This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
You can listen to Anna’s podcasted novel over on her website 
www.annabellwrites.com and follow her on twitter @annabell_writes.
I woke up on the 1st January and felt it in my bones that 2011 was going to be a great year, I’m just about to move into a new house, later on this year I’m getting married and I’m convinced this year something is going to happen with my book.
I’d also been really excited that the Romantic Novelist Association’s New Writers Scheme 2011 was open. I wasn’t able to apply for the first week as it was only open to previous members of the NWS. The application form became available for non members on Friday 7th January. I excitedly downloaded the application form and filled it out. Attaching my cheque to it. And then stupidly didn’t post it. I didn’t have a stamp at work and figured I’d find it at the weekend.
Only I never bothered to post it, why? Because the scheme was already full.
All 250 places had gone by Sunday 9th January. I was gutted. Ever since I’d found out about the association about last March, I’d been counting down the months until I could apply. Only to have to wait another year.
So how do you ever get on the scheme? Was it just an unlucky year this year where all the applicants from last year reapplied? I can’t see how I could have got my application in quicker as you have to apply for it via post and cheque, with no online option. Maybe next year I’ll camp out at the headquarters and hand deliver an application on the Friday.
I guess maybe, just maybe, if I’d done next day delivery on Friday I might nabbed a place.
As part of the benefit of the NWS, you have the opportunity to have a manuscript read by one of the members. They then write a report about your work. I’d spent the weekend with loads of enthusiasm writing my work in progress, hoping that I’d finish that manuscript in time to submit it by the August deadline. Only that opportunity has gone along with joining the association.
I’m just gutted. I know that there is always next year, and of course if I became a published author I could join the association without having to go on the NWS – easy peasy!
I think I thought if I was a member of the scheme it would make me feel a part of something and help me keep focused on my writing. It would have been nice to be able to meet other people like me trying to get published, experiencing the highs and lows on the rocky road of trying to become an author.
I’m determined not to get disheartened. I’m sure it isn’t a pre request to getting your book published. And on the up side I now have £103 extra pounds in my bank account that I had budgeted for the RNA. Which means I can treat myself to a lovely pair of boots at the weekend instead. And I’ll just have to carry on pining to be a member of the RNA, and who knows, maybe 2012 will be the year….!