Membership Information

Join Mystery Writers of America and RMMWA

MWA National

MWA is a nonprofit professional organization of mystery and crime writers, editors, publishers, and other professionals in the mystery field.

MWA watches developments in legislation and tax law, sponsors symposia and mystery conferences, presents the Edgar® Awards, and provides information for mystery writers. Membership in MWA is open to published authors, editors, screenwriters, and other professionals in the field.

The national office of MWA maintains an extensive library of reference materials available through the mail (and many others available here).

National handles inquiries and correspondence from American and foreign publishers, fellow writers’ organizations, motion picture and television producers, lecture agencies, the media, and various enterprises involved in the mystery field.

Equitable treatment for new and established writers is a matter of prime concern for MWA. MWA counsel is always available for advice on publishing problems affecting our membership. In addition, a permanent grievance committee is on hand to field individual complaints, to provide support and guidance, and, where possible, to seek redress.

National Member Benefits Include:

• Ten issues annually of The Third Degree, our national newsletter.
• Chapter membership. There is no additional charge for membership in any of MWA’s eleven regional chapters. Chapters often host meetings and special programs of their own, and each chapter produces its own newsletter. All chapters have their own e-mail discussion lists at yahoogroups.
• Breakout Advanced Level E-List: This e-mail list at yahoogroups is limited to practical issues, including touring, contracts, publicity, agents, foreign rights, movie options and other business questions. This private list is for active status members only.
• Discounts through Working Advantage to numerous entertainment venues, including Broadway plays, movies, amusement parks, ski resorts, cruises, and much more, as well as for a wide variety of merchandise.
• Discounts on books ordered from Writer’s Digest Books and Writer’s Digest magazine.
• Discounts on subscriptions to Publishers Weekly, The Writer, The Strand and Mystery Scene magazines.
• Discount subscription rate to Publisher Alley.
• Discounts with companies who aid in the conversion of books to e-pub format.
• Discounts with companies who create book trailers.
• Access to EMWA, our e-mail discussion list at yahoogroups, which is open only to MWA members, and databases associated with it, such as our list of libraries looking for speakers.
• Access to our Juvenile/YA e-mail discussion list at yahoogroups, which is open only to MWA members.
• The MWA e-Bulletin, sent by e-mail whenever special announcements—such as Edgar® Award nominees and winners, a call for participation in MWA’s anthologies or announcing new member benefits.
• The Edgars® Week Symposium provides a chance to learn from the best in the business and for professionals to discuss issues affecting writers today. Members receive a discount on the Symposium fee. Invitations mailed to members annually.
• The Edgars® Awards Banquet. Invitations mailed to members annually. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the members themselves.
• Agents and Editors Party held in New York during Edgars® Week. Meet literary agents and editors from top publishing houses in an informal get-together open to members only.
• MWA University—MWA’s one-day writing conference.
• The MWA Library Database has contact information for hundreds of libraries interested in programs featuring mystery writers as speakers.
• The MWA Bookstore Database lists hundreds of bookstores of interest to mystery writers.
• The MWA Loan Fund helps members in need of temporary financial assistance, either to pay their dues or to ease a personal problem.

Please Note: new benefits are constantly being added, and all benefits are subject to change without notice:

There are many other advantages of membership in MWA. Some are less tangible, but just as valuable as those listed above: the opportunity to belong to an organization which has represented leading writers in this genre for more than 60 years, the fellowship of other writers, and the chance to work together to promote the genre, literacy in general, and protect writers’ rights.

To find out more about our organization, visit our national website or contact:

Margery Flax
Mystery Writers of America
1140 Broadway, Suite 1507
New York, NY 10001
212-888-8171 – phone
212-888-8107 – fax
http://mysterywriters.org

Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (RMMWA) encompasses five states in the Rocky Mountain region — Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and New Mexico. With approximately 126 members, we are proud to be one of the more active MWA chapters.

To become a chapter member of RMMWA, please first join the National MWA. This will make your local membership complimentary, and the numerous benefits to general membership will help make your writing aspirations soar. Here is what you can expect with your membership in MWA and RMMWA:

Chapter Membership Benefits Include:

• An email Monthly program meetings every second Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the famous Denver Press Club. The meetings, feature experts in professional fields of interest to writers, as well as industry professionals, who offer their guidance. Meetings cost $20 for members/$25 for non-members, and includes program, dinner, and networking opportunities.
• Our monthly newsletter, Deadlines; a website; Twitter feed; and Facebook page. The website includes: links to member websites; promotion of new releases and member news; and a Members Only section offering back issues of the newsletter and—as of January 2014—podcasts of meetings, when possible.
• Annual chapter participation in two to three extra events (free or at cost), including: sponsorships at regional writer conventions; promotional tables at regional trade shows; and special programming, such as MWA University, organized gun shoots and special luncheons with out-of-town authors.
• Promotional opportunities, including the annual publication and distribution of our RMMWA Membership discussion list at yahoogroups.

For more membership information, please contact Laurie Sanderson-Walcott (lj82walcott@aol.com). She will be happy to answer any questions and can send you an application for National membership.