Join MWA

Mystery Writers of America has more than 3,000 members.

There are four categories of membership:

• Active status members are published professional writers of fiction or nonfiction in the crime/mystery/suspense field.
• Associate members are professionals in allied fields such as editors, publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, etc.
• Affiliate members are writers of crime fiction who are not yet professionally published, and others with an interest in the genre, including unpaid reviewers and fans or publishers not approved by MWA.
• Student members shall be affiliate members 18-26 years of age paying membership dues reduced 50% from the prevailing rate.
• Corresponding members are those who are qualified members living outside the United States.

Benefits of membership in Mystery Writers of America include:

• Ten issues annually of The Third Degree, our national newsletter.
• Chapter membership. There is no additional charge for membership in any of MWA’s eleven regional chapters. Chapters often host meetings and special programs of their own, and each chapter produces its own newsletter. All chapters have their own e-mail discussion lists at groups.io
• Breakout Advanced Level E-List: This e-mail list at groups.io is limited to practical issues, including touring, contracts, publicity, agents, foreign rights, movie options and other business questions. This private list is for active status members only.
• Discussion list for those interested in learning/discussing the business of self-publishing – a private list for all current members.
• Discounts through Working Advantage to numerous entertainment venues, including Broadway plays, movies, amusement parks, ski resorts, cruises, and much more, as well as for a wide variety of merchandise.
• Discounts on books ordered from Writer’s Digest Books and Writer’s Digest magazine.
• Discounts on books purchased from Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas
• Discounts on subscriptions to Publishers Weekly, The Writer, The Strand and Mystery Scene magazines. Discount subscription rate to Publisher Alley. Discount to Jane Friedman’s Hot Sheet.
• Access to insurance via a partnership with LIG – a concierge service
• Access to EMWA, our e-mail discussion list at groups.io, which is open only to MWA members, and databases associated with it, such as our list of libraries looking for speakers.
• Access to our Juvenile/YA e-mail discussion list at groups.io, which is open only to MWA members.
• Access to our Self-Publishing email discussion list at groups.io, whis is only open to MWA members.
• The MWA e-Bulletin, sent by e-mail whenever special announcements – such as Edgars® Award nominees & winners, a call for participation in MWA’s anthologies or announcing new member benefits.
• The Edgars® Week Symposium provides a chance to learn from the best in the business and for professionals to discuss issues affecting writers today. Members receive a discount on the Symposium fee. Invitations mailed to members annually.
• The Edgars® Awards Banquet. Invitations automatically mailed to members annually.
• The MWA Library Database has contact information for hundreds of libraries interested in programs featuring mystery writers as speakers which is now free for all members.
• The MWA Bookstore Database lists hundreds of bookstores of interest to mystery writers now free to all members.
• The MWA Loan Fund helps members in need of temporary financial assistance, either to pay their dues or to ease a personal problem.
• Our contracts & grievances committee
• A national mentor program – available for all current members of MWA.
• A national manuscript critique program – available for all current members of MWA.
• Participation in our short story anthologies – either by invitation or blind submission.

Membership in MWA automatically makes you a member in the state where you reside.