Clubs within Clubs

[amysisson]

Hmmmm, I'm having very mixed feelings about SFWA's announcement today about their new SFWA Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers group-within-the-group. Essentially, it's a list-serv for those who have published or who are about to publish (ie, have a contract) in the middle grade or YA markets. Back when this was first floated, I sent an e-mail

Comments

[affinity8]

My gut reaction is that SFWA is trying to -- well, I'm not sure what.

I agree that if you are in SFWA, and you have an interest in YA or MG, you should have access to a listserv on that topic as part of your dues.

By creating a restricted listserv, SFWA is just erecting more walls within itself.

I let my membership lapse two years ago, and haven't missed it at all.

[amysisson]

Thanks for the input! The responses I'm getting so far from members, former members, and non-members have at least made me feel like I'm not crazy. :-)

[amysisson]

Just in case you care to know, I just posted this comment on my earlier Facebook status on the same topic:

UPDATE again: I'm not comfortable quoting directly from the group or from the SFWA forum as they're both protected, so I will paraphrase instead. The majority of this group of YA/MG authors (by which they mean already-specifically-published-or-at-least-contracted-by-professional-publishers YA/MG authors) wants a safe and supportive discussion space where they will not have to answer questions from newcomers

[sandramcdonald]

"wants a safe and supportive discussion space where they will not have to answer questions from newcomers."

Oh my! Wouldn't want to bother them with questions from people who are in SFWA but haven't published YA/MG yet.

Walls within walls.

[mckitterick]

My feelings on this, too. If you don't want to interact with people, why be part o the club? Start a YAMG Authors of America.

[amysisson]

Thanks, Chris. Perhaps it would be too much work to do so. Oh, and THEN they would have to deal with all those horrible YA authors who don't write genre, and answer THEIR dumb questions. Besides, that would require resources they would have to come up with. This way, they can just use SFWA resources, including my dues.

(Sorry, since I'm refraining from using sarcasm in their forums, it got away from me here.)