SFWA, Accessiblity and Diversity

[stonetable]

There’s have been many kerfluffles involving the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). The latest one begin when a former member began a petition over recent changes to the staff and policy of the organization’s flagship publication, the Bulletin. As a result of the current back and forth between factions, one member - a vocal

Comments

[oneminutemonkey]

I agree with you. The bar is set too high, the requirements a little too demanding. The market has changed and simply doesn't support writers like it should. I've long railed against the fact that it's possible to sell dozens of stories and still never qualify as a member. It's ridiculous that you can have anthologies and magazines that pay professional rates, and yet they don't count towards contributers' qualifications for one reason or another.

It's like they don't want people to join SFWA.

[stonetable]

I realize that one of the important duties of SFWA is to make sure writers are paid professional rates. While that's admirable, it leaves a lot on the table. As mentioned by someone on Twitter the other day, it doesn't try to set standard rates for editors, who often get paid very little for their work

[bondo_ba]

I hadn't seen Brad's proposal, but it actually sucks mainly because a lot of the ProAms can easily afford $1000 for the fees while many of the real "pros" can't. And many of them would pay up because Membership has its privileges.