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Back several decades ago, I yearned mightily to be an active member of SFWA, to be among the ranks of "professional" writers of the genre I loved. I managed to achieve that desire and for many years was happy to be among the crew. I was on the Grievance Committee for a time Way Back When, ran for Treasurer once (and lost by a handful of votes), and chaired the first Grants Committee for a year or so.
But, for the last several years, when the time has come to pay the yearly dues, I've hesitated over my checkbook, pondering my return-on-investment from SFWA. The answer lately has been that it's very little. The online forums seem mostly filled with vitriol from stupid personality-driven flame wars. The yearly Members book had always been valuable, especially back in in pre-internet days, but these days I'm in regular contact with many of my peers via e-mail, and if I needed contact info for someone, a quick shout-out to the group mind would get it for me. SFWA used to perform services of value to professional writers (the audits comes to mind) but projects like that seem to happen less and less frequently. Once, I think SFWA had genuine clout in the publishing industry; now, I suspect the organization is mostly a toothless tiger. The Nebula Awards process seems to be dominated by friends-nominating-friends. The ability of the organization to do something of importance to actively-publishing writers seems (to me) to be diluted by the number of 'active' members who are really not -- once you've sold your three stories and become an active member, you can remain in that status forever by writing your yearly check, even if you never sell another word in your life.
And, of late, SFWA seems (again, IMO) to be making stupider and stupider decisions. I've long ago given up on the online forums; I stopped reccing and voting on the Nebula; I've stopped reading the Forum since there's essentially no significant content in it; the Bulletin still has some interesting articles, but nothing I'd miss horribly. Market reports I can get several places online. I have an agent who will act as the 'bad cop' in relationships with publishers. I've found another organization that has been far more valuable professionally than SFWA has been in a long time.
No, I'm not going to resign in a huff, as some have in the last few days.. But when the time comes to write that check next year, I seriously doubt that I'm going to put pen to paper. I can think of better things to do with my money.
But, for the last several years, when the time has come to pay the yearly dues, I've hesitated over my checkbook, pondering my return-on-investment from SFWA. The answer lately has been that it's very little. The online forums seem mostly filled with vitriol from stupid personality-driven flame wars. The yearly Members book had always been valuable, especially back in in pre-internet days, but these days I'm in regular contact with many of my peers via e-mail, and if I needed contact info for someone, a quick shout-out to the group mind would get it for me. SFWA used to perform services of value to professional writers (the audits comes to mind) but projects like that seem to happen less and less frequently. Once, I think SFWA had genuine clout in the publishing industry; now, I suspect the organization is mostly a toothless tiger. The Nebula Awards process seems to be dominated by friends-nominating-friends. The ability of the organization to do something of importance to actively-publishing writers seems (to me) to be diluted by the number of 'active' members who are really not -- once you've sold your three stories and become an active member, you can remain in that status forever by writing your yearly check, even if you never sell another word in your life.
And, of late, SFWA seems (again, IMO) to be making stupider and stupider decisions. I've long ago given up on the online forums; I stopped reccing and voting on the Nebula; I've stopped reading the Forum since there's essentially no significant content in it; the Bulletin still has some interesting articles, but nothing I'd miss horribly. Market reports I can get several places online. I have an agent who will act as the 'bad cop' in relationships with publishers. I've found another organization that has been far more valuable professionally than SFWA has been in a long time.
No, I'm not going to resign in a huff, as some have in the last few days.. But when the time comes to write that check next year, I seriously doubt that I'm going to put pen to paper. I can think of better things to do with my money.