Information for journalists and the media
SFWA is the premier writers organization for authors of science fiction
and fantasy literature. Beyond SF&F, SFWA is widely recognized as one
of the most effective writers' organization in existence.
Below are links to contact SFWA or SFWA authors, and other
items of interest to the media or descriptive of what SFWA does.
For additional information on what SFWA does for members, readers,
authors, the publishing industry or the science fiction and fantasy
field, members are the media are encouraged to visit the pages for readers and for writers.
- Contacting SFWA A master list of contact information for SFWA. If in doubt,
contact the Executive Director at
execdir.org.
- SFWA Pressbook SFWA sends out press releases on behalf of members -- got a new
book or short story out, a signing, an appearance? Let SFWA help
you spread the word. Yes, for free.
- News Releases SFWA's News department seeks out and distributes news items of
interest to SF writers and readers
- Nebula Awards The Nebula Awards are recognized in the industry and among readers
as one of the premier awards of execellence. Information
presented here describes the awards, the winners, and the
annual convention SFWA holds to present the awards.
- Directory of Member Web Sites SFWA maintains a list for readers and fans of all known SFWA member
web sites. This provides an easy way for fans to locate their
favorite authors.
- SF Author newsgroups SFF.NET is home to hundreds of newsgroups of authors, many of whom
would not be here if they were not SFWA members.
- Author Appearances Calendars - Readings, Signings, Speaking Engagements, etc.
SFWA provides readers a calendar and links to author calendars
for information on readings and other appearances.
- Public SFWA Newsgroups Members of the media may use the newsgroups to contact authors
or solicit opinions from a wide range of authors at one time.
- SFWA Skunk Works A "bleeding edge" forum to raise and discuss ideas regarding new
innovations in SF publishing and writing. Not that these would
yet have proven their worth (being too new yet), but just as
heads ups about potential innovations in the field.
- Speakers' Bureau The SFWA Speakers' Bureau acts as a clearinghouse for both
national and local organizations seeking SFWA members for
speaking engagements. (For which speakers typically receive a
speaking fee.)
- Defining "SF" Is it "sci-fi" or "SF"? SFWA helps answer the common question.
- Writer Beware SFWA's Writing Scams Committee serves to alert members (and non-members)
about scam publishers, agents, editors, etc. and generally help
educate authors how not to get taken.
Items descriptive of what SFWA does for members:
- Griefcom The SFWA Grievance Committee assists members by investigating
claims of illegal or unethical contracts, assertions of
plagiarism, evidence of contract violation by editors and
publishers, misuse of royalty statements and funds, and other
complaints of professional concern. Griefcom operates confidentially,
without charge, and is extremely successful.
- Emergency Medical Fund (EMF) The SFWA Emergency Medical Fund offers interest-free loans to
members facing unexpected medical expenses. Loans are confidential
and have helped save the lives of many members.
- Legal Fund (LF) SFWA's Legal Fund offers low-interest loans to members to pursue
publishing related disputes. (Typically disputes that have not
been resolved via Griefcom.)
- Fiction online SFWA helps members get their fiction in front of readers via
an extensive online fiction section on the web site. Members
can have links to their fiction posted here or even have their
fiction hosted. The fiction section also includes links to
online magazines and publishers to help readers find top-quality
fiction.
- Networking Members interact with each other in a variety of ways, from
working on committees together, discussing ideas or telling jokes
in online newsgroups, etc. Many of the items on this list are
obvious (or unobvious) networking opportunities. Networking means
access to both old hands as well as new faces.
- Information One of SFWA's primary goals is the rapid sharing of information
of use to working SF&F writers.
- Online Update SFWA sends out email to every member with information, often within
hours of happening for time-sensitive information. A sort of
emergency-alert system, as well as a membership-wide mailing list
for non-urgent but important information.
- Helping authors with alternative publishing models SFWA members are often among the first to get involved with
altnerative publishing models (such as Creative Commons licenses).
SFWA is in the process of formalizing a role to help educate
authors and guide them in this. For example:
- SFWA Skunk Works A "bleeding edge" forum to raise and discuss ideas regarding new
innovations in SF publishing and writing. Not that these would
yet have proven their worth (being too new yet), but just as
heads ups about potential innovations in the field.
