Membership
Information
www.mysterywriters.org
How to Become a Member of MWA
Taken from the
MWA website at
www.mysterywriters.org
The Mystery Writers of America is
the leading association for professional crime
writers in the United States. Members of MWA
include most major writers of crime fiction and
non-fiction, as well as screenwriters, dramatists,
new-media writers, editors, publishers, and other
professionals in the field. We welcome anyone who
is interested in mysteries and crime
writing to join MWA.
The membership information on this Web site is
subject to change without notice. Every attempt
has been made to present accurate information
about membership and membership categories, but
all memberships, criteria, and category
assignments are made or approved at the discretion
of the MWA National Board.
There
are four categories of membership:
* Active membership
is open to professional writers in the
crime/mystery/suspense field whose work has been
published or produced in the U.S., who reside in
the U.S., and who meet specific criteria set by
the Board for this category. Currently, some of
those criteria are:
- the applicant is a professional creative
writer of fiction, non-fiction, or drama
(including TV, screenplays, radio, and staged
drama)
- the writer has received a cumulative minimum
of $100 for his or her work. Proof of payment is
required.
- the work is neither self-published nor
cooperatively published; no monies were required
of the writer by the publisher
- the publisher is on MWA's list of approved
publishers or eligible to be added to that list;
similar criteria are set for dramas, films, and
video productions.
[Click
here to learn more about the criteria for Active
status.]
Only Active members may vote, hold office, and
serve on Edgar® committees in MWA. If
you are interested in applying for Active category
membership, please contact our office.
* Associate membership
is open to professionals residing in the U.S. who
work in certain
allied fields.
* Affiliate members
are writers of crime/mystery/suspense fiction who
are not yet professionally published, and others
with an interest in the genre, including unpaid
reviewers.
* Corresponding members
are those who might be in any of the above
categories, but who live outside the United
States.
To apply, you must print the appropriate
application form from your browser, or write to us
to ask for an application form:
Mystery Writers of America
1140 Broadway, Suite 1507
New York, NY 10001
Click here for an
application. If you are applying for Active
category for the first time, we will be sending
you a supplemental application asking for more
information regarding your professional credits.
Completed application forms should be sent to
the same address. All memberships and membership
classifications must be approved by the MWA Board.
Dues for all categories of membership are $95.00
per year. There is no initiation fee. Payment may
be made online at
www.mysterywriters.org or mailed
directly to MWA. Please include your first year's
dues with your application.
