Check Out the JRW 2025 Conference Raffle!
Open to Our In-Person Conference Guests October 4-5, 2024
We will have a variety of items available at our 2024 JRW Conference raffle, including a prime location for a writing retreat and packages specially designed to help you on your writing journey. Take a look at the prizes below and plan to buy raffle tickets when you arrive at the Greater Richmond Convention Center over the conference weekend. Simply buy your raffle tickets and deposit them in the box(es) that correspond to the items you would like to win! Tickets will be sold through 1:30 pm on Sunday, the 6th, at the conference; winners will be drawn and posted by 3:00 pm. We will accept cash, credit cards, or checks for your raffle ticket purchases. All proceeds go to support James River Writers and a thriving literary arts community.
Pricing for raffle tickets is as follows:
2 tickets for $10
5 tickets for $20
10 tickets for $35
20 tickets for $50
Check Out Our Amazing Raffle Prizes!
Porches Writing Retreat (3-Days)
Valued at $250
The Porches Writing Retreat welcomes writers and artists to an historic farmhouse built in 1854, on the James River in the Virginia countryside. Compared to other writing retreats, Porches offers a unique experience. Spacious porches and large private rooms provide peaceful views of wooded river bluffs and pastures. After a day of writing, enjoy sitting on the porches and sipping wine as you watch deer browse among the fruit trees. The Porches are half an hour from the Appalachian Trail, 50 minutes from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and three hours from Washington, D.C.
The Porches mission is to provide writers and artists uninterrupted time in a unique historical space within an environment of natural beauty.
Dates to be approved/arranged with property owner.
You can visit the Porches website HERE.
Visual Arts Center of Richmond | Class Pass
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond celebrates and supports the creative life of all people through art-making, exhibitions, and community programs.
This raffle prize entitles you admission to one class of your choosing at the Visual Arts Center and must be used by August 15, 2026.
The Visual Arts Center offers a dynamic array of classes in the Arts, including writing, poetry, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, painting, and more!
More about the Visual Arts Center of Richmond HERE.
Plottr Lifetime License
Online Novel Outlining and Plotting Tool
Valued at $199
Plottr is an online story outlining software platform with a visual timeline, plot templates, character sheets, and more, to make visualizing and plotting books easier than ever.
This lifetime license includes access to the desktop version of Plottr.
For more about Plottr, visit their website HERE.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | 2 Day Passes
Valued at $40 Each (2 prizes/winners)
Lewis Ginter, located in Richmond, Virginia, is regularly celebrated as one of our nation’s most beautiful botanical gardens. Revel in the beauty of the gardens, visit their many exhibitions, and explore all they have to offer.
This prize package includes two day passes to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. We will be awarding prize packages to two lucky winners!
Learn more about Lewis Ginter HERE.
This raffle prize is ideal for residents of, or visitors to, Central Virginia.
JRW All-Inclusive Membership
Valued at $600
An All-Inclusive JRW Membership is for members who want to attend everything JRW offers! It includes an individual membership and all of its benefits; a Writing Show season pass; registrations to all single-session Master Classes; and registration to the Annual Conference! As long as we’re recording online programs, this level will also get any recordings automatically, whether you are able to attend our programs live or not.
Regular membership benefits, which are included with an All-Inclusive Membership, include:
- Members can have their eligible books listed for sale on JRW’s Bookshop storefront
- Promotion of member news through JRW’s social media platforms and newsletters, reaching over a thousand dedicated writers and readers monthly
- Members-only e-newsletter with tips from writing professionals
- A members-only area of the JRW website, which includes industry insights and opportunities available only to members
- 20% discount off the popular writing program Scrivener
- A free Advanced Reader Copy book per month at Fountain Bookstore
- 40% off premium plan at Grammarly
- 10% off at Plottr
More about JRW Membership benefits HERE.
*Excludes Spring weekend mini retreats when applicable.
Mudhouse Specialty Roasters Gift Card
Valued at $25
Mudhouse offers tasty specialty coffee flavors, along with tasty bites to eat, in a setting that allows you to settle in, relax, and perhaps get some words on paper. Use this gift card at the 418 W. Broad Street, Richmond location.
To learn more about Mudhouse, click HERE.
This raffle prize is ideal for residents of, or visitors to, Central Virginia.
SELF-PUBLISHING CONSULTATION (Online)
with Author/Self-Publishing Master Class Instructor, Annette Marquis
Valued at $275
Use this one-hour online consultation to get the advice and guidance you need to self-publish your work. This consultation will include the mechanics of self-publishing your work, not the marketing and promotion of your book. Your instructor, author and community builder Annette Marquis, recently hosted a three-part series on self-publishing for James River Writers, about which attendees had the following to say:
“This is one of the best online classes/training I’ve ever experienced. Annette was amazing, the information was excellent, and the platform worked perfectly. It was outstanding!!!”
“Honestly, everything was so valuable. I’m in the midst of writing my first book…so I’ve had little exposure to self-publishing. All three sessions were terrific.”
