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Writer’s Digest ©Jennifer Crump

Writing organizations can provide support, education and networking…  

With disputes over payments and rights, writers today increasingly are finding it's important to band together. Belonging to a major organization also can bring education about technique and markets as weII as camaraderie.

Before you sign that check or credit card form to join an association, determine what benefits you’re seeking. Some organizations excel at education, others at networking and still others at providing market information. Next, consider the credentials for acceptance.

We’ve gathered information on a number of the leading organizations to get you started. (note: The dues listed do not include additional fees; for more information visit each organization’s Web site.)

American Society of Journalists and Authors, 1501 Broadway, Suite 302, New York NY 10036. Tel: (212)997-0947. www.asja.org.
Founded: 1948
Number of Members: 1, 060 Dues: $195
Membership Criteria: Minimum of six full-Iength (1,000 words or more) freelance articles published in major consumer magazines or two nonfiction books. Also accepted: freelance TV; film and radio scripts, and some material written for major Web sites.
Benefits: Annual conference; monthly newsletter; writer referral service; private online discussion forums; professional resource lists; discounts on magazine subscriptions, Contracts Watch & PayCheck – online sources for contract and payment information on various publishers.
Focus: Exchange of confidential information about markets, contracts, fees and editors.

 Authors Guild, 31 E. 28th St., lOth Floor, New York NY 10016.
Founded: 1912 www.authorsguild.org
Number of Members: 8,100
Dues: First year $90. After that, dues are based on earnings.
Membership Criteria: Regular members must have published at least one book or three articles with general circulation periodicals; an associate must have a contract for a forthcoming book.
Benefits: Quarterly journal; e-mail alerts and bulletins; professional seminars; contract services department; group insurance; advocacy on e-rights, copyright and taxes.
Focus: Professional services, including a well-organized and experienced contracts department, and seminars on topics such as contract negotiation and publicity.  

Canadian Authors Association, Box 419, 320 S. Shores Road, Campbellford Ontario KOL 1LO. Tel: (705)653-0323. www.canauthors.org.
Founded: 1921
Number of Members: 700
Dues: $160.50 (Canadian)
Membership Criteria: Open.
Benefits: Conference; newsletter; awards; mentorship; seminars; grievance and contract assistance.
Focus: Aims to assist writers in all aspects of their careers.  

Horror Writers Association, P.O. Box 50577, Palo Alto CA 94303. Tel: (650),322-4610. www.horror.org.
Founded: 1987
Number of Members: 929
Dues: $65 ($75 outside North America)
Membership Criteria: Active members are published writers (see Web site for criteria); affiliate and associate members are genre enthusiasts and nonwriting industry professionals.
Benefits: Conventions; awards; marketing reports; career help; meetings; regional chapters; newsletter; and handbook.
Focus: Advancing the horror and dark fantasy genre.

Mystery Writers of America, 17 E. 47th St., 6th Floor, New York NY 10017. Tel: (212)888-8171. www.mysterywriters.org.
Founded: 1945
Number of Members: 2,400
Dues: $95
Membership Criteria: Active members have published mysteries in any medium; additional categories for unpublished writers and those who live outside the United States.
Benefits: Annual meeting; national and chapter newsletters; discounts on magazines, books, car rentals, hotels; insurance; mentor program; annual literary awards.
Focus: Emphasizes networking, access to research materials and enhancing the genre's stature.

National Federation of State Poetry Societies, 2736 Creekwood Lane, Fort Worth TX 76123. www.nfsps.com.
Founded: 1959
Number of Members: Over 6,000
Dues: Varies by state.
Membership Criteria: Varies by state. Benefits: Convention; newsletter; contests; workshops; awards; annual anthology.
Focus: Emphasizes educational aspects; furthers poetry and promotes fellowship and understanding among poets.  

National Writers Union, 113 University Place, 6th Floor, New York NY 10003. Tel: (212)254-0279. www.nwu.org.
Founded: 1982
Number of Members: 6,500
Dues: $95 to $260, depending on income.
Membership Criteria: Must have published a book, a play, three articles, five poems, a short story or an equal amount of other types of copy. Accepts unpublished writers actively trying to sell their work.
Benefits: Magazine; grievance and contract advice; discounts on magazines delivery services, car rentals and theme parks; list servs, chats, insurance, job hotline, agent database; e-mail bulletins; local chapters.
Focus: Improving economic and working conditions for freelance writers

Novelists Inc. P.O. Box 1166 Mission, KS 66222-0166 Tel: 913-262-6435 www.ninc.com
Founded: 1989
Number of Members: over 300
Dues: $65
Membership Criteria: 2 novels published and readily available to the general public, self-published books and books published solely in electronic format do not qualify.
Benefits: networking, advocacy, newsletter, eforums, national conference
Focus: Serving the needs of multi-published authors of popular fiction.

Outdoor Writers Association of America, 121 Hickory St., Suite 1, Missoula MT 5980LTel: (406)728-7434. www.owaa.org.
Founded: 1927
Number of Members: 2,100
Dues: $75-$325 (variety of membership levels, check the website for details).
Membership Criteria: Six categories of varying expertise for writers, artists and photographers (see Web site or call).
Benefits: Conference; scholarships; contests; grievance seryices; seminars; equipment loans.
Focus: Provides education about outdoor communications and preservation.

