If you write picture books, chapter books, middle grade, or young adult fiction (or nonfiction), please consider joining your regional SCBWI chapter. SCBWI has levels of membership for published and unpublished authors, so anyone interested in writing can join.
Not only does it give you access to regional critique groups/networking (and therefore precious interaction with other writers in your area) and discounts on conferences/classes, but you get a really cool bi-monthly bulletin/magazine with articles on writing. I always feel get a giddy kick out of getting mail from SCBWI.
AND SCHOLARSHIPS! By entering pages from one of my middle grade manuscripts, I won a full scholarship to my two-day regional SCBWI conference that included an agent/editor critique and a pitch session. It was a very cool experience that I never would have been able to afford otherwise.
AND GRANTS! We all know that being a published author doesn't necessarily pay all the bills and being a pre-published author pays...um, even less. SCBWI offers national and regional Work-In-Progress Grants to writers who are actively crafting manuscripts/stories/articles and who are seeking publication. Grants of a few hundred dollars up to $2,000 are given to members each year.
LINKS:
SCBWI-Who we are and What we do
SCBWI Membership Benefits
Awards and Grants (check out your regional website for additional regional grant info)
Regional Chapters
REGISTRATION (Join Now page)
Is money tight? Consider asking your spouse or mother or sister or brother or friend to get you the membership for a birthday treat! The cost is $85 the first year with a $70 renewal fee each year.
Are any of you members of SCBWI?
Oh, and FYI:
*All members also have access to a discounts on a variety of goods and services including office supplies, computers, and rental cars.
*I just read this on the website (Membership Benefits page) and have never taken advantage of this...not sure about the details on these discounts, but they sure sound good :)
I'm joining this year and cannot believe it's taken me so long!
ReplyDeleteThat's great~ hope you enjoy it!
DeleteI've been a member for years :-) Although I can't believe I overlooked my membership renewal notice by a couple of weeks this year and almost didn't renew...Congratulations on winning that scholarship. What a great benefit.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're a member! Thanks for the scholarship congrats~ the conference was awesome :)
DeleteI'm not a member, though it's something I hope to do eventually. I've already got two other writing organizations that keep me busy. But I know several author friends who love attending the SCBWI conferences.
ReplyDeleteIf you've got other groups like that, then it sounds like you're set!
DeleteI like how you put the "Is money tight" part at the end. I'm sure the SCBWI group (along with a lot of others like Writer's Digest) would get a lot more members if some of us had more disposable income. Thanks for pointing out the benefits so I now know what I'm missing! lol
ReplyDeleteYeah, seriously~ I don't think writers are known for having tons of extra cash on hand. I agree on the membership fees~ I'm lucky enough to get a little help from family :) And there are grants around that aren't SCBWI-related too~ maybe I'll do a separate post on that!
DeleteI'm a member of the Canadian equivalent, CANSCAIP. It's a great organization and well worth belonging to.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Oh cool~ glad you're part of it!
DeleteMust join! Thank you for the reminder!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope that your first month as mom-of-two is treating you well. Hugs!
Thanks Tara~ it's going somewhat smoothly so far, though I could use more sleep :)
DeleteNeed to do this, thank for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteSure!
DeleteThanks for the reminder. I've been a member for several years, but last year I let it lapse. It's time to get back into it!
ReplyDelete~Debbie
For me, it's worth it just to get the magazine because it's a bi-monthly reminder that I want to take this "hobby" to the next level. It always gets me re-energized :)
DeleteTHAT'S the other conference I was thinking about going to this year. Thanks for the memory jog, Jess! :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem! Have fun if you go!
DeleteI always plug SCBWI when I have an opportunity! LOVE them and find the membership fee well worth while.
ReplyDeleteI'm a member but haven't used it for anything in years, not since I stopped going to the conferences (I've been attending the RWA ones instead). And now that I'm moving toward New Adult books, I'll probably let my membership go at the end of the year. I live in Canada, and probably don't qualify for any of those discounts. I'll have to check into it for our next family trip to the US.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks for the reminder to get my MS finished before the deadline! I replied to your comment with a link to a great resource for livening up your yard (if that's an option).
ReplyDeleteYes, I belong to SCBWI too. Congratulations on your scholarship. That must have been exciting.
ReplyDelete