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

[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.

I wish they had included that information in the announcement that was just posted on the SFWA website, or that I had received a response from the president or the board or a representative of the group directing me to that place. Since I was waiting for a response or announcement, I did not know where or to whom to express my concerns in more detail and was too late to the discussion, not that it would have made a difference. To be fair, I was never promised a response, just that my comments would be passed on to the board. I shouldn't have assumed anything further.

[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.)