Will I be overlooked to present a workshop if a Board member (who attends RWA conferences fully comped) submits one on the same subject?
Unequivocally, no. Just because the submitting person is a Board member does not automatically guarantee them a workshop slot. They, like all the other people who submit applications, must live up to the standards set by the Conference Committee. Partisanship is not a part of this process. The committee wants to present the best speakers and offer the most informative workshops possible. Who the speaker is, how many books they’ve sold or if they sit on the RWA Board does not play into the selection process. The ability to give a workshop that will benefit the attendees is considered first and foremost and isn’t necessarily an attribute that goes with the New York Times best-seller list or the RWA Board of Directors.
