pages bring the most estimated visitors. Then look for:

• Keywords ranking in positions 4–15 — these are often the easiest wins. A small content or on-page improvement can push them onto page one.
• Keywords with high volume but low position — potential opportunities if the topic is relevant.
• Irrelevant keywords — if you rank for something off-topic, it may signal thin or mismatched content.

Write down 5–10 of the position 4–15 keywords. These become your first optimization targets.

Step 3: Find Your Best and Weakest Pages

Open Top Pages. This ranks your URLs by estimated organic traffic.

Look for two things:

1. Your top performers — understand what topics and formats work. Can you create more content like this?
2. Pages with traffic but poor rankings — these may need on-page fixes (title, headings, internal links).

If a page gets zero traffic and targets a topic you care about, it's a candidate for a rewrite or consolidation.

Step 4: Run a Technical Site Audit

Now move to Site Audit. This crawls your site and flags technical and on-page issues.

1. Click Site Audit → New project.
2. Enter your domain and set crawl settings (default is usually fine for a small site).
3. Start the crawl and wait for it to finish.

Once complete, you'll see a Health Score and a list of issues grouped by category.

Which Issues to Fix First

Not all issues are equal. Prioritize in this order:

Ignore low-impact warnings (like minor meta description length) until the big items are handled.

Step 5: Turn Findings Into a To-Do List

You now have raw data. Convert it into a short, actionable list. Example:

1. Fix 3 broken links found in Site Audit.
2. Rewrite title tags on 5 pages with duplicate titles.
3. Improve 4 pages ranking in positions 6–12 by adding missing subtopics and internal links.
4. Remove or update 2 thin pages with no traffic.

Keep the list to 5–10 items max for your first audit. Finishing a short list beats starting a long one.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Chasing every red flag. Site Audit flags many minor issues. Fix what affects rankings and users first.
• Trusting estimates as exact numbers. Ahrefs data is modeled, not measured from your analytics.
• Auditing a huge site too early. Start small to learn the interface.
• Ignoring search intent. A page can be technically perfect but still fail if it doesn't match what searchers want.
• Forgetting to re-crawl. After fixes, run Site Audit again to confirm improvements.

Where to Go Next

Once your first audit is done:

• Compare with competitors using Site Explorer's Competing Domains and Content Gap reports.
• Track keyword rankings over time with Rank Tracker.
• Explore backlink opportunities in the Backlinks and Link Intersect reports.
• Set up recurring Site Audit crawls so new issues surface automatically.

Your first audit isn't about perfection — it's about building a repeatable habit: enter a target, read the key reports, pick the highest-impact fixes, and act. Do that once a month and your site's health compounds.

The Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America (CARWA) holds all of its regular meetings on Zoom, with occasional in-person meet-ups as a supplement. That means you do not need to live in Calgary — or attend anything in person — to take part in the chapter's core programming. The Zoom-first format is what makes the group's stated purpose (supporting, motivating, and educating writers across romance sub-genres) workable for members who aren't local.

What the meeting format looks like

According to the chapter's own welcome page, the structure is straightforward:

• Regular meetings: held on Zoom.
• In-person meet-ups: occasional, not the primary format.
• Chapter-sponsored events: included with membership, alongside the regular meeting schedule.

Because the default is virtual, the practical requirements are a device with a camera and microphone, a stable connection, and a Zoom link — not a commute. The in-person meet-ups function as an optional extra rather than something the chapter depends on.

Why the format matters for participation

The Zoom-first approach has a few concrete consequences:

This lines up with how the chapter describes itself: a group that meets to support and motivate each other, study the craft, and learn to promote their books. A virtual room is simply the delivery method for that.

Where the rest of the member interaction happens

Meetings aren't the only channel. Membership also includes:

• An email loop for ongoing discussion between meetings.
• A private Facebook group the chapter describes as being for "water cooler discussions."
• A public Facebook page used for promoting members' books.
• Access to the current membership list for networking.

So if you're weighing whether the meeting schedule alone is enough contact, the answer is that it isn't the whole picture — the email loop and private Facebook group carry a lot of the day-to-day conversation.

Joining and what to check first

The welcome page directs anyone interested to the JOIN tab for instructions, and notes the chapter would be happy to meet prospective members. Before you commit, it's worth confirming two things directly with the chapter, since the public page doesn't specify them:

1. Meeting frequency and time zone — the page confirms Zoom but not how often meetings run or when.
2. Whether guests can sit in on a meeting before joining.

