Membership

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New Member / Renewing Member

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Membership Benefits

Meet other writers with similar interests for fellowship and net-working.  Exchange experiences about every part of the writing process. Anyone may attend our monthly meetings and workshops, but only members can:

  • Join local support/critique groups.
  • Receive discounts on writer workshops
  • Attend members-only Writer’s Hangouts
  • Publish in and receive the monthly newsletter of the Berkeley Branch, Write Angles.
  • Publish in and receive the statewide California Writers Club literary magazine, The CWC Literary Review.
  • Promote your work via our CWC Facebook Page and Twitter

More Reasons to Join the CWC

Motivate yourself. Use your regular attendance at support/critique groups as a commitment to a personal deadline.

Elevate your credibility with publishers and agents. Add California Writers Club to your resume and list of working credits.

The support and friendship of other writers makes your writing practices and presence a habit.

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 ten 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 bylined 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 Publication: 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 statewide office or vote on any statewide 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 between January 1st and June 30th pay $22.50 in dues for the balance of the Club year. Youth members pay a reduced annual dues of $10.

Would you like to join us?

membership application

membership application

By mail: Mail the usual personal info (Name, addresses – e and snail mail – phone number.  Tell us the membership category you are applying for (submit a writing sample if applying for Active status).  Let us know the genre(s) you are interested in. Include a check for initiation and dues.  Mail to CWC, Berkeley, P.O. Box 6447, Alameda, Ca, 94501 or hand your application in at the next monthly meeting.

Online: Pay your dues via Paypal through the links below, and you will be automatically taken to an online form to fill out.

Both: If you don’t wish to use Paypal, you can still fill out the membership form online at http://tinyurl.com/cwcbb-membership and provide our treasurer with a check.