Subtext is Everything

[leahbobet]

It seems there is a new FAQ at the very top of the SFWA home page, titled "Why Should I Join SFWA?" and featuring responses from the current president to "real letters" asking this very question.

I browsed through and found one of the questions/answers notable.

Q: I've heard there's some tension in SFWA between the old crowd of established writers and the "newbies" like me. Will I feel uncomfortable?

A: A good rule to follow is: Never give too much weight to a few strident voices. For as long as the organization has existed, a few loud voices have always declared that the Old Farts should dry up and blow away and make room for the Young Writers Who Really Have Something To Say. Most new members' experience is of how open to questions and how generous in giving advice the more established members are.

I find the subtext to this answer -- and the very existence of this FAQ -- interesting in the extreme.

Discuss?

Comments

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Except for voting and receiving the Bulletin, I don't think my membership (since expired) earned me anything.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

My experience is that some established sf/fantasy writers are very willing to give advice if asked.

And some are only too willing to give unsolicited advice.

[katallen.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of the proverbial Victorian mother's advice to the newly-wed bride -- lie back and think of England :)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

"The only reason a new writer might not want to join our fine organization is if they were led astray by strident voices who do not value experience."

Riiiiiiight.

The other one has bells on, I swear.

[cpolk.livejournal.com]

A: A good rule to follow is: Never give too much weight to a few strident voices.

The colon after the word is: Looks awkward.

For as long as the organization has existed, a few loud voices have always declared that the Old Farts should dry up and blow away and make room for the Young Writers Who Really Have Something To Say.

okay, so it would be a dandy place if those damn kids weren't trying to change the establishment?

you know, I realized that I'm 2/3 of the way to qualifying for SFWA.

I will add that I did not think, "so obviously I must join really soon."

I mean, what for? What's in it for me?

[mmarques.livejournal.com]

Very interesting how it's worded. If they just got rid of the "For as long as" sentence, it might have looked warm and welcoming. But that sentence about the old versus young just makes me *squick*.

[blackaire.livejournal.com]

I find two ideas at work here:

A) All you whippersnappers need to recognize mah vast experience! I was writing new weird before new weird was cool! I hate anyone who still has all their original organs and joints! Get off my lawn!

B) I'm a pretentious MFA with one small-press book to my name who won't shut the fuck up about my "craft", and am irritating the shit out of everyone who's been around long enough to see a hundred like me get spat out the other end of the industry.

Take your pick, depending on demographic :D.

[squirrel-monkey.livejournal.com]

This quote would look a lot more accurate if they also mentioned the few strident voices that loudly demand that younger members just shut up and listen to the voice of experience, and surely no one with less than a hundred published novels can't have anything to say. IMO, this is where much of alleged tension is coming from.

[sallytuppence.livejournal.com]

Veeerrrry interesting indeed! My experience of the horrible SFWA lounge is that the reactionary "old farts" (not all of whom are old) are always, always putting down anyone who dares suggest changing anything. Sometimes maliciously, sometimes passively aggressive.

So yeah, interesting subtext.

Data point. I've been a SFWA member since 2003 and I will not be renewing my membership this year. I don't expect SFWA do DO anything for me, beyond providing community, and a resource where I can go with questions. When I joined, I was excited to nominate things for the Nebula, and looked forward to interesting articles in the Bulletin.

But the SFWA culture, as reflected in the Lounge, is poisonous. People always say, "SFWA is not the Lounge" but I don't see any proof, anywhere, that this is true. The Nebula awards, the bulletin, the whole culture of the organization is sick.

My conclusion about SFWA: it wants to pretend it is a professional organization, but it is not.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

omg

[morewineplease.livejournal.com]

Not being anywhere near eligibility for SFWA, thought I'd throw my two cents in here about associations as a whole. I work for a non-profit association in the daylight hours and I have to mention that the entire concept of associations is going through exactly this. The generations (the Traditionalists, the Boomers, the Xers and the Millennials) are at odds over what an association is and should be. I find it all very interesting and very frustrating.

There has to be compromise. There have to be benefits for everyone. You hate to say it, but there will not *be* an association if future generations and up-and-comers are not satisfied. I wonder if SFWA has thought about that.

But, like I said, I say this in general--which is based off mucho trade press stuff I am force fed at work--since I don't have the faintest idea what SFWA does. *g*

[kafkonia.livejournal.com]

You mean how the answer is phrased in such a way as to make it sound like the onus for any tension is entirely on the "New Guys"?

[karenthology.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's just --

-- not really welcoming to anyone, is it? Boggles the mind.