Why Pay for Membership in an Online Co-Op or Writer Support Group?

    by P.T.L. Perrin

I can get all the information and support I need from the internet for free (except for what I pay for internet access.) Why should I pay for what I can get free?

True. You can watch free videos, get some basic training, and post book promotions you design yourself on all the social media platforms you have access to. Have a question? Google it. Need a program to help with editing? Get a free version of it. Need a website? Create one yourself on a free version of a website builder.

It sounds attractive to an author who may not be selling many books; or to someone writing a book they haven’t yet published. Free is better than paying money for something, right? Sure, if you remember the old adage: you get what you pay for.

What ARE you paying for when you join an online writers’ group that requires an annual or monthly fee? It depends upon the group, of course, but in every case, you are paying for the collective efforts of others whose experience and knowledge can make your life as a writer easier. Rather than diving into a whirlpool fed by a firehose of constantly changing information, you can swim to calmer waters and soak in what the group has to offer, and all for a nominal fee.

How do you find a good fit for your writing needs? Here, again, is where your favorite search engine is your friend. Look up Writers Cooperative and Online Writing Groups. If you type that into Google and scroll down the first page, you’ll see www.seaquillwriters.com along with a short description. You will have plenty to choose from, but I can tell you quite a bit about SeaQuill Writers (SQW), what it is and what it isn’t.

SQW offers exposure with a website that lists all the member books, every member writer/author, published or soon-to-be published, featured authors, and new releases. Think of the advertising!

The books are listed by genre and by author. For those who write flash fiction, short stories, essays, poetry, and articles, SQW has a Creations page and an official blog, Quill Tips. These pages are open to interested readers. By sharing the website with others and pointing them to your book, your author page, and asking them to share, you’re effectively advertising your books, and at no additional cost than the membership fee.

The members have their own private Co-op pages, as well, which include a repository of information and recommendations of services used and vetted by members, articles of interest about the craft of writing as well as tips on editing, publishing and marketing, a publishing imprint for those who want ISBN numbers they can use wherever they choose to distribute their books, and a member forum for discussions.

SQW has been designed to grow within the USA and Canada. It is not a critique group for two reasons.

• It was designed to make life easier for authors no matter how many members join. Critique groups should be small so those critiquing are not overwhelmed, and those who are asking for critique can get focused attention.
• Members are encouraged to get together with other local writers. In local groups, writers have a chance to develop friendships and have conversations with people who understand them and whose company they enjoy.

Is it worth the money to join an online writing co-op or group? Do your homework and find a good fit for you. As a satisfied member of SeaQuill Writers Co-Op, I recommend it. At least look at what it has to offer.