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Is anyone here a member of SFWA (or one of the other pro-writer organizations)? I was looking over membership info on their website and was wondering what people felt they "got out of it" for their membership fees. I've been following the Google Book Settlement business and the whole Harlequin thing on blogs, so I think I'm pretty familiar with the big legal aspects, but what about for more day-to-day stuff?
Posts: 715 | Registered: Nov 2007
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Writers are eligible for associate membership with one professional sale (so as soon as you get that check, skadder--the publication payment, not the prize money--you can sign up--even though it says Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America--other country's writers are also welcome).
I've been a member for years and I've done volunteer work in the organization in the past. Membership supports the big things that you mention, Kitti, and there is a bit of a "cachet" to belonging. There's also the "pay it forward" aspect because without the members, those big legal things couldn't happen. SFWA has a grievance committee that goes to bat for members with publisher problems as well.
I've made some great friends and acquaintances through SFWA besides.
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I qualify for associate membership - or at least I will in a few days, as I've been told the check is in the mail :-)
Posts: 715 | Registered: Nov 2007
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Not a member--obviously. But I do subscribe to the Bulletin. There's a lot of good information in there.
Posts: 4633 | Registered: Dec 2008
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When I get my third qualifying sale, I'll be joining. The benefits aren't easily quantifiable in financial terms, but I have no doubt at the moment that it's worth it.
Incidentally, Mary Robinette Kowal (who's now SFWA secretary) did some checking on recent applications (the last 6 months or so) and determined that (IIRC) something like 66 new members qualified through novel sales, 19 through short fiction. I was expecting it to be much more evenly balanced than that.
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Thanks. I'm super excited about selling something - I was almost literally bouncing off walls when I first found out.
Posts: 715 | Registered: Nov 2007
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I forget what level of status my "membership" in the SFWA is, precisely---it lets me subscribe to their magazine (it was fairly expensive to renew half-a-year back), but it certainly involves no professional sales as I've made none.
By the way, don't mistake the SFWA for a real labor union. I belong to and participate in the activities of a real one, the American Postal Worker's Union, and from the perspective that brings, I can see the difference. It's of great use, but there are limits.
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