Check Out the JRW 2023 Conference Raffle!
Open to Our In-Person Conference Guests Oct 7-8, 2023
We will have a variety of items available at our 2023 JRW Conference raffle, including two prime locations for a mini 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 8th, 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!
Charming Carytown Airbnb Writing Escape | 2 Nights/Up to 3 People
Valued at $370
Whether you want to plan a staycation, or you\’re coming from outside of the Richmond area, this charming Carytown Airbnb will provide the perfect home base for your writing. Take advantage of this peaceful, charming space to get your writing done, then head out to Carytown for shopping and dining in one of Richmond\’s favorite enclaves.
This uniquely furnished 2nd-floor apartment with 2 bedrooms (and a dedicated workspace!) is located in the heart of Carytown, Richmond\’s most popular street for shopping, eating, and more!
The building is only one block from some of the city\’s best restaurants, theatre, groceries and just minutes from Richmond\’s historic sites, museums, James river, convention center, VCU, and more.
The space
The space includes 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a living room, and a full kitchen. The master bedroom has a King bed, and the second bedroom features a trundle bed with two twin mattresses. The bathroom features a shower and washer/dryer. The living room has a Smart TV and seating. The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, stove, microwave, and all necessary kitchen utensils/pots/pans needed to cook in the apartment.
For full listing details, click HERE.
For more about the highly desirable Carytown area, click HERE.
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.
James River Writers Annual Membership
Plus, a JRW \”Use Your Words\” Hooded Sweatshirt
Valued at $100
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.
2024 James River Writers Annual Conference | 2-Day Ticket
Includes Agent One-on-One Meeting
Valued at $350
Join us for the 22nd 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 5, and Sunday, October 6. 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.
2024 JRW Online Pre-Conference Master Class
Plus, a JRW Aluminum Insulated Cup
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 2023 Master Classes HERE.
Coaching Session with Lisa Cooper Ellison
One-Hour Consultation
Valued at $200
Lisa Cooper Ellison is an author, speaker, and trauma informed writing coach. She is known for her insightful and caring attention to detail when working with writers to help them reach their goals. When she spearheaded JRW\’s Springboard Writing Retreat in April 2023, writers in attendance were able to identify and move past their personal writing obstacles with great success.
\”Lisa, the instructor, was knowledgeable, organized, enthusiastic, and supportive.\”
This one-hour online coaching session grants you access to Lisa\’s unique combination of experience and insight to apply to your writing life.
To learn more about what your coaching session can include, visit Lisa\’s website HERE.
Shelf Life Books | $50 Gift Card
Plus, a Shelf Life T-Shirt
Shop online, or in-store
Formerly known as Chop Suey Books, Shelf Life Books is the largest independent bookstore in Richmond, Virginia. This shop has been serving the Richmond community for over two decades. Located in the heart of Richmond’s Carytown district and owned by Chris and Berkley McDaniel, the store is staffed by long-time patrons and is a hub for local authors and book lovers alike.
They have new books on their lower level and five rooms of used books upstairs. You don\’t want to miss visiting with their two cats, Page and Mylar, while experiencing all Shelf Life has to offer!
This prize pairs well with the Carytown Airbnb prize, above. Shop for books at Shelf Life while enjoying Carytown in this charming and eclectic Victorian apartment!
More about Shelf Life Books HERE.
Manuscript Consultation with A.B. Westrick
Valued at $500 – $1000, depending on length of manuscript
This Manuscript Consultation Includes:
- Analysis of Manuscript
- Written Critique
- Follow-Up Meeting
From Westrick: I do developmental editing, not line-editing or proofreading. During a big-picture read-through, if I see problems related to grammar or punctuation, I might comment on a few basics, but you can fix those issues later. The more pressing questions about your manuscript (such as the clarity of your characters’ desires and the sequence of scenes) are the ones that interest me most.
Consultation provided by Author/Editor A.B. Westrick
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. At this year\’s conference, she will be moderating our query letter live critiques. 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.
Screenplay Critique from Virginia Screenwriters Forum
Valued at $150 – $500, depending on length
For more than 25 years, the Virginia Screenwriters Forum (VSF) has helped bring writers together to share their love and knowledge of screenwriting by offering support and constructive feedback to members’ scripts in progress.
VSF membership requires submission of a screenwriter\’s work for consideration and averages between fifteen and twenty active screenwriters at any given time. During monthly meetings, members critique 30 pages of two members’ scripts, or teleplay pages. In addition, each writer may do a table read of their 30 pages, presented by the VSF Actor’s Ensemble, consisting of some of Richmond’s finest actors.
This raffle prize will entitle the winner to a screenplay critique by VSF membership, to get valuable feedback on your work.
For more about the Virginia Screenwriters Forum, visit their website HERE.
bbgb Bookstore Package
Valued at $165
bbgb tales for kids arrived on the scene november 2010. While their specialty is children’s books, they feature books for the entire family, from wee ones to adults. They focus on those particular titles which prompt us to look at the world a little longer, a little closer, and a little differently.
This package includes a $10 gift card to spend at this treasure of an indie bookstore, as well as an adorable dinosaur plush and a collection of ten beautiful books to be enjoyed as a family, or to give as gifts!
- Tales from the Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
- Blurb Your Enthusiasm: An A-Z of Literary Persuasion by Louise Willder
- The Getaway by Lamar Giles
- Where the Sidewalk Ends (Special Edition) by Shel Silverstein
- Good Night Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix
- Me Gusta by Angela Dominguez
- A Dream for Every Season by Haddy Njie and Lisa Aisato
- Supposing by Alastair Reid and JooHee Yoon
- The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman
- Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat
Learn more about bbgb Bookstore HERE.
This prize pairs well with the Carytown Airbnb prize, above. Shop for books at bbgb Bookstore while enjoying Carytown in this charming and eclectic Victorian apartment!
Richmond magazine | One-Year Print or Online Subscription
Plus, a $25 VISA Gift Card
Valued at $50
Enjoy twelve print issues or online access to Richmond\’s favorite monthly publication, Richmond magazine. Whether you enjoy their annual \”Best/Worst of\” or \”Top Doc\” issues, or you just like to dive in to see all Richmond has to offer each month, you\’ll enjoy having Richmond magazine delivered directly to your home, along with accessing their online content in real time.
When you\’re done perusing the pages of this Richmond favorite, you\’ll be better informed about central Virginia and where you may want to spend the accompanying $25 VISA gift card!
More about Richmond magazine HERE.
Afton Mountain Cottage 3-Night Getaway – Ideal Writing Destination
Valued at $750
Next Door to Veritas Vineyard in Charlottesville-Afton Mountain, Virginia
Spend three quiet nights in a lovely mountain cottage perfect for a personal writing vacation or a getaway with family or friends. This cozy cabin is located just steps behind Veritas Winery and includes a gorgeous view of the vineyard. Plus, you will find Blue Mountain Brewery is less than two miles away.
For full listing details, click HERE.
Radiant Snapshots Photography
Valued at $125
Short & Sweet Photo Session | Schedule between March 1, 2024 and August 31, 2024
Enjoy professional photography services offered by our 2023 Conference headshots photographer, Jamie Wulfekuhle of Radiant Snapshots.
If you have squirmy toddlers, reluctant teenagers, and/or a camera shy spouse, this is likely the session for you. These are classic portraits captured in a quick 20-minute session. This mini-session includes a few nice group shots and an individual portrait of everyone. This experience is best for groups of 2 to 6 people and/or furry friends. Jamie will work with you to create the photo experience you\’re looking for.
For full listing details, click HERE.