People often ask, What is SFWA good for? Why should I join? What can
SFWA do for me? Why doesn't SFWA do more for non-members?
Below are numerous reasons SFWA members have given for why they belong.
Some of these are members-only benefits, though many of them also
directly or indirectly benefit non-members. Entries marked with "*"
are visible to non-members (i.e. could be members-only but are not) or
otherwise benefit non-members; and those marked with "@" are also open
to non-members to submit information to, in addition to "just looking."
(You may ask, well, if people get all those non-member benefits for free,
why join? The answer, of course, is that if people who are eligible to
join may wish to help in paying forward, helping with theirs dues and
volunteer time to provide these services to members and non-members.
TANSTAAFL -- all of these require money and labor to provide.)
- 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. Such as:
- 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.
- SFWA News A second electronic mailing list for less-urgent and less-time-senstive
information.
- 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.
- Publicity Committee SFWA maintains a publicity committee to send out information
of interest to the SF community and world at large.
- * News Releases SFWA's News department seeks out and distributes news items of
interest to SF writers and readers
- Dozens of other private newsgroups SFWAns share instant information (and humor, etc.) via the many
private, members-only newsgroups. Members can post questions
on any topic and usually get quick answers, offer advice,
grouse about problems, you name it. In addition to the Cafe
and Lounge, there are dozens of other special purpose private
newsgroups for members, such as to discuss SFWA business, bylaws,
the business of writing, Bulletin issues, FORUM matters, conduct
election debates, copyright infringement and electronic piracy
policy and practicalities, foreign rights, markets, politics,
the Nebulas (rules, nominations, stories, the event, etc.),
other SFWA events, improving the SFWA web site, author promotion,
other writing related matters, and places to consign flames to.
If it relates to SFWA, SF, writing, reading, authors, or, well,
anything else, there's a place for it.
Some specific newsgroups are mentioned farther down this list.
- *@ Public SFWA Newsgroups There are also many public newsgroups on SFF.NET, some of which
are SFWA specific. Key newsgroups are noted below.
- 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.
- * Improving Contracts SFWA's actions have directly lead to many publishers offering
authors better contract terms.
- Join the ranks of genre giants Asimov, Heinlein, you name the giants, they have most all been
members of SFWA.
- Free SFF.NET membership Members receive a free account on SFF.NET.
- Free web site design SFWA maintains volunteers who will help you create a web site
for you for free.
(More details for members can be found
here)
- *@ Nebula Awards The Nebula Awards are recognized in the industry and among readers
as one of the premier awards of execellence. While the awards
are voted on only by members, the works nominated and selected
need not have been written by members.
- Nebula Awards - Recommend works and Vote for them Before stories and novels can win a Nebula award, they first have to
get recommended by a number of SFWA members. Then members get
to vote in various stages to determine the ultimate winners.
Each vote really does count here.
- Nebula Jury Duty Volunteers get free books for sitting on Nebula Juries. (The Juries
are empowered to add additional works to the lists selected by
votes of the membership.) It can be a lot to read, but can be
enjoyable for those who like to read a lot.
- * The Bulletin Membership includes a subscription to the Bulletin, the quarterly
glossy magazine that is the "public voice of SFWA." Articles
include information for both beginning writers and experienced writers.
Topics are wide ranging, including market information, articles
on writing productivity, trends in the publishing industry,
taxes, advances in technology, etc.
- SFWA FORUM The FORUM is SFWA's "in-house journal", published six times a
year and restricted to Active, Associate, and Estate members.
The FORUM is the means by which the officers and members exchange
critical information and discuss sensitive issues of mutual
interest. Timely market and membership updates also appear
regularly in the Forum. The letter column is often lively.
- Nebula Awards Report The Nebula Awards Report appears along with the Forum. As active
members read science fiction and fantasy throughout the year,
they recommend the stories and novels they want other members
to consider for the Nebula Awards. These recommendations are
collected and published in the NAR, and form the basis for the
annual Nebula ballot.
- * SFWA Handbook Currently in production, the SFWA Handbook has historically been
an indispensible tool for writers in the genre.
- 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.)
- The Directory The membership directory, only available to members, lists the
mailing, email, telephone, and fax contact information for all members.
Members have used this to arrange social events in their area,
rally members in times of need, etc. The directory also lists
all agents that represent SFWA members, and which authors they
represent, which can help guide members in choosing an agent.
Scheduled on a con panel and want some input? Pull out the
directory. The directory is an indispensible resource in
innumerable ways. There is also an online directory for quick
access to the most updated information.
- 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.
- Contracts Committee The Contracts Committee stands ready to help you decipher the terms of
your contract and give you advice.
- Introduction to Publishing Contracts A great intro, from the 2005 Nebula panel.
- Circulating Book Plan -- Read great books when they're released (or before) The Circulating Book Plan offers SFWA members access to new
hardcover and paperback books in regional groups around the
U.S. through a sequential sharing system.
- 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.)
- The primary writers' organization dedicated to Science Fiction and Fantasy There may be other SF&F writers' organizations, but none are
as large or as singularly well known and respected as SFWA.
Beyond SF&F, SFWA is widely recognized as one of the most
effective writers' organization in existence.
- *@ 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
- *@ Nebula Awards Weekend Like a private little worldcon, attended mostly by SFWA members.
Panels, parties, free books, the Nebula Award Ceremony -- many
members have said the Nebs are their favorite con of the year.
- The New York Publishers Reception Formerly called the "Authors & Editors", the NYR is a yearly
event held in New York City to thank the people of the publishing
industry (editors, publishers, assitants) for their hard work.
