Yet another SFWA departure

[catherineldf]

Amazing. I'd been intending to let my membership lapse ever since the whole debacle with Harlan Ellison and Connie Willis. Apparently lapsing is now a multi-strike process; I've been contracted 3 times to make sure I really want to leave. I gather the bandwagon is rather full.
I'm bailing for a number of reasons, which range from the whole blind eye to sexual harassment problem, the inability to incorporate new writers and new writing, the staggering stupidity of raising the membership rates to ensure that the clubhouse stays 'exclusive', the failure to comprehend e-publishing and the almost complete irrelevance of the organization's publications.
I did renew my membership in RWA, however. RWA has its own exciting set of baggage but they deal with it differently, which is to say, at all. The biggest strikes against them from my standpoint are the issues that some members have with homophobia, the overwhelming heterosexism and the rather phobic attitude to erotica. However, within the last 2 years, I have seen an overwhelmingly negative response in the RWA Report to a homophobic letter written by one of the members. I've seen the number of erotica awards grow. I've seen them broaden their list of publishers to include Bold Strokes, a publisher of (primarily) lesbian romance. Just a month ago, I was contacted to serve as a judge for the erotica entries (including some queer content) for an RWA writing contest. And I've seen the organization grow and actually work on serving its members by promoting and expanding the genre. Not hard to see why SFWA suffers in comparison.

Comments

[roguelurker.livejournal.com]

Out of curiousity, what are the benefits of joining an association like SFWA or RWA? Is it the networking aspect? If so, do mediums like LiveJournal communities or groups like BroadUniversse serve a similar purpose?

I'd heard about the Willis/Ellison thing from my partner when it was first reported (on news or 'net) and found the whole thing rather outrageous - I'll assume things got even more heated behind the SFWA doors.

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Quite a bit is the networking. Sometimes you get easier access to certain publications. Horror Writers of America has member only anthologies for example. Membership makes you eligible to vote on awards. It can also get you a certain cache - becoming an author member of RWA or an active SFWA member means that in theory you've sold enough in the genre to make you a 'professional.' RWA used to have health benefits but seems to have discontinued that in recent years. Basically, they're supposed to be professional organizations as opposed to social ones.
Re: the whole groping thing. Oh yeah, one thing about the organization is that fun never stops. The survivors will no doubt be feuding amongst themselves when they're down to the last 2 members. :-(

[roguelurker.livejournal.com]

It's unfortunate that it appears a number of people are leaving, but in doing so, perhaps the message will finally hit home.