I've looked up a few. Just wondering if they are worth the dues? Anyone on here part of one? Are they worth joining for any reason at all?
I've always seen many of them as good for networking or help with promotion. I could be wrong though, I've never been a part of one and I'm pretty curious myself.
I've been wanting to join the Horror Writers Association for a long time.
Any time money's involved, I'm always hesitant to just throw 50 to 100 a year at anything. Just wondering if the connections are worth the yearly dues?
I was an HWA member for a year or so. Found it to be of limited value. Very small, relatively incestual (esp. around Stoker/Stroker time), and possessing nowhere near the power it must have had back when McCammon and Lansdale were involved and they were selling HWA pro anthos. Haven't heard much to the contrary of this in recent years.
There are a couple of big names there like Datlow and Straub (at least back when I was a member), but those folks are relatively accessible via other means anyway. And I don't get the impression that an HWA membership makes a big difference if you mention it in your cover letter either.
Heard from a lady who was a part of HWA, SFWA, and RWA that the romance writer's group was the most professional and utilitarian.
I get the feeling it's for professional writers who just want to use it as a status symbol like I learned once I get licensed to be a therapist I should join the APA because it looks better to patients. LIke most things in life, it's a status symbol. Then again, anything that might help you get noticed I suppose. I would say you have more of a chance of being successful as a writer than being an actor just because you join the Screen Actor's Guild. Although I'm not sure of those odds.
