Workshops
STOP PRESS! In 2023, NJRW opened ALL our workshops to non-members, for the low low price of $10 per person!
Links will be included with each workshop to the registration form and payment page. If you have any questions, please email info@njromancewriters.org.
Of course, the most cost-efficient way to get ALL our online workshops for only $35 is to become a member! Apart from other wonderful benefits, members also get one month's access to the recording of the workshop so you can watch it whenever you like!--as long as what you like is watching it within a month :)
Links will be included with each workshop to the registration form and payment page. If you have any questions, please email info@njromancewriters.org.
Of course, the most cost-efficient way to get ALL our online workshops for only $35 is to become a member! Apart from other wonderful benefits, members also get one month's access to the recording of the workshop so you can watch it whenever you like!--as long as what you like is watching it within a month :)
Meetings take place on designated Saturdays (usually the third Saturday of the month, unless otherwise indicated) by Zoom, until further notice.
9:30 a.m. EST - Social time! Join us for informal chat prior to the meeting. All are welcome! Bring a beverage!
10:00 a.m. EST - NJRW general meeting
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST - Workshop
If you are not a member, but would like to check us out and see what we're all about, email a request to join a general meeting as a guest to info@njromancewriters.org.
Previous workshops may be found here.
9:30 a.m. EST - Social time! Join us for informal chat prior to the meeting. All are welcome! Bring a beverage!
10:00 a.m. EST - NJRW general meeting
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST - Workshop
If you are not a member, but would like to check us out and see what we're all about, email a request to join a general meeting as a guest to info@njromancewriters.org.
Previous workshops may be found here.
February
February 18, 2023
Speaker: Marin McGuinness
Workshop: Legalese in Publishing Contracts
In this presentation we will dive into the dizzying world of literary contracts. You’ll learn what is typically in a literary contract, such as an author-agent agreement or a publishing contract, and what the most common clauses really mean. You’ll learn what to watch out for, when to try to change things, and when to walk away, and I’ll give you some resources to learn more on your own.
Speaker: Marin McGuinness
Workshop: Legalese in Publishing Contracts
In this presentation we will dive into the dizzying world of literary contracts. You’ll learn what is typically in a literary contract, such as an author-agent agreement or a publishing contract, and what the most common clauses really mean. You’ll learn what to watch out for, when to try to change things, and when to walk away, and I’ll give you some resources to learn more on your own.

Speaker Bio:
A lawyer by day, Marin McGinnis feeds the more creative part of her soul by writing romance and mystery.
Marin has dabbled in writing since she was in her 20s, but she didn’t finish anything until she hit her 40s. While her very first completed manuscript will forever languish under the bed, Marin subsequently published four Victorian-era romances. She is currently working on a stand-alone historical romance, a historical mystery series set in the English Lake District, and a contemporary cozy mystery series (because why write one thing when you can write three at once?). In a never-ending quest to ditch the day job, Marin also works as a freelance copy editor, teaches at Lawson Writer's Academy, and lectures on various writing topics. Marin is also active in the Great Lakes Fiction Writers and the Northeast Ohio chapter of Sisters in Crime.
When she’s not writing, editing, teaching, networking, or lawyering, she’s cooking for family and friends, learning how (and how not) to bake bread, and spending far too much time watching superhero movies. Marin lives in a tree-lined, unabashedly liberal suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and two standard poodles called Shaun (the Sheep) and Sneaky Pete.
A lawyer by day, Marin McGinnis feeds the more creative part of her soul by writing romance and mystery.
Marin has dabbled in writing since she was in her 20s, but she didn’t finish anything until she hit her 40s. While her very first completed manuscript will forever languish under the bed, Marin subsequently published four Victorian-era romances. She is currently working on a stand-alone historical romance, a historical mystery series set in the English Lake District, and a contemporary cozy mystery series (because why write one thing when you can write three at once?). In a never-ending quest to ditch the day job, Marin also works as a freelance copy editor, teaches at Lawson Writer's Academy, and lectures on various writing topics. Marin is also active in the Great Lakes Fiction Writers and the Northeast Ohio chapter of Sisters in Crime.
When she’s not writing, editing, teaching, networking, or lawyering, she’s cooking for family and friends, learning how (and how not) to bake bread, and spending far too much time watching superhero movies. Marin lives in a tree-lined, unabashedly liberal suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and two standard poodles called Shaun (the Sheep) and Sneaky Pete.
Cost for Non-Members: $10
March
March 18, 2023
Speaker: Jennifer Hilt
Workshop: Romancing Your Tropes
We all know tropes are important to writing romance. Heck, many of our readers ask for them by name, “Best friend’s little sister? I love those stories!” But are we using them as effectively as we can? After all, we know our readers love them, so why not wring every last bit of story juice out of them?
In this workshop, we’ll whip tropes into shape so your books become one-click material. We’ll talk about why tropes are essential, what separates them from cliches, and how we can use them in specific ways to create original stories that resonate with our readers. We’ll talk tropes and romance and have a pretty good time doing it!
Speaker: Jennifer Hilt
Workshop: Romancing Your Tropes
We all know tropes are important to writing romance. Heck, many of our readers ask for them by name, “Best friend’s little sister? I love those stories!” But are we using them as effectively as we can? After all, we know our readers love them, so why not wring every last bit of story juice out of them?
In this workshop, we’ll whip tropes into shape so your books become one-click material. We’ll talk about why tropes are essential, what separates them from cliches, and how we can use them in specific ways to create original stories that resonate with our readers. We’ll talk tropes and romance and have a pretty good time doing it!

