The first writers organization I joined was in the Spring/Summer of 2006, after I got my first book deal. The organization was called International Thriller Writers, and it was a brand new group founded by authors David Morrell and Gayle Lynds partially in response to the many authors who considered themselves ‘Thriller Writers’ and didn’t like being pigeonholed into MWA or other organizations they felt didn’t quite fit their work. I’ve written about the line between thrillers and mysteries here, but from the beginning I felt my debut novel, THE MARK, was a thriller with elements of mystery (later books I decided were mysteries with thriller elements, but the more I think about it the more my head hurts).
So I joined ITW in 2006, went to their very first Thrillerfest convention in Arizona, and have been to every one since. I enjoy being a member of ITW, but as Lynn said with any organization there are drawbacks. As always, there is no shortage of infighting. From members who feel their needs aren’t being met to non-members who feel the organization is too exclusionary. This last topic was met last summer when ITW, which has made considerable money from the THRILLER anthology which it published, decided to abolish dues and allow any published author to join for free. Then there are the awards. Any time an organization gives out awards, there will be griping. The first year there were accusations of sexism when all 15 nominees (in 3 categories) ended up being men. That over half the judges were women did not appease people who branded the organization as sexist through and through. The next year, they only allowed first novels published in paperback to compete for “Best Paperback Original” rather than “Best First Novel,” which pissed off many debut authors, myself included, who wanted to be judged against our fellow newbies rather than veterans with many novels under their belt. This year, they completely did away with the “Best Paperback Original” category, again pissing off many, myself included, since my novels are currently paperback originals. There have been rumors of affairs, charges that it it caters to authors and publishing folks at the expense of fans, and banquet ceremonies that run so long you might miss your next deadline. Some of the charges are warranted, others are unfair. And this year my short story ‘The Point Guard was nominated for the Thriller award for “Best Short Story,” which was completely unexpected and totally humbling.
After joining ITW, I soon joined the Mystery Writers of America. This was an organization I’d long wanted to be a part of. The rich history and tradition of MWA, the renowned membership and the prestigious Edgar Awards, I wanted to be a part of it. So far, my experience with MWA has been quite fulfilling, and this despite my not being involved to the extent that I’d like to in the future. Due to my MWA membership, I’ve signed books at BEA, gotten to be on several library panels and signing events, gotten to know my local chapter members, and gone to numerous parties and events where I’ve made great friends. If I had to compare ITW and MWA, I think MWA does a fantastic job putting together local chapters and local events, reaching communities and individuals. Right now ITW is largely a New York organization (every conference since 2007 has been held in NYC), which does limit both membership and outreach. ITW has been on the forefront of technological advancement and finding unique writing opportunities for members, including two THRILLER anthologies, a Young Adult anthology, and a graphic novel. And the free dues thing is fantastic, especially in this economy.
Perhaps the most satisfying writers organization I’ve belonged to is one that I helped found. In the summer of 2006, a few debut authors (myself included) were chatting about our upcoming novels, the difficulty of getting noticed in such a crowded marketplace, and how writers really needed to help each other out. This led J.T. Ellison (author of the terrific Taylor Jackson series) to remark, “2007 is going to be a Killer Year.” That was the spark. myself, J.T. and an author named Brett Battles founded Killer Year, a group of 13 debut crime writers whose first novels were to be published in 2007. We would help each other and promote our works, figuring having 12 other authors in our corner would help our individual careers. It certainly did. The Killer Year group was nominated for every crime writing awards under the sun, was featured in many industry and trade publications, and even published an anthology of short stories, edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child. Killer Year was eventually adopted by ITW, and it inspired the creation of the Debut Authors symposium at Thrillerfest, which introduces hundreds of readers to the best upcoming crime novelists. I’ve made some lifelong friends from that group. Of course, like any good organization, there was plenty of infighting, charges of elitism from people not in Killer Year, and even one member who left/was forced out for reasons to lengthy to go into.
The bottom line is this: Writers Organizations are what you make of them. The most satisfying part of all these organizations, for me, is the camaraderie. I love spending time around other authors and industry folks who simply love the same books I do. I love hanging out at the bar, I love talking to fans and aspiring writers, and I love meeting people who have enjoyed my work (not to mention the incredible feeling of introducing someone to my stuff for the first time). There will always be fighting, and bitching, and moaning, and there will always be criticisms. If, in the end, you’re not getting from your organization what you put in, it’s probably a good reason to leave. But if you go in with the right expectations and take opportunities that come with it, there can be many, many rewards. I’m happy with my groups right now, and I certainly hope to stay that way. After all, it’s the easiest way to hang out at a bar with friends and colleagues. And if doing that once or twice a year means putting up with other headaches, I consider it totally worth it.
