Why You Should Join the California Writers Club
These are exciting and challenging times for writers and aspiring writers. Major consolidations among media giants and book publishers have altered the market. New automated printing speeds up book production and lowers costs. Globalization increases the market for works in English. It is easier than ever for successful works to be translated and sold in a dozen languages.
Every market for writers (television, magazines, newspapers, etc.) is in flux. Book sales via the Internet are giving titles longer shelf life. Publishing on the Internet has a new validity because serious money is now at work trying to make it a big business. Self-publishing has never been easier and less expensive, due to new print-on-demand and high-quality printing services.
How will these changes affect your life as a writer?
As a member of the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club, you won’t have to find all the answers on your own. Join over eighty other writers, most of them published, who have some of the answers you need. You will listen to and question speakers who are successful in their media, share experiences and interact with other writers. If you wish, you can take part in our monthly Writers Critique and Support Group meetings and receive professional-level feedback on your current prose writing project.
Get started today by reading the additional benefits and requirements of membership in the following pages and then print our application form. If your browser has problem printing, try our good, old printer friendly application page.
Some reasons to join the California Writers Club:
Meet other writers with similar interests for fellowship and net-working.
Join local support and critique groups.
Attend meetings featuring informative speakers.
Receive the monthly newsletter of the Berkeley Branch, Write Angles.
Receive the statewide California Writers Club newsletter, the Bulletin.
Qualify for discount rates for the summer Asilomar conference.
Receive a statewide directory of CWC members.
Have your published books promoted on the CWC Web site for purchase through
Amazon.com bookstore.
Participate in the California Writers Conference. For many years the California
Writers Club has sponsored a summer weekend conference at Asilomar Conference
Center in Pacific Grove, near Monterey. This prestigious event covers all aspects
of writing and publishing. To recognize and encourage new talent, the Club holds
a contest open to nonmembers. CWC members and the general public can attend.
Categories of Membership
The primary levels of membership in the California Writers Club are Active and Associate. Active membership is open to all published writers, editors and photojournalists who meet the qualifications stated below. The Club also welcomes aspiring writers as Associate members.
Those who wish to participate in the Club but do not meet membership requirements can become Supporting or Youth members.
Active Membership Requirements
Fiction or Nonfiction: Applicants must have been published or show proof of acceptance within the past three years of no fewer than three stories or articles in one or more periodicals of general circulation, or in one or more books published within the past three years by a publisher of standing.
Poetry: A writer must have been published three times within the past two years in one or more periodicals that exercise editorial discrimination, or must have had a book of sufficient distinction published within the past five years.
Plays and Scripts: An applicant may qualify in one of the following ways:
Publication: At least one play within the past five years published in
book form or by a publisher of standing.
Stage Plays: One performance by a professional cast or recognized semiprofessional
group within the past three years.
Screenplays: One professional production within the past five years.
Radio: Five scripts produced professionally within the past five years.
Television: Two half-hour scripts (or their equivalent in time) produced
professionally within the past five years.
Photojournalism: A photojournalist must show publication within the past three years of no fewer than three pieces in one or more periodicals of general circulation, or must have had a book published within the past five years.
Editors: The applicant must be an editor of a periodical of general circulation.
Newspaper Writers: The applicant must be or have been a feature writer, columnist, or regular by-lined reporter.
Self-Publishers: Material is required to be published under the applicant's own imprint. Eligibility is based on professional presentation, writing style, graphics, and planned distribution.
Online Publishers: Applicants can apply for Associate membership until a membership policy is established.
Associate Membership Requirements
Those persons unable to qualify for Active Membership must provide clear evidence of writing ability (work in progress). Associate members, like Active members, have voting rights and may also hold branch offices.
Supporting and Youth Membership Requirements
There are no writing requirements for this category, which includes adults as social members and students from 16 to 22 years old as Youth members. Supporting members join the local branch only. They receive newsletters, member luncheon rates, and can hold appointed positions within the local branch. Supporting members cannot hold a state-wide office or vote on any state-wide issues, and do not receive membership rates for conferences.
Supporting and Associate members may apply for a change in membership status when they achieve the criteria of another category.
Membership Dues
The membership year is from July 1 to June 30. Active, Associate, and Supporting members pay a one-time initiation fee of $20, plus annual dues of $45. Those who apply after January 1 pay $22.50 in dues for the balance of the Club year. Youth members pay a reduced annual dues of $10.
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