Anyone here a member of the NWU?

[geardaddy]

I just applied this morning. I'm a technical writer, but I'd like to move into fiction.

I hope I get accepted. *crossing fingers*

http://www.nwu.org/nwu/

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. I think you'll be accepted .........

Their membership requirements are funny.

"You are eligible for membership if you have published a book, a play, three articles, five poems, a short story, or an equal amount of newsletter, publicity, technical, commercial, government, or institutional copy. You are also eligible for membership if you have written an equal amount of unpublished material and are actively writing and attempting to publish your work."

So you're eligible, no matter what. That is the funniest paragraph I've seen in a long time. Why not just say "You are eligible for membership if you are writing, haven't been published, and are actively working to get published"? The "requirements" make no sense in light of the second sentence.

They look to have good benefits, or at least access to insurance plans, if that's something that appeals to you. And they seem to offer a lot of services. Can't go wrong with that kind of resource. For $120 a year, it's probably worth it.

I don't belong to the NWU, but I do belong to the Authors Guild, which is cheaper than NWU. I haven't availed myself of any of the Guild's services, but I like supporting an outfit like them, which took on Fox News when they went after Al Franken - a member - over his use of the term "fair and balanced."

Our side won, but the best part was that the guild invited member to contribute whatever they could come up with in the area of commonly used phrases that originated in literary works - titles and content for inclusion in the mediation brief. That was fun.

Ultimately, when you get an agent, you'll have the agent to work the contract for you when your work is sold, so, really, there's no need for membership in any kind of organization. The trick, I think, is that it makes you feel like a fiction writer, and that's a great start to being a fiction writer. That works for a lot of folks. It's like sharpening all your pencils before you settle down to work.

I'll bet you a buck they'll accept you. Best of luck to you.

[geardaddy]

2. Thanks Tangerine

I've published many, many technical items (though my name isn't on them because I'm a contractor) so I'm "published"

As I said, I'm a contractor and am self-employed so the health insurance is a killer. That's why the union is attractive to me. The other benefits are attractive too.

I'm going to take a look at the Author's Guild too. Thanks for letting me know about it!

[Kat45]

3. I was a member of the NWU for a number of years in the '80s/'90s.

I was doing a lot of journalistic writing and freelancing back then. I can't speak for it today because I haven't been writing for a number of years and thus have not been involved with the union. But I found it to be valuable when I was involved. The meetings, services...they used to have a Writers' Conference every couple of years. You can meet a lot of people and get a lot of advice, both formally and informally, from people who have been there/done that. I agree with the previous poster--I don't think you have to worry about being "accepted."

Good luck with your fiction writing. I'm even thinking about getting back to writing, if I can get myself motivated again.

[geardaddy]

4. Thanks Kat45.

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Besides the obvious benefits of being part of a union, I want to have that feeling of support for what I do.