It's a great party attended only by insiders.
- Other Events SFWA holds other events, such as the "Authors and Booksellers"
event that brings together authors with booksellers to network
and share information about how each can help the other.
- 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.
- Reprints Committees There are two committees (domestic and foreign) to help authors
with issues surrounding reprints.
- Grants and Fellowships SFWA provides information to members on obtaining grants and
fellowships to assist with their writing.
- Legislative Affairs SFWA maintains a committee to watch for and alert members about
laws and other legal/governmental changes that could impact writers.
- *@ 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.
- Literacy Fund The SFWA Literacy Fund was created for the encouragement
of genre reading and literacy in general, with funds to be
disbursed by an oversight board like the Emergency Medical Fund.
Funds may be used, for example, to assist existing literacy
charities or to assist schools/libraries in promoting or
purchasing genre literature, such as via grants, traveling
exhibits, etc.
- SFWA WebRing SFWA members may join the webring to help promote their web sites.
- *@ SFWA open newsgroup A newsgroup open to non-members to discuss SFWA or anything tangential.
- * Grievance Committee Advisories When Griefcom can't resolve a case, at least it can warn others,
and issues advisories so others can avoid a trap.
- * Model Contracts and other Business Advice SFWA offers model contracts and other information useful to
authors starting of maintaining their career.
-* Business of Writing
A page with some information on the mechanics of starting a
business, paying taxes, and other factors you should consider.
- * 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.
- * Cyberstalking and Internet Safety FAQ Authors become somewhat public figures, and may need to know
how to avoid some of the problems that come with that.
- * 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.
- * 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.
- * 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.
- * 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.
- * Market Reports A resource on market reports to help authors place their work.
- * Articles on Writing An extensive site for new, intermediate, and advanced authors on
how to write, submit, sell, manage a career, and on and on.
- * Extensive SFnal links SFWA keeps an extensive list of links to all kinds of SF-related
web sites, for authors and fans.
- * Workshops A large list of writers workshops / critique groups, of all
flavors -- online, snail mail, in person, local, as well as
critiquing resources.
- * Reference Works Links to reference works of all kinds, great for writers or
anyone needing to do research
- * Agent Information In addition to agent information in the Directory, SFWA maintains
online information about agents.
- * Find Book Stores A resource to locate bookstores to get your favorite books.
- * Libraries and Link Collections A resource to locate libraries and link collections relating to
SF reading.
- * Help with Creating Web Pages A list of resources to help authors (or anyone) create web sites.
- * Defining "SF" Is it "sci-fi" or "SF"? SFWA helps answer the common question.
- 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.
- * Authors' Bill of Rights SFWA was instrumental in getting the Authors' Bill of Rights
written and passed, detailing what kind of treatment authors
deserve from publishers.
- SFWA Musketeers Got Foil? SFWAns put on fencing events to promote worthy causes.
- Putting "Member, SFWA" on submissions It's debatable whether it helps, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
- SFWA Archive SFWA and SFWAns collectively maintain online and offline archives
of all sorts of information (announcements, Bulletins, FORUM issues,
magazines, etc.). If there's something about SF's history that
you need to know, SFWA is the place you can find it.
- Hanging Out Writing is a solitary profession, and sometimes you just want to
hang out with people who understand. Not to mention, people
who are ahead of you on the career path. SFWA has a number of
ways that members hang out, including:
- SFWA Lounge An online forum where SFWAns let their hair down. It's social,
though a lot of information also gets exchanged. It can get
heated, since there is a high tolerance here for free expression
and a tremendous diversity of opinions in SFWA. (And the flames are
often well written.) Many SFWAns (and even some officers) don't
participate in the newsgroups, so that is not in any way a
sine qua non of SFWA. For those who find it too hot but want
to enjoy the online experience, there is the SFWA Cafe:
- SFWA Cafe An online forum where SFWAns can socialize or share information
without anyone getting testy.
- SFWA Suites SFWA sponsors members-only suites at Worldcon, NASFiC, and other
conventions. Besides the attraction of free food and drinks,
or perhaps because of it, SFWA members congregate there. A
great way to meet members and relax during cons.
- * 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.
- 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.
- Critical Mass By already having a large number of active authors, SFWA has
the critical mass to be effective. And when you join, you only
make things better, by adding to that, bringing your knowledge,
experience, contacts, etc. to the table. The more people join,
the more everyone benefits.
- Diversity SFWAns hold a wide range of opinions (on any topic), so don't
get fooled by seeing some one "official SFWA action" and assuming
that represents everyone. SFWA members get exposed to this
wide range of opinions when they participate in discussions or
on committees. This diversity is embraced, and new members are
encouraged to join no matter what their opinions are, to help
keep SFWA diverse.
- It's only $70 a year That's not a gigantic sum of money (and hardship cases are
considered).
- It's a Tribe While members certainly won't all agree on everything,
SFWA is the official "tribe" or "family" of SF&F writers.
- Paying Forward The SF field has a long tradition of people "paying forward" --
doing things that help those coming up in the field. Joining SFWA,
and thus paying dues to fund SFWA's activities, or especially
participating as a volunteer, are excellent ways to pay forward.
- A constantly growing list of benefits SFWA members are constantly identifying new needs and acting to
fill them, both for the benefit of exsiting SFWA members and
non-members. (And there are likely many items that have yet to be
added to this list as a result.)
If this sounds of value to you and you're eligible to join SFWA, the
qualifications and application are here.
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