The benefits of membership in a writer’s organization are numerous. The benefits vary from organization to organization, but here are just a few:
- Submission call-outs (markets accepting stories such as Chicken Soup for the Soul)
- Networking with other writers
- Print or e-newsletters of industry news and writing techniques
- Discounts on organizational contests and conferences
- Webinars, free or at discounted rates
I presently belong to two writer’s groups. The free webinars I get from Christian Writer’s Guild far outweigh the $99/yearly membership fee. The networking and camaraderie I receive from fellow writers in Heart of America Christian Writers Network keeps me encouraged and connected to the writing world, and I get regular notifications of markets wanting stories.
A Google search on “writers organizations” will yield a plethora of pages that offer a listing of organizations. While the listings aren’t exhaustive, they are worth the visit. You can dig deeper by searching on specific genres. Both the Writer’s Digest Market Guide and The Christian Writer’s Market Guide give information on writer’s organizations.
Here are a few direct links:
- Christian Writers Guild, http://www.christianwritersguild.com/
- Heart of America Christian Writers Network, http://hacwn.org
- American Christian Fiction Writers, http://www.acfw.com/
- Romance Writers of America, http://www.acfw.com/
Being connected to an organization within your field/genre will yield marketing opportunities and allow you to develop relationships that will both encourage you as a writer and push you forward in your writing career.
What value have you found from the writers’ group you belong to?
Debra L. Butterfield © 2013