Partnering with Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Do you know about SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America? SFWA not only hosts the Nebula Awards and conference, they also provide grants to organizations and support to writers in our genres, including mentorships and guidance through the publishing process. SFWA officers and leaders have included several Clarion West graduates and instructors such as Andy Duncan, Curtis C. Chen, Cat Rambo, and Tobias S. Buckell.
Clarion West and SFWA have a long history of interconnection and support, and we’re proud to spotlight them as our Week 3 partner in the 2021 Write-a-thon.
Here’s more about SFWA in the organization’s own words:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA) is proud to partner with Clarion West for Week 3 of the Write-A-Thon! As demonstrated by our support of the program through multiple Givers Fund Grants, we believe in the community of speculative fiction writers that Clarion West has fostered over the years and are glad to see everything they’re doing to instruct and inspire authors through the Write-A-Thon. We’re also proud that SFWA members Caroline Yoachim, Tina Connolly, David Sandner, Marie Vibbert, Julie E. Czerneda, Emily Skaftun, E. Lily Yu, Curtis C. Chen, and Elsa Sjunneson are all contributing to this week’s events!
SFWA’s purpose is to promote, advance, and support science fiction and fantasy writing in the United States and elsewhere, by educating and informing the general public and supporting and empowering science fiction and fantasy writers. We pursue that purpose with the aid of our 2,100+ members and volunteers and over thirty committees focused on different areas of advocacy and support for the speculative fiction publishing communities. Short story, script, novella, novelette, novel, and game writers can consult our membership requirements to determine if they’re eligible to join SFWA as associate or full members. Affiliate memberships are also available for publishers, reviewers, agents, and other industry roles. Membership eligibility guidelines for translators, comics writers, and graphic novelists are coming soon.
SFWA hosts the prestigious annual Nebula Awards for the year’s top works in the speculative fiction genres as voted by our membership. We also hold the Nebula Conference every year. The 2021 Nebula Conference Online took place in June, but registrations are still available for purchase at events.sfwa.org and last through April 2022. $125 gains each participant access to our co-writing dates with a new hosting author every week, the archives of all twenty-four 2021 Nebula Conference panels on topics of interest to the professional and aspiring speculative fiction writer, invitations to special networking and socializing events throughout the year via Zoom teleconferencing, and admission to the live Zoom tapings of our worldbuilding discussion series, Narrative Worlds, hosted by Kate Elliot.
Also, keep tabs on the Nebula Conference website for news of when registration opens for our hybrid conference that’ll take place in Los Angeles and online May 20-22, 2022!
Lastly, we want to encourage those of you working with nonprofit or other speculative fiction-oriented groups to check out our Givers Fund Grants. The Givers Fund supports organizations, activities, and public interest programs that further SFWA’s mission. It is open to everyone; you do not need to be a SFWA member to apply on behalf of your organization. Typical awards are $1,000 to $2,000, and the application deadline is October 1.
Rebecca Gomez Farrell
Communications Manager
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America
SFWA.org