The Value of Professional Organizations

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Hello everyone!

I’ve alluded to it before, but I want to take a moment today to really emphasize the value of professional organizations for writers. Writing–particularly for self-publishing authors–can be a highly independent, and even isolating, field. Professional organizations offer a way for writers to do two things that can be difficult in their particular type of private profession: (1) network with other people in the same field and (2) access relevant and beneficial resources. Let me explain a bit further.

First, professional organizations for writers give you a way to network with other people in your same field and with your same goals and interests. So often, writing (like editing) involves spending a lot of time alone, with no company other than your computer and the words on the screen. There aren’t a lot of opportunities to interact with other people, which means there aren’t a lot of opportunities to develop relationships with other like-minded professionals. Those like-minded professionals are a great resource when you’re looking for critiques of your writing, somebody to bounce ideas around with, or even just a sympathetic ear when you hit those inevitable moments of writer’s block. The Romance Writers of America (https://www.rwa.org/) is a great example of a professional organization that offers many networking opportunities for its members, such as regional meetings, an annual national conference, and even online forums to engage in ongoing, topical conversation with others.

Second, professional organizations give you resources you wouldn’t have as a completely independent author. Organizations help keep you abreast of the latest industry trends and standards. Many of them include in the membership fee a subscription to serial publications with informative articles and advertisements for other professionals (like editors, publishers, and cover design artists) who can help you publish your work. The Independent Book Publishers Association (http://www.ibpa-online.org/), for example, provides many tools to help you be successful as a writer, including advertising and marketing assistance, online seminars and classes to improve your writing and your self-publication skills, and a monthly newsletter in both print and digital forms.

In short, professional organizations offer you as an author–and potentially an isolated one at that–a world of resources and connectedness that can make all the difference in your success. I hope you will take a few minutes to do a quick online search to see what professional organizations are out there to meet your specific interests and needs. I’ll be happy to hear about what you find!

Until next time!

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About Sarah Dawson

For nearly a decade, I have worked with both corporate and independent authors to perfect their writing prior to its publication. As a freelancer, the services I offer include proofreading, copyediting (light, medium, and heavy), substantive editing, rewriting, and writing. Whatever the type of service I provide, I consider myself a liaison between author and reader; my job is to convey the author’s message to the reader in the clearest, most pleasing way possible. Among my particular areas of expertise are educational materials and child and young adult literature. My background as an educator and a school librarian gives me unique insight into how to make such writing exceptional. I have also worked extensively with corporate writers, working on text for use in marketing, employee education, and websites. I welcome all inquiries. Let me know how I can help perfect your writing!