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From the President's Desk
ASJA and Enthusiasm in the Time of Cholera
by Salley Shannon

I care passionately about the mission of ASJA: mutual support and advocacy for freelance writers. So a few years ago, when Bob Bittner and Jack El-Hai suggested I consider joining the board and taking a turn as president, I thought, sure.

Truth time: I did not anticipate being president while watching the writerly world implode, explode, or whatever it is doing this week. On the other hand, a year ago you didn't expect to be scrambling for work the way you are today, did you?

There's only one recourse: take up our shovels, like the little boy who knows there's a pony in here, someplace. We can shovel alone or we can have a little fun, clear a bigger space, and maybe even find a whole herd of ponies, if we shovel side-by-side.

Relatively few of us writers will survive these times by doing the same things we were doing a year ago. By now, we know we must look for new markets, accept compromises, learn things we might prefer to bypass. I, who am not permitted to take family photos because I cut off heads, am not overjoyed at the thought of learning how to present video stories. (On the web, yet.) I will do that and more to preserve my career as a freelance writer.

If ASJA is going to be around a decade from now to help and support our careers -- re-shaped careers we can't fully foresee at this juncture -- ASJA, too, has to evolve. Fast. Faster than ever before.

I promise to remember our roots, and to speak up loudly and often for freelance writers. ASJA must meet with publishers about absurd contract clauses. We must testify about legislation that affects us. We must write op-ed pieces. Russell Wild, immediate past president and dear friend, stepped up the pace on these things. I promise to ramp it up more. Who knows -- we might even find ourselves picketing. (We're not a union. We can't make demands. But if a magazine regularly fails to pay some of our members, we may decide to take our advocacy to the proverbial "next level.")

Volunteer for our Advocacy Committee. Two years ago I thought advocacy could be handled by our Board members, plus a small, very focused committee. Now I think we need an Advocacy Committee of at least 25 (sharp, outspoken, thoughtful) committee members. Forty would be better.

Look forward to our new face. We are redoing our website. I anticipate a friendlier, fresh look, a lot of housecleaning, and better functioning. Hooray for Minda Zetlin, who chairs the revamp committee.

Let's get to know one another. If you are a member of an ASJA committee, from now on, expect to have meetings by conference call. And regularly. We have work to do -- and the job of mutual support, being present for one another, is as important as anything on our committee agendas. (Stand by for an email blast listing committee openings early this fall.)

Similarly, put up your picture, so that when you post on the forums, we see you. You lurkers, join the forum conversations. Me, I promise to start a new thread/conversation at least once a month, and to comment on a thread at least once a week. Please make the same promise yourself -- we all will benefit. Let's talk!

Don't suffer alone. Let us support you. If a publication has owed you money for months, and your editor isn't returning your calls or emails, this is the time to bring in the Grievance Committee. (Check the website for the how-to particulars.) Chairman Greg Cook has a nifty form letter that has been getting great results. In this economy, editors and publishers need to know that if they stiff one of us, more than one writer will know about it. If the bad behavior continues, there's the Warning List.

They don't like it when we help one another, by the way. Hence those "no disclosure" lines that are starting to pop up in contracts. Speaking of contracts, if you're not sure you understand the ramifications of what you're reading, remember that we have a Contracts Committee, chaired by Milt Toby. Ask for help.

Expect more classes on the skills you need to survive. Lisa Armstrong is chairing ASJA University, which offers useful programs featuring editors and experts (Lisa Collier Cool and Margie Goldsmith) that you can attend in person or via the web. Plus, a re-tooled conference come April (Gina Roberts-Grey and David Budin, co-chairs).

Help us double our numbers. ASJA has been hovering at 1,400 members. An organization with 3,000 freelance writers will speak with greater authority and be heard. Let's get there. For our mutual good, ask one writer friend to join ASJA. Keep asking until you have recruited a new member by this time next year. I also am hoping that writers who have left us, for whatever reason, will come back. Spread the word, please.

We can help shape the new, writerly world that is evolving -- if we grow in numbers, focus our energy on things that matter, and above all, support one another as professionals and friends. Let's walk into the future together.

Salley Shannon can be reached at president_at_asja.org