Joining a writers’ organization can help further your career. If you’re in

California, there is abundance of groups to check out. Look at their past newsletters; see how their members further their own careers.

Even if you can’t attend meetings on a regular basis, membership benefits could include on-line promoting for members, networking opportunities, newsletters, mentoring programs, access to critique groups and other resources.

And, if you really want to build your name in the writing community, get involved on a committee, perhaps run for office. Learning how to run an organization will serve you well if you want to stay connected in the industry. Enjoy the writing life.

Here are just a few organizations:

California Writers Club www.calwriters.org

Women’s National Book Association www.wnba-books.org

The American Society of Journalists and Authors www.asja.org/

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators http://scbwi.org/

Romance Writers of America www.rwanational.org/

Sisters in Crime www.sistersincrime.org/

Writers Guild of America, West http://www.wga.org/ (for script writers)

Women Writing the West http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/

Society of American Travel Writers http://www.satw.org/satw/index.asp

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. http://www.sfwa.org/

Poetry Society of America http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa-calendar.php

For conferences and workshops: http://writing.shawguides.com