Frequently Asked Questions
Please use control + F or the find feature to search for specific information. Email us at rvareaders@gmail.com with any questions not answered below.
So... What is RVA R+W?
A social group that fosters community and promotes literary arts through book clubs, writers groups, and more.
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RVA R+W can be anything from your found family that you see at writing group three times a week to a place you visit every few months during online bookclub.
What kind of books do you guys read?
Anything! We are genre-spanning and always looking to expand our library of options and hope that you'll help us develop a more well rounded set of options by adding titles to our "Want to Read" list on the bookclubs app!
Is there a membership fee or subscription cost to be a part of the book club or writers group?
Nope, there's zero financial commitment or expectation.
We are able to thrive on generous donations from group members, both in time and in funding.​​​​
Who is this club for?
Adult humans! (And sometimes dogs, but that was for a specific event). We aim to reflect the diverse makeup of Richmond within our community and work hard to welcome all.
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Note: Overnight event attendees must be 21 on or before the first day of the event.
Do I need to bring a friend or can I come alone?
If we're being honest, most of our club members didn't know anyone in the group the first time that they joined for a writers group or book club!
How do I get involved?
There are many ways, but the simplest answer is however you want.
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In practicality, I am working on a blog post to outline what's going on and how to get involved with it here.
I want to come to the writing group, but I am worried about being late.
Our standing groups on T/Th/Su are what we call "collaborative coworking" times and while we might do some small exercise together, it's a "come when you can, leave when you must" type of occasion. Other events are case specific and arriving late may interfere with your experience.
Is there an email newsletter?
Yes!​ Subscribe here.
How do I join the Instagram group chats or Discord channel?
Check out our links page.
I've seen you mention a fundraiser. What is the money used for?
Our bookclubs subscription costs $228 per year and this was fully funded by member donations in November 2025. Our website cost was paid by the founder for the first year and the current fundraising is for the renewal so that a discount can be used for a multi-year term.
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Current funds raised (as of 12/31/25): $10
Can my kids come with me to events?
This one is totally up to you and your discretion. We are more than open to it and always want to be accessible, but can't promise a kid-friendly environment at every event.
Do you guys volunteer at local literary events?
Yes! We sponsored the 2025 Crozet BookFest authors room, including their food. Many of us will be volunteering as individuals at the 2026 Festival of the Book in Charlottesville in March and as a group, we'll be volunteering and hosting at table at the 2026 RVA Poetry Festival in April.
You said there's no financial commitment, but I see ticketed events. How does that work?
Ticketed events do exist, in limited number and with a bit of a stipulation!
Last summer, we hosted two bookclubs at a residential pool by paying a rental fee to a private owner. We offered sponsored spots to anyone who wanted to come but couldn't afford it because we believe in the importance of equal access to these conversations.​
We're hosting our first readers retreat this fall. Thanks to a generous member, we were able to sponsor one attendee anonymously and giveaway two day-passes to the event on our social media.
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We don't have independent funds to continually sponsor anyone and everyone who wants to attend something that isn't free for us to host, but we will always do our best to promote accessibility and keep the majority of our community events no to low-cost.
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Our website and bookclubs page are owned, operated, and funded by the founder, Breelyn, with the support of a few one-time contributions from a few very generous members who offered to support RVA R+W financially along the way.
What is the financial weight of running a group like this?
Software Subscription Costs:
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Bookclubs - $228 per year​
- Partially funded by two member donations for 11/2024-11/2025 ($134)​​​
- Fully funded by member donations for 11/2025-11/2026
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Website - $432 per year
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Paid by the founder for year 1​
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Active fundraising now for the subscription renewal
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Forms integration - $12 per year
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Paid by the founder 12/27/25​
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Canva Business - $240 per year
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Paid by the founder​
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TOTAL: $912 in 2025
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Physical Item Costs:
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Info cards - $155 in 2025
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Sticker cards - $93 in 2025
TOTAL: $148 in 2025
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Time Investments:
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Email correspondence - ~1 hr/mo​​
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Website updates - ~6 hr/mo
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Graphic design - ~6 hr/mo
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Social media posting - ~1 hr/mo
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Curation and processing of book polls for clubs - ~3 hr/3 mo
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Scheduling of events - ~ 1 hr/mo
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​Event planning - ~ 3 hr/mo
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Newsletter - ~3 hr/mo
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Relationship building with local businesses and bookstores
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Reading books and preparing discussion topics
TOTAL: ~22 hours per month ​
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Note: Our time investments are heavy because the founder and event planners at RVA R+W do not use AI to create social media posts, organize to-do lists, develop book club questions, etc.