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From the President's Desk
March 2009
Broadening Our Horizons
by Russell Wild

Several months and several columns ago, I shared with you my proposal to allow for self-published books, under certain circumstances, to count toward ASJA membership.

There was much discussion among the Board of Directors, the Membership Committee, and the Executive Director. The matter came up on the ASJA forum. About half a dozen individual members wrote to me to share their thoughts. (Thank you. I appreciate that.) The wash cycle is now complete. ASJA has a clean, new policy. I would like to take a minute or two to explain it, especially to those of you who expressed ambivalence and concern.

First, let me say that the new rule on allowing acceptance of self-published books in no way, shape, or form "opens the floodgate," as one emailing member feared it may. We are not setting the stage for any hack, flack or mere prolific typist to join ASJA. That isn't going to happen.

What this new policy does is recognize that the publishing world has changed. It will continue to change. Today, the self-published work is no longer the avenue of desperation-for-ink that it once was. Rather, self-publishing has become a means by which some very professional writers, including a good number of ASJA members, are voluntarily choosing to market their considerable talent.

Why so?

Because in today's dog-eat-dog world-of-words, self-publishing may offer a bigger financial bone than even a major publishing house can.

Not just any self-published work will suffice to qualify a writer for ASJA membership.

The new policy, which a short while ago appeared on the public section of our website, reads as follows:

In general, self-published books are not accepted as qualifying material for ASJA membership. An exception may be made on rare occasion for self-published books with substantial sales, reviews in well-known journals, or inclusion in a major book club. Proof of sales, inclusion in book clubs, or published reviews must be submitted along with a copy of the book. Without such documentation, self-published books will not be reviewed by the Membership Committee.

(To see the entire explanation of what it takes to become a new ASJA member, go to www.asja.org/join)

Please note the exact criteria and numerous qualifiers that allow for a self-published book to be admissible, as part of a successful application, and on rare occasion. Rather than opening a floodgate, we've drilled a keyhole.

Some self-published work is clearly not worthy of the paper it is printed on. It would be unreasonable to have the volunteers of the Membership Committee sift through mountains of verbal sludge to find an occasional literary prize. We are putting the burden on self-published authors to prove to us that they are, in fact, professional writers, and not dilettantes, in their membership applications.

Showing evidence of reviews, inclusion in major book clubs, or proof of substantial sales will serve that end.

It is my hope that every member of ASJA, even those who previously expressed ambivalence, will be supportive of this important move. I strongly feel that this new policy is needed to keep our organization vital, forward-looking, and strong.

Russell Wild will be coming into NYC to attend the ASJA annual convention on April 24-26. He'll be the one wearing the shiny President's ribbon. Fan mail, hate letters, and all other correspondence can be sent to prez@asja.org