Novel Self-Editing Bootcamp (Online Course)
with Award-Winning Editor/Author/Educator KRIS SPISAK
Valued at $349
James River Writers Annual Membership
Valued at $50
Regular membership benefits include:
- Discounted entry to all JRW programming, including the annual conference
- Members can have their eligible books listed for sale on JRW’s Bookshop storefront
- Promotion of member news through JRW’s social media platforms and newsletters, reaching over a thousand dedicated writers and readers monthly
- Members-only e-newsletter with tips from writing professionals
- A members-only area of the JRW website, which includes industry insights and opportunities available only to members
- 20% discount off the popular writing program Scrivener
- A free Advanced Reader Copy book per month at Fountain Bookstore
- 40% off premium plan at Grammarly
- 10% off at Plottr
More about JRW Membership benefits HERE.
Book Promotion Consultation (Online)
with Award-Winning Community Engagement Strategist Brynn Markham
Valued at $500
This Consultation Includes:
- Questionnaire to get to know your work
- Written Promotion Proposal
- 1-Hour Online Consultation
So, you’ve got the writing part down, but how do you promote your work once it’s ready to be shared with the world? Award-winning Community Engagement strategist, Brynn Markham, will help you identify opportunities for partnership, creative ways to promote your book online and in person, and the ideal timeline to get it all done.
Prior to joining James River Writers as Director of Programs and Communications, Brynn Markham spearheaded nationally recognized and award-winning marketing campaigns and events in her communications and outreach role at VPM, Richmond’s PBS and NPR affiliate. Projects she’s especially proud of include: The James River Writers Annual Conference; The Great American Read; Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War; Great Performances’ Hamilton’s America; PBS KIDS Summer Challenge; and the nation’s largest screening events for series premieres of Downton Abbey two years in a row. Currently, she loves working with writers to help connect them to resources and people to help them reach their goals.
More about Brynn on her website HERE.
Literary Themed Art by Will Armstrong (Signed by Artist)
Valued at $55 each
11A | Mark Twain
11B | Margaret Atwood
Original drawn on a collage of book pages from The Handmaid’s Tale.
11C | Hunter S. Thompson
11D | Charles Bukowski
Original drawn on a collage of book pages from Ham on Rye. 
2026 James River Writers Annual Conference | 2-Day Ticket
Includes Agent One-on-One Meeting
Valued at $400
Join us for the 24th Annual James River Writers Conference, for a weekend of learning, inspiration, and community with writers of all genres and varied skill levels. Next year’s conference will be hosted at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5. We’ll have another fabulous line up of industry experts including literary agents, editors, and award-winning writers. This 2-day ticket includes a one-on-one meeting with a literary agent.
2026 James River Writers Online Pre-Conference Master Class
Valued at $50 – $75
James River Writers’ pre-conference Master Classes offer the opportunity to learn from industry experts on specific topics related to your writing. Every year, we offer a robust slate of classes on the craft and business of writing. You’ll have the opportunity to choose from the full catalog of master classes once we publish the schedule next year. Each two-hour online course comes with limited access to the recording, as well as the chat capture that typically includes additional resources and links to dig into after the close of the class.
See details of 2025 Master Classes HERE.
Query Letter Critique with MM FINCK
Valued at $275
MM (Peggy) Finck is a niche editor who specializes in queries, pitches, opening pages, and overall story analysis. She has provided her expertise on query letters to JRW writers through master classes, panel discussions, and boot camp formats. She is known for her caring attention to detail, and she loves helping writers succeed.
Peggy will provide a critique to help you perfect your query letter, no matter where you are in the process.
Visit Peggy’s website HERE.
This raffle prize can be utilized in person or online, to accommodate out of town winners.
Unplugged Games Cafe | Family Pack of 4 Play Passes
Valued at $32
Unplugged Games Cafe is located in Midlothian, Virginia, and provides a unique experience that allows patrons to enjoy food and drink while taking in a wide selection of board games.
This package includes four Play Passes that entitle you to unlimited access to their full array of games during one visit to Unplugged.
Put your devices down and enjoy some old school fun and games!
Visit the Unplugged Games Cafe website HERE.
This raffle prize is ideal for residents of, or visitors to, Central Virginia.
Headshots Micro Sessions for You AND Two Friends!
Valued at $180
Grab two of your friends and get those headshots that you’ve been meaning to update or get taken professionally for the first time! Writers need polished headshots for their websites, their book covers, speaking engagements, and more! These micro sessions are 6-10 minutes each and include three professional images delivered to your in box. All three individuals must be available at the same time and location for the photo shoot. Jamie, our photographer, will work out those details with you.
These headshots will be taken by Jamie Wulfekuhle-Zaweski, of Radiant Snapshots. Jamie has taken beautiful headshots for our writing community and works with you to get the results you want.
Visit Radiant Snapshots HERE.
This raffle prize is ideal for residents of, or visitors to, Central Virginia.