Membership Requirements

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 sate-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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