Our mission is to inform, support, promote, defend and advocate for writers of science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Within that mission, there are two rationales which fall broadly into the personal and the societal:

The personal
These are few of the ways in which the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association can help you as an individual writer. Many of these services are available even if you are not a member, if you qualify for membership under SFWA’s Membership Requirements.

• • We can help you promote your work through activities like the Featured Author and Book programs.
  • The Grievance Committee (GriefCom) can help resolve contractual disputes.
  • The Emergency Medical Fund can help you with unexpected medical expenses.
  • The private discussion forum and SFWA Discord offer a chance to talk shop with your peers in the industry.
  • Writer Beware is a comprehensive source of information and warnings about bad practice in the publishing industry.

• SFWA offers members a sense of community, no matter where you live or what you write.

The societal
The farther along the career path a writer is, the less SFWA can offer as an individual. An established writer already knows contract pitfalls and has developed a network of peers. But there are issues which an organization can tackle that an individual cannot. Things like:

• Advocacy for SFF creators, including copyright, trademark, and AI-related matters.
• Model Contracts — SFWA provides model contracts to help understand fair contract terms and will review your contract (hopefully before you sign it.)
• The SFWA Website and Blog — a resource center for speculative literature, science fiction, and education.
• Authors Coalition of America — SFWA regularly talks with other creators’ groups and joins efforts to improve the legal landscape for SFF creators.

Through our members, we can improve conditions for writers within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. Simply joining and adding your name to the roster is one of the easiest ways to follow the tradition of paying it forward. The stronger SFWA becomes, the more effective it can be in advocating for writers.

Does SFWA sound right for you?

SFWA membership is open to authors, artists and other industry professionals, including graphic novelists and game writers. See if you qualify.

Application Form

Want to join SFWA? Our online Application Form takes just a few minutes to complete.