The International Association of Writers

The Best Writer Organizations

When you do a Google search for writer organizations, you get over half a million responses; a Yahoo search yields 172 million results for writer organizations. With all those writer organizations vying for space, how do you know which to consider? Does it make more sense to join a large or small writers organization? A local or international organization? A general or niche writers organization? Is it better to join a writer organization that’s competitive, or a writer organization that is open to all writers? Below are summaries and links to the best writer organizations; visit their pages, and choose a few for yourself. Joining a writer organization can be the best investment you make as a writer.

Where to Find Writer Organizations:

International Association of Writers (AssociationofWriters.com)
What distinguishes the International Association of Writers is its emphasis on publicity vehicles, including an international speakers’ bureau (so meeting planners and conference organizers can book you for talks), a syndicated articles directory (so ezine and website editors can use your articles in their publications), a database of experts to the media (so journalists can quote you as a source in their stories), a literary agent forum (so literary agents and publishers can consider your query letters and manuscripts), a freelance writers’ forum (so corporations and businesses can consider you for freelance and ghost writing positions and assignments). They also provide a weekly email newsletter and frequent special reports, audios, and articles free to members. The IAW is open to both published and unpublished writers worldwide.

American Society for Journalists and Authors (asja.org)
The American Society for Journalists and Authors is a published-authors-only writer organization of mostly freelance writers, almost all of whom have been published in major magazines. They run a great members-only online forum, as well as a wonderful annual conference, held in New York City each spring. If you’re eligible, this is definitely a worthwhile writer organization to join, but it requires two published books or a selection of nationally-published articles.

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.org)
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is the best writer organization for those who write and illustrate books for children. They offer local get-togethers in over 80 locations, and a wealth of information on the publication process of children’s books. SCBWI is a writer organization open to both published and unpublished writers.

National Writers Union (NWU.org)
The National Writers Union is the trade union for journalists, freelance writers, and technical writers in the United States, specializing in writer legal defense as well as standardizing and improving economic and working conditions for writers. Based in the US, the NWU offers chapters in 16 geographic areas. The NWU is a writer organization that is worth joining for their contract advice, provided free to authors who are members.