Speaker Bio: Jennifer Hilt is a USA Today Bestselling author who has worked as a plotter and concept creator. She is author of The Trope Thesaurus who has written 24 books across four pen names. She has degrees in linguistics and literature. She lives in Seattle with her family and her canine fan club. She loves collecting dictionaries in unfamiliar languages, bingeing Scandi-Noir streaming series, and shouting out tropes from the comfort of her couch.
Cost for Non-Members: $10
April
No Workshop: In-Person Meeting and JeRoWriMo Celebration!
May
May 20, 2023
Speaker: Teri Schnaubelt
Workshop: Demystifying Audiobook Production for Independent and Traditionally Published Authors
Audiobooks can reach more fans and drive cross-platform sales, choosing the right narrator and production channel budgets, how to know if/when a title should be made into an audiobook, and behind-the-scenes insight into the life of an audiobook narrator.
Speaker: Teri Schnaubelt
Workshop: Demystifying Audiobook Production for Independent and Traditionally Published Authors
Audiobooks can reach more fans and drive cross-platform sales, choosing the right narrator and production channel budgets, how to know if/when a title should be made into an audiobook, and behind-the-scenes insight into the life of an audiobook narrator.

Speaker Bio:
Teri is an award-winning audiobook narrator of nearly 400 titles between her real name and her pseudonym, Lynn Barrington. She is also an on-camera, voice, and stage actor who tries to make time for oil painting and butterfly gardening.
Teri is an award-winning audiobook narrator of nearly 400 titles between her real name and her pseudonym, Lynn Barrington. She is also an on-camera, voice, and stage actor who tries to make time for oil painting and butterfly gardening.
Cost for Non-Members: $10
June
June 17, 2023
Speaker: Emilia Rose
Workshop: Subscription Strategies for Romance Authors
Learn how to receive a monthly income from your writing, create superfans, and release content on Patreon.
Speaker: Emilia Rose
Workshop: Subscription Strategies for Romance Authors
Learn how to receive a monthly income from your writing, create superfans, and release content on Patreon.

Speaker Bio:
With over 69 million online story views across two pen names, Emilia Rose is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy romance. She kicked off her writing career on Wattpad and began monetizing her writing through monthly subscriptions on Patreon. Within six months of writing on Patreon, she fostered a community of readers who have helped propel her love for storytelling into a full time career. Emilia is also the co-founder of Ream, an online subscription platform created for fiction authors.
With over 69 million online story views across two pen names, Emilia Rose is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy romance. She kicked off her writing career on Wattpad and began monetizing her writing through monthly subscriptions on Patreon. Within six months of writing on Patreon, she fostered a community of readers who have helped propel her love for storytelling into a full time career. Emilia is also the co-founder of Ream, an online subscription platform created for fiction authors.
Cost for Non-Members: $10
August
August 19, 2023
September
September 16, 2023
October: Special Event!
October 14, 2023 (Note: 2nd Saturday of the month)
November
November 18, 2023
December
Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony
Date TBD
Date TBD
January 2024
Date TBD