Looking for a place to get your children’s writing critiqued? Maybe you’re interested in networking with other children’s writers or you want to keep apprised of the ever-changing trends in children’s literature and publishing. Whatever your connection to children’s books and writing, joining a club or organization for children’s writers offers many benefits – and is worth the minimal membership fees that most groups require.
So what are your options? Though many writing memberships are available to children’s writers, below are some choice children’s writers' clubs and organizations that will satisfy a variety of interests and needs.
SCBWI and Regional Organizations for Children’s Writers
If you’re going to join just one organization for children’s writers, you’ll want to give the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators top consideration. As one of the largest writing organizations around, the SCBWI caters to those who write and/or illustrate “for children and young adults in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia.” according to the Society’s website.
Joining the SCBWI entitles members to a plethora of perks, including information and counsel on the craft of writing or illustrating for kids, networking with other children’s writing professionals, discounts on SCBWI-sponsored writer’s conferences and workshops, a monthly newsletter, access to the SCBWI discussion boards, eligibility for SCBWI awards and grants, and possibly even health insurance – all for $85 per year for new members.
What benefits many SCBWI members the most, though, are the organization’s regional chapters, located in the United States and internationally. Regional chapters hold meetings and conferences that are conveniently located for members. Plus, they give members easy access to other members whom they can network or exchange ideas with or even mentor. Don’t have a regional chapter nearby? The SCBWI isn’t the only option for children’s writers looking for a writing organization that’s geographically convenient.
For example, writers living in or around Maine can join the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, which is “devoted to advancing literature and the writing life” in Maine. With members from all writing backgrounds and genres, the MWPA offers a quarterly magazine, classes, discounts, and other benefits, for $35 per year. Other regional organizations available to children’s writers include the New Jersey Children’s Writers Guild and the Georgia Writers Association, Check with local libraries, colleges, and bookstores for information on writers' organizations in your area.
Online Children’s Writers' Clubs
CBI Clubhouse is an online community of children’s writers, both published and unpublished, whose purpose is to “learn, support, and share one another’s journey toward a publishing contract.” For a small monthly fee, writers get access to a large library of instructional materials, a step-by-step children’s writing program, a subscription to the popular Children’s Book Insider newsletter, and a place to network and ask questions.
The Children’s Writers' Coaching Club is another online community of children’s writers that offers a host of resources for children’s writers, in addition to networking opportunities, classes, and more – depending on which level of membership you choose. A regular membership for beginning children’s writers costs $27 per month and includes live weekly teleclasses and manuscript critiques. For another $10, the advanced membership gives writers access to advanced teleclasses and the chance to join a peer critique group.
For a little less money, at $9.99 per month, children’s writers can join the Working Writer’s Club, a “professional club for freelance writers, authors, coaches, speakers, and other solopreneurs.” With a special section for children’s writers, the Working Writer’s Club provides membership perks similar to the CWCC – articles, classes, critique groups and more. At this online club, there is also an audio center full of recorded teleclasses specifically for children’s writers.
Genre-specific Writing Groups
Children’s writers who have a particular writing specialty or interest, such as children’s historical fiction or teen mysteries, may want to get a membership with an organization devoted to that specialty. Of course, the members won’t be all children’s writers, but they’ll share a love for a similar subject. Below are examples of writing groups that can benefit children’s writers of specific genres:
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
- The Historical Novel Society
- Mystery Writers of America
- American Christian Fiction Writers
- Horror Writers Association
- Romance Writers of America, Australia
On the other hand, children’s writers may wish to get a membership to a nonwriting organization related to the subject they write about. For example, a history writer might benefit from a membership to a historical society or history center, where research materials are widely available. Likewise, a science museum membership can help a writer of science articles or books for kids find information and writing ideas.
Children’s Literature Association
Understanding children’s literature, from past to present, can be a highly useful resource for children’s writers, which is why joining the Children’s Literature Association is worth some thought. Devoted to the study of children’s literature, the ChLA encourages “high standards of criticism, scholarship, research, and teaching in children’s literature.” A ChLA membership not only benefits children’s writers, it can be invaluable to those who want to write about children’s literature.
The ChLA hosts an annual conference, sponsors academic journals on children’s literature, copublishes scholarly books, and offers a number of awards and grants to children’s writers and authors. Individual members receive issues of ChLA’s journals and semi-annual newsletter, reduced conference fees, and voting privileges, for $75 per year for new members (student memberships are also available).
Whether you’re a serious children’s writer or a children’s book enthusiast, joining a children’s writers’ club or organization is a smart move. You don’t need to limit your membership to one group, either. Joining several groups can be a wise investment of time and money, especially if the groups complement each other. Just don’t let too much involvement get in the way of what’s most important – writing!
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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