ONE of the main aims of this column is to provide local writers looking to step beyond their personal projects with options that they may not be aware are out there. In Guyana, it’s often difficult envisioning yourself as a “career writer,” because of limited local avenues to earn from the craft. But thanks to the internet and the ease of access to more opportunities online, local writers hoping to expand their portfolio can now be able to achieve those goals.

A lesser-known option for gaining paid writing opportunities is a Professional Writers’ Association. These formal writing bodies provide membership, support, advocacy, resources, and a community for writers. While some are limited to location, there are other associations that welcome writers worldwide to be part of their association. These groups usually require annual fees and provide memberships to eligible writers.
So what can Writers Associations do for you?

Professional development. Many associations offer access to workshops, seminars, training and resources to hone your craft. One of the main functions of these groups is to ensure that their members have continued access to opportunities for career development and increased industry knowledge.

Networking opportunities. The community aspect of writers’ associations provides endless in-person and virtual networking opportunities for members. These come in the form of conferences, meetings and trade shows. They also allow access to high-level industry players such as agents, editors, book reviewers, book bloggers and publishers, to help you get on track with your next big project.

Promotion. Whether you’re looking to promote your work or find paid writing opportunities, membership with these associations allows you access to revenue-generating opportunities (job boards, internships, competitions, publication and speaking opportunities and appearances).

Now, I hope that local writers reading this article don’t consider this information inapplicable to them because it very much is. All it takes is some self-assessment to determine if you are ready to join a writers association- wherever you may reside. Here are some markers for whether you are ready to join:
* If you have had your work published nationally or regionally more than once (including through journalism)
* If you’ve written and published a book or books (self-published counts)
* If you have a consistent blog or newspaper column
* If you have a writing website and portfolio that promotes your professional writing work
* You’ve written for websites or agencies where your name has been credited several times

Associations consider writers who are serious about their writing career before giving membership. So the idea is to build a portfolio or a body of work to provide for their consideration and once approved, you will have access to the multiple opportunities they provide. If you have not yet embarked on a professional career but are looking to do so, some associations offer student or associate memberships with lower fees.

If you are interested in joining a writers’ association, consider the type of writing you specialise in and search for associations in that category. There are also general associations with subgroups to fit different types of writers. A simple Google search can take you there but if you’d really like a push in the right direction, the Association of Writers and Writing Programmes is a good place to start.

As writers, we tend to naturally gravitate to silo-type operations. But many of us realise that such a lonely journey doesn’t get us very far with our writing endeavours. Writing sometimes needs a village to help you bring your best work to life. So whether you find that village or build your own, it is good to acknowledge that support is out there.