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Author: C. Hope Clark
No one is an island. Regardless of how reclusive you wish to be as a writer, sooner or later you need someone to aid you in your writing endeavors. Why not join a horde of others like yourself with similar interests? The old “two heads are better than one” is true in many ways. That’s why professional organizations were born.
Professional organizations don’t have to be about the obvious. For instance, published mystery writers belong to the Mystery Writers of America. However, nothing says that same writers cannot belong to the local chamber of commerce, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Business and Professional Women USA, the Public Safety Writers’ Association as well as the local state sheriff’s association and supporters of the state highway patrol.
Writers are not in the thick of people networking everyday. They are behind a computer or at a desk creating all that creative material they need to make a living. These organizations provide opportunities that writers cannot acquire otherwise. Look at what these organizations can provide you as a professional writer:
Research Material
Belonging to a non-writing organization gives you access to professionals whether you need to know more about business, police work, doll-making, gardening, hunting or environmental protection. As a member, you receive newsletters, emails and notices about informative meetings attended by others who can aid your latest writing endeavor.Loyalty
Alumni of colleges and members of fraternities actively aid each other in job hunting and business connections. Many wear rings to flaunt their affiliations. MENSA members assist each other as members of an intellectual society and even offer to promote members’ books in the quarterly journal for no charge.Discounts
Ten percent discount here and fifteen percent discount there adds up. Many professional groups offer discounts to members for items like car repair, income tax preparation, plane tickets, motel reservations, rental cars, office supplies…the list is endless.Professional Development
Most organizations sponsor conferences or seminars to educate its members. A writer belonging to a writer’s organization can learn more about writing, querying, marketing and publishing. But that same writer can learn about forensics in his law enforcement organization or about marketing from his business organization or about self-promotion from the chamber of commerce. Writing is multi-faceted and isn’t just about putting words on paper. You can write all day long, but if you can’t sell the product once you type THE END, you’ve written for one customer – the one in your bathroom mirror.Connections
From that lonely desk in your study, you’ll one day need to interview someone, or learn how to get your foot in the door of a business, or land a speaking engagement. A children’s writer might belong to the PTO to keep connected with teachers and parents, the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop to receive critiques on her pending work and receive notices about writing events, Mothers Against Drunk Driving to support a cause and the Girl Scouts because she likes the cookies. However, when it comes time to sell books, she has thousands of connections in those four groups to help propel her book when it comes off the press.Name recognition
Professional organizations publish directories, hold meetings, provide conferences and support causes. With your name attached to the group’s, you ride the coattails of a bigger entity, in hopes that someone will recognize that seal, logo, url or listing on your card or website and give you a hand. People look for commonality, and while they may not know your name, they may respect the organization you belong to. Voila – a door opens.
Organizations cost membership fees. Sometimes you may feel they are not worth the investment. However, all it takes is one network connection, one event, one moment of destiny for that professional connection to jumpstart your writing career.
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