Writing Associations with Low Membership Dues Part 1

If you want to excel as a writer you have to network, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to join a writing association. It will build up your credibility, expose you to important individuals on the scene and highlight writing events you can go to to build your exposure.

All writers need an exposure package, included in it should be an association. However, most writing associations have high due rates, which many unpublished writers cannot afford. I've rounded up a few of the most affordable and beneficial ones below.
WNBA (Women's National Book Association)

By far one of the more affordable choices, the Women's National Book Association; its both regional and national and is exclusive for women. Based on your location, you can join charters within a 50 mile radius of your home base, and if you are not within 50 miles of any charter, you can join the charter of your choice as a Network Member.

The association has 11 chapter locations in the following cities:

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Charlotte
4. Los Angeles
5. Nashville
6. New Orleans
7. New York City
8. San Fransisco 
9. Seattle
10. South Florida
11. Washington DC

With options to start a chapter yourself, this is one of my recommended choices. Membership dues start at $20 for students, $35 for seniors, and $45 for regular members for the year. 

HNS (Historical Novel Society)

One of my preferred choices again. The association is open to all individuals, irrespective of their country, reading preference, or publishing history. Membership dues for this association is $50 USD per annum and can be paid via credit/debit, or by check; if mailed within two weeks, your membership will start instantly.

This association offers exclusive member discounts on everything from house sitters to editing packages. Also available is the Historical Fiction Writing Guide at a low price.

SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists)

If you're like me, and you endeavor in creative writing but by profession you are technically a journalist based on the typed of contracts you've held and jobs you've had, this may be a good place for you to start. SPJ is one of the largest societies for journalists and the membership dues attributed to it are fairly low.

SPJ offers yearly memberships starting at $37 for post graduate students who've graduated within the last three years, seniors, and anyone who lives within the same living quarters as another SPJ member. Regular memberships are a standard $75 with options for 2 and 3 year memberships at $135 and $190 respectively. SPJ is also one of the few associations that offer MONTHLY membership payment options, which makes it an affordable society to join. Note that lifetime memberships ($1000) do not have to pay monthly fees as these memberships are paid in full at the time of processing.

This society caters to all journalists in the newspaper, magazine, radio, television and online disciplines including many more; they have local charters and are open to members outside of the US.

With the majority of writing associations and societies breaching $100 per membership per annum, these are, by far, some of the more cost effective options for writers, authors, and journalists who are just starting out, but are serious about expanding their networking capabilities. As the title says, I will be having a part 2 launching soon so stay tuned; but you can take this list as my top three recommendations and the next as my top 4-6.

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©C.J. Leger | March 14, 2015