Writer Guilds...Yes or No?

:rollin

What are the pros and cons in belonging to a Writers Guild?

Being new to the literary industry I understand the need for AW as I have found so much useful information. I do so enjoy the interaction I find here.

Would it be wise to also belong to a local or national Guild?

What key things should I look for in searching out one?

What kind of things can or do they do for me?

Is it impressive to add this to a bio when submitting?

Are there ‘doors’ a Guild can open for me?

Thank you for all interest or information you may add to this heading.:rollin

Cons:
It costs money.
You get more email and more snail mail than ever before.
You're overwhelmed with information.
Some of the better groups have stringent entrance requirements (e.g., a publication history).
Most groups don't have a lot of clout in a bio.

Pros:
Some of the writers' guilds have important professional and legal resources that can help you if you are in a jam.
The more reputable writers' groups provide advocacy on the part of writers so that the profession and its members are treated with decency, fairness, and respect.
You know about activities in the writing world--you're in the loop.
You have better access to directories with limited distribution within the writing world.
Membership in some groups (usually the ones with more stringent requirements) can be a plus on a bio.

--- Mya Bell

Depends on the guild and your career direction.

If you're writing genre fiction, such as mystery or SF/fantasy, then a guild membership is probably a good thing.

Be aware that the "better" guilds require you to be published before you can join. Usually the threshold is one full length novel or several short stories, in PAPER not electronic, and of course never Vanity or Self-published.

Personally, when my first detective novel is published, I intend to join the mystery writers' assn. I already own a tux so I'm sure to be a good candidate. All I need to learn is the secret handshake.

Professional writers' groups are useful for networking, keeping up with what's going on in the industry and in the genre if it's a genre group (most have useful newsletters or magazines), and sometimes for conferences. Many offer legal services, grievance services, and/or various kinds of grants.

I don't think they do you any good in a bio, though. For those that require a publication history, the publication history is what an editor or agent will look at. If I'm trying to sell a new book, the editor will care that I've published seven novels, not that I'm a member of SFWA. For those that don't, no one will be impressed since membership doesn't indicate professional accomplishment.

- Victoria

If you do join a writers' guild, do it for the right reasons. Some writers join in order to get validated, to get their ticket punched. "See! I'm a real writer! I belong to X!"

Others join writers' guilds in order to avoid writing. "I would work on my book, but I've got to get the conference organized!"

The top couple of guilds can put pressure on publishers to offer fair contracts, and to raise payments. They take infringement and rights cases to court on a regular basis.

Personally, I think the National Writer's Union is far and away the best of the bunch. The AFL-CIO still has some punch, even in this day and age.