The page also states that RWA maintains an antidiscrimination and antiharassment policy, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any sort in order to keep the environment safe and respectful — relevant if a respectful, low-conflict group culture is part of what you're looking for.

The short version

If your question is "do I have to show up in person?" — no. CARWA's regular meetings are on Zoom, in-person gatherings are occasional extras, and the email loop plus private Facebook group keep members connected in between. The main things left to verify are the meeting schedule and guest policy, which you'd need to ask the chapter about directly.

CARWA (the Calgary Association of the Romance Writers of America) is a chapter for romance writers who want support, motivation, craft study, and help promoting their books. If you want to join, the official path is simple: go to the JOIN tab on calgaryrwa.com and follow the instructions there. The site does not list pricing or payment details in the available page evidence, so check the JOIN page for current membership requirements and any fees.

What CARWA Is

CARWA describes itself as a friendly group of writers who meet to support and motivate each other, study the craft of writing, and learn how to promote themselves and their books across romance sub-genres. It is part of the Romance Writers of America network and states a commitment to an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

What Membership Includes

According to the site, membership includes:

• Attendance at chapter-sponsored events
• Discounted workshop registration
• Email loop
• Facebook Secret Group for “water cooler discussions”
• Facebook Page for promoting your books
• Access to the current Membership List for networking purposes

How Meetings Work

All meetings take place on Zoom. CARWA also holds occasional in-person meet-ups. This matters if you are deciding whether the group fits your schedule or location — you can participate remotely, with some optional in-person events.

Steps to Join

1. Go to calgaryrwa.com.
2. Click the JOIN tab.
3. Read the instructions on that page.
4. Complete whatever membership steps are listed there (the site does not specify the exact form or payment process in the available evidence).
5. Once accepted, expect access to the email loop, Facebook groups, and the membership list.

Before You Join: What to Check

• Cost: Not stated in the available page evidence. Confirm on the JOIN page.
• Eligibility: The site does not list specific eligibility rules beyond being interested in romance writing. Check the JOIN instructions for any requirements.
• Time commitment: Meetings are on Zoom, with occasional in-person meet-ups. Review the event schedule if you want to gauge involvement.
• Genres: CARWA covers “various sub-genres of romance writing,” so it is not limited to one niche.

Who This Is For

CARWA is a fit if you write romance and want a community focused on craft, motivation, and book promotion. It is less useful if you are looking for a general writing group outside romance, or if you need confirmed pricing before taking any step — in that case, start with the JOIN tab and look for the current details there.

If you are interested, the site’s own invitation is straightforward: click the JOIN tab, follow the instructions, and “we’d be happy to meet you.”

Joining the Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America (CARWA) gives you a defined set of benefits: attendance at chapter-sponsored events, discounted workshop registration, an email loop, a private Facebook group for discussions, a public Facebook page for promoting your books, and access to the current membership list for networking. These benefits come from the organization's own description of what membership includes, so they are the concrete things to evaluate if you are deciding whether to join.

The Full List of Membership Benefits

According to the CARWA website, membership includes:

• Attendance at chapter-sponsored events — you can take part in the events the chapter organizes.
• Discounted workshop registration — members pay a reduced rate to register for workshops.
• Email loop — a mailing list for ongoing communication among members.
• Facebook Secret Group — described on the site as a space for "water cooler discussions."
• Facebook Page — used for promoting members' books.
• Access to the current Membership List — provided for networking purposes.

What Each Benefit Is Actually For

Craft, Motivation, and Career Support

The organization describes itself as "a friendly group of writers who meet to support and motivate each other, and to study the craft of writing, and to learn how to promote ourselves and our books." The membership benefits map onto those three goals:

Where the Meetings Happen

All meetings take place on Zoom, and the chapter also holds occasional in-person meet-ups. If you are deciding whether the format works for you, this matters: the core programming is remote, with in-person contact as an occasional extra rather than the default.

How to Join

The site directs interested writers to click the JOIN tab for instructions. That is the entry point for becoming a member; the benefits above apply once you are a member.

A Note on Conduct

CARWA states that RWA is committed to providing all members with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, and that discrimination and harassment of any sort are prohibited in RWA. This is part of the membership environment rather than a separate perk, but it is worth knowing if a respectful, safe group setting is one of your reasons for joining.

Who This Fits

CARWA membership makes sense if you write romance in any sub-genre and want a mix of craft development (workshops, events), peer connection (email loop, private Facebook group), and book promotion (public Facebook page, networking list) — and if a Zoom-based meeting schedule suits you. If you are looking mainly for in-person critique groups or for publishing services rather than community and craft support, the benefits listed here may not match what you need.