Page Created: 06/23/12. Last Updated: 08/03/16.
The Purpose of this Page Is to Give an Overview of the Writers of the Weird to Prospective Members.
Thank you for your interest in the Writers of the Weird.
Before you join the group, we want you to know about the group and how we do things.
First of all, please read How our Critique Sessions Work. We do things different from most groups and we don't want anyone feeling cheated and angry about how we do things. If possible come to one of our sessions. We allow people to attend one session without joining the group. Are you comfortable with the personalities? Do you feel that the caliber of the writing and the feedback will be useful?
Next, ask yourself why you want to join the group and what you hope to get out of it.
WOTW is not some mystical cabal which will show you the secret handshake that magically allows you to have your work published in the top markets in the field with no effort on your part. If we did, more of us would have books published. The competition is fierce out there. For every short story slot in a magazine or every monthly release position from a major (or minor) publisher, there are a lot more applicants than slots. It is possible to write a perfectly good book / story and not be accepted. If a magazine only publishes five stories a month and you send in the 6th best yarn, you're out of luck. You may still be out of luck if you write the 5th best story because this might be the month that Neil Gaiman sends in a mediocre story, a tale which is really not as objectively good as yours, but he's Neil Gaiman. His name will help sell the magazine; yours will not.
Any good writers' group (let's assume that WOTW is good for the sake of the argument), can offer three benefits.
The first is improving the quality of the work. Whether your story is being critiqued in person or online, other eyes can spot weaknesses in your work and offer suggestions to improve it.
Second is that people in a writers' group, particularly one which focuses on a particular genre, can share information about new and existing markets, trends in publishing, tips on promoting your work and other aspects of the publishing business.
Finally, a group can offer understanding and companionship. Having trouble juggling children, work and writing? Too depressed to write because of rejection? We've all been there.
The Writers of the Weird is a component of The Science Fiction Association of Bergen County (www.sfabc.org). Technically, you do not join WOTW, you join the Association which makes you eligible to attend sessions of its writers' group. The S F A B C also holds book discussions, video nights and other events connected with science fiction, fantasy and horror. Sample and enjoy them.
Astonishingly few members of the Writers of the Weird attend the monthly General Meetings of the Science Fiction Asociation of Bergen County. These are held the evening of the second Saturday of each month at various sites in Bergen County. Picture this: you are an aspiring fantasy writer. Month after month sf/fantasy writers (and editors, and literary agents, and other interesting people) spend a couple of hours with a small group of science fiction fans. They talk about their work, how they broke into the business, how they research, how they manage their time. They answer any questions from the audience. But you can't be bothered to attend. You don't have the time. Don't have the energy. What's the matter? Are you afraid you might learn something?
If you haven't been scared off of the group by now, you probably want to know the details about actually joining. There is a $ 10.00 Annual Membership Fee to belong to the Association. Make the check payable to Philip J De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick, New Jersey 07463. There is also a $ 2.00 Attendance Fee for any General Meeting (no charge for critique sessions, book discussions or anything else) you attend. If you want a copy of the Association's newsletter printed and mailed to you, make the check amount read $ 18.00 (but write to me first).
Questions?
Contact SFABCinfo (at) gmail.com