- Preventing Problems One of SFWA's purposes is to prevent problems from happening.
SFWA's famous Griefcom not only solves problems, but
it's existence deters would-be ne'er-do-wells from doing evil.
Writer Beware's existence does likewise, as does the existence
of SFWA's large Legal Fund war chest, which can be called upon
in times of need but even more so sits as a large imposing force
to discourage others from acting improperly.
- SFWA Handbook Currently in production, the SFWA Handbook has historically been
an indispensible tool for writers in the genre.
- Audits SFWA is the only writers' group ever to demand and conduct a
blanket audit of a major publishing house.
In 1993, the Random Audit Committee began conducting, at SFWA's
expense, surprise audits of novels chosen at random from a pool
of titles authorized by SFWA members. Audits are critical to
keep publishers' honest, as they control all the information
about sales. Without audits, publishers could routinely shortchange
authors. Authors have a difficult (and expensive) path conducting
their own audits -- so having SFWA do this (and pay for it) helps
keep publishers accurately paying authors.
- SFWA New Writers Forum A group where newcomers to the field can ask questions (no matter
how introductory) and get tips from others, including old hands.
A meet & mingle area for SFWAns and non-SFWAns.
- Industry Leverage Several publishers have withdrawn offensive language from their
standard contracts, or offered redress to individual members,
after persuasion from SFWA.
- Help Guide Industry Policy SFWA routinely comments on policy issues relating to the industry,
such as copyright policy. Members have a say in what position SFWA
takes. (If you don't like a SFWA policy, join, learn the
motivation, and help improve it.)
- Stopping copyright infringement of your work SFWA offers assistance to authors to stop copyright infringement
(e.g. "piracy", "plagiarism") of their work. This can include
tips on doing it yourself and in some cases SFWA has done the
work for members.
- Contracts Committee The Contracts Committee helps authors understand publishing
contracts and can assist the media with contract related questions.
- Anthologies SFWA produces a number of anthologies, edited by the giants of the
field, such as the yearly
Nebula Awards Showcase
anthology of excellent fiction,
as well as other top-notch anthologies such as
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame vol I, IIA, IIB, III, IV,
The SFWA Grand Masters vols. 1-3,
Author Emeritus - Architect of Dreams,
The SFWA European Hall of Fame
- Legislative and Copryright Affairs SFWA maintains committees to watch for and alert members about
laws and other legal/governmental changes that could impact writers
and to guide members and industry on copyright matters, such
as orphan works.
- Model Contracts and other Business Advice SFWA offers model contracts and other information useful to
authors starting of maintaining their career.
- Ergonomics and Health Issues Writers are susceptible to various health risks unique to the
writing lifestyle, and SFWA is here to help avoid or solve them.
- Research Information Both via newsgroups and links, SFWA helps writers with their
research, to get the facts correct and make the science believable.
- Financial Planning SFWA maintains a list of information to help authors with
financial planning, which can be difficult given the writing lifestyle.
- Health Insurance While most writers organizations are too small to offer health
insurance, SFWA offers tools to help find health insurance.
- Legal Resources Beyond Griefcom and the Legal Fund, SFWA helps authors with
information about legal resources.
- Recommended Reading Lists SFWA provides a set of recommended reading lists of don't-miss novels
and short stories.
- Book Reviews A compendium of new releases and book reviews for readers
who want to know what's come out without having to hunt down
lists from each publisher.
- Convention Information A list of SF conventions, to help authors promote their work
and fans to attend.
- Extensive SFnal links SFWA keeps an extensive list of links to all kinds of SF-related
web sites, for authors and fans.
- Young Adult Committee Young readers are not simply an important market segment today,
they're also our future adult readers. SFWA's YA committee
focuses on ways to get kids more interested in reading SF&F.
The YA Committee has, for example, lead to the creation of the
Andre Norton Young Adult award, financial sponsorship for
www.AboutSF.com, and providing materials for teachers to use
in the classroom.
- Improving the Publishing Industry SFWA works directly with publishers and booksellers, such as
Amazon.com, suggesting ideas to make it easier for everyone to
sell more books.
- Atlanta Nights A bunch of SFWAns got together to write the worst book ever written.
(For a reason, for a reason!) A hilarious read with a sharp point.
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