Members have told us that they’ve pitched an idea for an article, and a similar article turned up under someone else’s name. They say they wrote books about teenage vampires or nerdy supervillains, and then watched other people make millions from their plot lines. They think that copyright law should protect them. In most cases, […]
John Ross: Journalists Should Be Rebels
Reporter and poet John Ross viewed journalism not as a profession but as a moral responsibility. In a posthumously published series of his lectures, REBEL REPORTING: John Ross Speaks to Independent Journalists, he asserts that journalists have an obligation to speak truth to power. Wisconsin NWU member Norman Stockwell co-edited this collection with journalist and […]
Libraries in Crisis
Citizens Defending Libraries (CDL), a group dedicated to preserving and developing libraries in New York—instead of selling them off to real estate developers—held a special night of entertainment on October 10 in Brooklyn. The evening honored libraries and looked at the forces behind the crises they face. Billed as “an evening of comedy and drama,” […]
Hybrid Author: Self + Conventional Publishing
Writing, editing, and publishing a book with a publishing house is hard. You have to collaborate with your editor, cover designer, and production team. You have to follow house rules. You need to meet deadlines and be on time. Writing, editing, and publishing a book by yourself is also hard. Forget a pre-assigned editor and […]
Notes on Writing a Novel
Each morning I confirm my purpose as a writer with a ritual: My perpetually open bedroom blinds serve as a visual alarm. Checking the weather and tides app on my phone help me determine if the day’s exercise will be rowing or hiking. Reviewing news alerts confirm that life still exists outside of my door. […]
NWU and SFWA comments to the US Copyright Office on “Mass Digitization”
The NWU and our fellow writers of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA) have filed joint comments with the US Copyright Office in response to a public inquiry concerning the possibility of a “pilot program” for mass digitization of written work through the legal device of “extended collective licensing” (ECL) and […]
Litquake, NWU Partner at SF Fest
On October 11, the Northern California NWU Chapter made its first appearance at San Francisco’s Litquake Festival. We set up our table in the main room, which was nicely situated to observe the main event: “The Bridge Between Fiction and Non: Adam Johnson and T.J. Stiles in Conversation.” Johnson, author of The Orphan Master’s Son, […]
NWU, Allies Advocate for Writers in Washington
Representatives of the NWU, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) met in mid-August with key Congressional and White House staff responsible for copyright policy. The delegation of writers included NWU’s Edward Hasbrouck, book division co-chair, and Ann Hoffman, former 1st VP; SFWA’s past […]
Netroots Nation
Over nearly a decade, Netroots Nation has grown to become a powerful force in promoting the Democratic Party. It serves as a platform for community activists, labor organizations, and even presidential candidates. With a reputation for compelling content and boisterous voices, Netroots 2015 descended on the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona’s capital city last month, […]
Building Your Author Platform
People often talk about building a platform as a writer, but what does that really mean. It’s about three things: Establishing and maintaining your authority over your subject matter Finding and growing an audience for your work Making a big enough splash that editors and agents come knocking Building awareness beyond the people you already […]
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