Sign me up! Ok, maybe not by Eric Beetner

 Do you belong to any writing organizations, for crime writers or general writing—MWA? SinC, International Thriller Writers? If not, why not? If so, what value have they been for you?

I have been in and out of several organizations, even serving in a board position with MWA. Currently, the only group I belong to is ITW.

I’ve never been a joiner. I don’t like bureaucracy. It often leads people to feel like they have power, but that is rarely any real authority. In general, I’m just not someone who likes meetings or forced gatherings.

That said, I was eager to join MWA and SinC early on in my writing for the community, and the possible opportunities to network and get good advice. I signed on to be the treasurer for the SoCal chapter of MWA for a term of 3 years. I went to events, organized others, tried to serve the writing community. 

I’m still not sure what exactly I got out of it other than that sense of community, which I can get without paying dues.

I don’t want to in any way diminish MWA as an organization. They do a whole lot of great stuff. As treasurer, I wasn’t a fan of sitting on so much money. I actively looked for ways to spend that money on our members. As a non-profit, I didn’t feel that we should carry a bank balance north of the 30K mark. Others disagreed. I do think I spent more money in my time than most other treasurers. For the events that I organized, nobody had to pay for their lunch on top of the dues we paid each year. That sort of thing was important to me.

If I join a group, I want to see the maximum return on that investment. I know I never took advantage of all that Sisters In Crime had to offer. Mostly because I was not an aspiring writer, or a brand new writer. I didn’t need help writing queries, or learning to pitch. Certainly didn't need motivation to write or participate in NaNoWriMo or anything (don't get me started on that one) All the events I saw being offered didn’t seem for me.

That’s a personal thing, not a criticism of the organization. I think when you are a new writer is exactly when you need these writing organizations the most.

One thing I definitely found at MWA was a lack of support, or even acknowledgment, of small presses and independent authors. Granted, when MWA was established, most of that world didn’t even exist. But today, there are many small presses, mid-sized publishers and a host of self-published authors who pay their dues, but get looked down on (in my opinion). Thresholds for advances to qualify for awards consideration and limits like that always made me feel lesser than since I hadn't yet made it to a "big 5" publisher. Still haven't. Still unworthy in some people's eyes, despite over 30 books and the respect of my "big 5" peers.

Too often these groups become a platform for an awards banquet that takes up most of the resources, or at least they become what the organization is known for, surpassing the support and assistance to writers.

Not that any of these groups will ever promise to land you an agent or a book deal. Don’t come to them expecting that sort of leg up. It’s just not what they do.

As our household budget has tightened in recent years (scarce work, one child in college and the other on her heels) any kind of yearly dues or subscription makes me reevaluate. Writing groups fell away as an unnecessary expense. I wasn’t seeing a return for my investment. Yes, that is because I wasn’t going out to most of the events. But when they weren’t for me, then why pay for them? If you’ve been in the community for years, my excitement level for attending another panel discussion drops to near zero. I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve lived it. Let the newcomers get what they need from it.

What it comes down to for me, is that I’m not a “group” person, I guess. I don’t belong to any critique groups. I don’t like having beta readers or anyone to look at things before my agent or publisher sees them. I’m not big on cocktail parties, group gatherings and mixers. I ignore the same opportunities in my day job with all the invites I get to attend events sponsored by the TV academy or the Editor’s Guild, both of which I am a member. I make it out to some, but a small percentage.

I guess I’d rather be home, writing. Or reading. 

Oh, I get out of the house a few times a year. Maybe a Bouchercon, Men of Mystery, Midwest Mystery Conference, Left Coast Crime now and then, Thrillerfest this year. But that’s it for me. This weekend I’m disappointed to miss a reception at AWP I was invited to, sponsored by my college. I would have left the house for that, but I'll be at my sister's wedding instead.

I do think new and aspiring writers should try their hand at joining some of these groups. See what you get out of it. See if it is a good fit for you. And if you are in, if you send in your dues, don’t be like me – take advantage of the gatherings, the workshops, the panels. And explore those websites. It all seems like a lot of work to me, when I have plenty to do without adding that on top. But if you utilize these groups well, you can gain a lot. Even if the need for them falls away the more established you get, there is much to be learned and many great people to meet.