Archive for the ‘Information Center’ Category

The Egregious Practice of Charging Reading Fees

by John Walters

I am a hybrid author, which means that I self-publish books and also publish short stories in traditional venues. Last night I was engaged in what I call marketing. Several of my stories had come back unsold from magazines and anthologies, and rather than having them sit around, I wanted to send them back out to other possible markets.

What I’ve Learned about Convention Accessibility

by Kate Heartfield In early 2016, I contacted my local speculative-fiction convention and somewhat nervously offered my services as a volunteer coordinator for accessibility. Like many in the SFF community, I was angry and disheartened at the lack of accessibility at so many events. I was nervous because, as someone who is not disabled, I […]

Forming Practice from Passion

By Michael Michel

Regardless of where you end up on the journey known as being a writer, my guess is you want to enjoy the experience. Here’s my recommendation: focus more on the crafter than the craft. As the crafter, you are the instrument through which creativity flows and stories are shared with the world. If you want to be successful, start writing the story you’d love for yourself, first.

Bragging Rights: A Comprehensive Look at SFWA Services

by Kate Baker

“Why SFWA?” and “What can it do for me?” These two questions have stumped many a SFWA board member, volunteer, and employee throughout our existence. The typical answer had always been, “Bragging rights and oh, the emergency medical fund.” While those two things are definitely beneficial, I’m here to tell you that the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America is so much more.

The Post Novel Blues

by Paul Jessup

It seems to happen every single time I work on something larger than a novella. The minute I finish it, it seems like all of my creativity for fiction dries up.

10 Reasons to Romanticize the Donkey

by Barbara E. Hill

Because of this diminutive rose-colored darling I learned a lot about life, relationships, and especially about writing.

“But… wait, what? Writing?” you ask. “A donkey taught you about writing?”

Infringement Alert

The Internet Archive (Archive.org) is carrying out a very large and growing program of scanning entire books and posting them on the public Internet. It is calling this project “Open Library,” but it is SFWA’s understanding that this is not library lending, but direct infringement of authors’ copyrights.

Surviving Times of Stagnation

by Paul Jessup

It will probably happen to you. Almost every career for a professional writer hits a snag at some point. Usually after a huge burst of activity and a feeling of momentum, of going somewhere. It comes out of nowhere, out of left field.