 Periodical Writers Association of Canada, 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 123, Toronto ON, M5T 2C7 T. Tel: (416}504-1645. www.pwac.ca.
Founded: 1976
Number of Members: 500
Dues: $240 (Canadian)
Membership Criteria: Publication of and payment for at least one article (see Web site for details).
Benefits: Conference; mentoring; insurance; market guide; discounts; newsletter; discussion forums; seminars.
Focus: Sharing of market and other information; vocal proponent for writers on copyright issues.

 Poetry Society of America, 15 Gramercy Park, New York NY 10003. Tel (212)254-9628. www.poetrysociety.org.
Founded: 1910
Number of Members: 3,509
Dues: $45 ($25 for students)
Membership Criteria: Open to poets and literary enthusiasts.
Benefits: Biannual journal; seminars; competitions; discounts; event calendar.
Focus: Challenging and inspiring readers and writers of poetry.

Romance Writers of America, 3707 FM 1960 W., Suite 555, Houston TX 77068. Tel: (281)440-6885. www.rwanational.org
Founded: 1980
Number of Members: 8,400
Dues: $75
Membership Criteria: Open.
Benefits: Newsletter; annual conference; e-mail lists and bulletins; profesional seminars; contests and awards; mentoring; publisher and agent lists.
Focus: Dissemination of market and craft information at the national level; advocacy on behalf of published romance authors; romance genre advocacy;  chapters provide support and mentoring to writers in the same geographical area or those working in the same subgenre.

 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, P.O. Box 877,' Chestertown MD 21620. Tel: (410)778-3052. www.sfwa.org.
Founded: 1965
Number of Members: Over 1,200
Dues: $50
Membership Criteria: Three published short stories or one published , novel or dramatic script; associate membership is available to those who have had one piece of work published in a recognized publication.
Benefits: Conference; awards; magazines; insurance; grievance committee.
Focus: Craft and contract information. 

Society of Children's Book Writers and illustrators, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90048. Tel: (323)782-1010. www.scbwi.org.
Founded: 1971
Number of Members: Over 12,000
Dues: $75 first year, $60 subsequent years
Membership Criteria: Full-open to anyone who has published work for children; associate - Open to anyone interested in children's literature.
Benefits: Conference; newsletter; awards; grants; insurance; manuscript exchange.
Focus: Sharing of resources and information.  

Sisters in Crime, Box 442124, Lawrence KS 66044-8933. Tel: (785)842- 1325. www.sistersincrime.org.
Founded: 1986
Number of Members: 3,200
Dues: $40 U.S. & Canada; $45 all other countries
Membership Criteria: Open to all.
Benefits: Newsletter; publications; support of special interest groups, minorities and new writers.
Focus: Promotion of women mystery writers.

 Society of American Travel Writers, 1500 Sunday Dr., Suite 102, Raleigh NC 27607. Tel: (919)787-5181. www.satw.org.
Founded: 1956
Number of Members: Over 1,300
Dues: $130
Membership Criteria: A year's experience in travel writing and sponsorship by two members.
Benefits: Newsletter; awards; contract dispute resolution; tax and legal advice; insurance; hotel and book discounts.
Focus: Information on press trips, new markets and market updates.

Society of Professional Journalists, 3909 N. Meridian St.,Indianapolis IN 46208. Tel: (317)927-8000. www.spj.org.
Founded: 1909
Number of Members: 10,000
Dues: $36 - $72 (student - professional) various categories
Membership Criteria: Must spend half of each year working as a journalist or journalism educator; associate and student levels available as well.
Benefits: Conference; magazine; directory of sources; insurance; awards; discounts on office services, telephone, travel, car rental, hotels.
Focus: Preserving freedom of the press and educating journalists.

Western Writers of America, Office of the Secretary Treasurer, 1012 Fair St., Franklin TN 37064-2718. Tel: (615} 791-1444. www.westernwrfters.org.
Founded: 1953
Number of Members: Over 500
Dues: $75
Membership Criteria: Publication in the genre (see Web site for details).
Benefits: Convention; magazine; networking; awards; seminars.
Focus: Aggressive promotion of the literature of the American West.

 Writers Guild of America, 7000 W. Third St., Los Angeles CA 90048. Tel: (800)548-4532. www.wga.org.
Founded: 1912
Number of Members: 11,000
Dues: $2,500
Membership Criteria: A specific amount of work within film, TV or radio (see Web site for details).
Benefits: Contract negotiation, review and arbitration; copyright protection; insurance; awards; conferences.
Focus: contract negotiation and review, and credit for members' work.

Writers' Union of Canada, 90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200
Toronto ON M5C 1P1 Tel: 416-703-8982  www.wrltersunion.ca.
Founded: 1973
Number of Members: 1,300
Dues: $190 (Canadian)
Membership Criteria: Open to Canadian citizens; one published trade book.
Benefits: Conference; newsletter; e- mail lists; contract negotiation; grievance committee.
Focus: Fellowship among Canadian authors; contract advice and grievance assistance.