“Taking advantage of your member benefits isn’t just about getting the full value of your membership fee each year: it’s about making sure you use all the tools at your disposal to continue improving your craft, learning about the business of publishing, and staying involved in our larger writing community.”
-Jordan Smith, WLT Member Services Manager
A Note from Member Services Manager Jordan Smith
If you’re a Writers’ League of Texas member, we hope you’re aware of all that comes included with your membership, from meeting with staff one-on-one during our monthly Open Office Hours, to taking members-only online classes, to free publicity in our newsletter, and more. Need a refresher on benefits? Visit our website. Taking advantage of your member benefits isn’t just about getting the full value of your membership fee each year: it’s about making sure you use all the tools at your disposal to continue improving your craft, learning about the business of publishing, and staying involved in our larger writing community.
Speaking of community, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked in my role as Member Services Manager is, “How do I connect with other writers in my area or find a critique group?” Writing itself is typically a solitary practice, but the process of receiving feedback, revising, and rewriting is so much easier when you have writers who know you and your work to support you every step of the way. That’s why I’m so excited to announce our newest member benefit: The Writers’ League of Texas’ Writer Classifieds.
Starting now, we have a private members-only page on our website where we’ll list “classifieds” for writers looking to form their own writing communities and professional partnerships. (Login to your membership account and click on “Writer Classifieds” in the sidebar; call our offices at 512-499-8914 if you don’t have your login information.) To add a listing to these classifieds, current Writers’ League of Texas members can fill out this form.
We can’t guarantee, of course, that you’ll find what you’re looking for in these classifieds, but adding your listing will most definitely increase your chances of meeting your writing match. And as always, we do have a bit of friendly, writer-to-writer advice:
1) We encourage you to be proactive in checking listings so you can reach out to those who might be a match for you.
2) Please only use the classifieds page for its intended purpose: to connect with other writers on a professional level.
3) Be respectful when responding to classifieds. After sending an initial email, give the person you’ve contacted a week to respond. Then, you’re welcome to send one more follow up email, but please do not email that person again if you don’t receive a response after that. And, if you’ve been contacted by another writer and aren’t interested for whatever reason, please feel empowered to decline, but do so politely.
4) Start small. Exchange a few emails, perhaps meet for coffee, and let things unfold naturally from there. If you’re not sure how to go about running a writing or critique group, check out our July 2016 Third Thursday podcast for advice: http://bit.ly/2fXgUOW
5) Keep using other resources! Post on social media, attend not only Writers’ League events but events in your area and throughout the state and country, find online communities…there are so many options available, and we’re always happy to brainstorm with you if you’re not sure where to begin.
Questions about this new membership benefit or anything else member-related? Call our offices at 512-499-8914 or email me at member@writersleague.org.
Happy holidays, and happy writing!
