“Finding Security in Unsafe Passages” was a half-day event for journalists that the National Writers Union co-sponsored at the United Nations in New York on May 7 to mark World Press Freedom Day and raise awareness of the International Federation of Journalist’s End Impunity campaign. According to IFJ, more than 700 journalists have been killed […]
The Story of the At-Large Chapter
One of NWU’s largest chapters, with nearly two hundred members, At-Large consists of writers from most of the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and nations from around the globe. While we are not geographically proximate to each other, we utilize the magic of words and the marvels of technology to create a community that is actual […]
Día internacional del libro
How My NWU Press Pass Kept Me Out Of Jail
“The bottom line is that the subpoena…was a form of harassment, a brazen attempt to follow up a gag on mainstream media with threats against a citizen journalist.” I am a working writer for the mysterious Catharine Sloper, an outspoken critic of the family court system and the proprietor of the blog Divorce in Connecticut (DiC). […]
An Interview with Author Anita Diamant
Researching her latest novel, The Boston Girl, Anita Diamant poured over fashion photographs from the early 1900’s: She surveyed image after image of women in trippingly long dresses, cinched tightly at the waist. They helped the author understand the restrictive world of her protagonist, Addie Baum, who grew up in an era when women were […]
On Blogging: Making a Living Wage as an Online Writer
I used to work for a travel agency that specialized in around-the-world airline tickets. In the fall of 2001, we found out about a new TV show, The Amazing Race, which had us excited. CBS premiered its reality series about teams of people going around the world competing in challenges on Sept. 5, 2001, and […]
Work-for-Hire: A Great Market
Copyrights are important to a writer’s success, but so is money. Sometimes work for hire (WFH) is a great way to earn money. Freelancers can make good incomes writing promotional materials, product manuals, grants, or books in series (think Dummies). Without owning the copyrights they can’t sell the movie or smartphone app rights, but how […]
Here’s To Your Health – NWU Members Can Now Access Healthcare – Finding Assistance Benefit Through Working America
NWU now offers you help finding and using health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the extra support doesn’t cost you a penny more.* The second Open Enrollment Period began in mid-November. For those of you who don’t have health insurance, you can now sign up for it. For those of you with coverage, […]
Shelf Life: A DIY New York City Bookstore Owner Tells His Story
Over the last two years, I’ve spent nearly every day sitting on the sidewalk selling my books. I researched the laws and regulations; registered myself as an independent business; and then set up my stand with a little sign extending the invitation: “Meet the Author.” Though shelf space is minimal, I’ve got the best showroom […]
No Win for Readers and Writers: Commentary on Amazon v. Hachette
Readers, like writers, have been caught in the middle of a feud over e-book distribution terms and pricing between the Hachette book publishing company and Amazon.com. On Nov. 13, the two announced they had reached a settlement. But the terms were not disclosed, and there’s been nary a word about its implications for readers and […]
