Join ASJA to Invest in Your Independent Nonfiction Writing Business

October kicks off the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ annual membership drive and we invite you to join us! 

ASJA is the country’s only professional organization specifically for self-employed nonfiction writers, including freelance journalists, nonfiction book authors, and content writers. 

ASJA supports independent writers at all stages of their careers. That includes writers who are getting a writing business off the ground, switching to self-employment from a staff job, pushing themselves to a new level of income, or pivoting to a new niche. 

Read on to learn about our three pillars of membership — connecting with clients, fostering community, and professional development — and about our top-notch benefits, perks, and resources, like our e-book “Building an Independent Writing Business.” 

Need more information before you commit? Attend a free ASJA Virtual Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. Eastern time to hear current members share what they love about ASJA and answer all your questions. Sign up here!

Connections to Clients and New Business

ASJA connects writers with new opportunities for work. Emily Paulsen, a member and past ASJA President, relied on work from the federal government until last January when that suddenly went away. ASJA helped her recover. “I reached out to my ASJA network. I signed up for Client Connections. Within a few days, I was getting referrals. It only took a few months to get back to almost last year’s levels,” Paulsen said.

Client Connections is ASJA’s signature client networking event, where professional members have the opportunity to introduce themselves to editors, content marketing managers, agents, and publishers. Akin to professional speed dating, these nine-minute, one-on-one meetings are a time to pitch a news story idea, a book proposal, or yourself. Client Connections takes place once a year in conjunction with the ASJA annual conference. In 2027, Client Connections and the conference will take place virtually April 26-30. Find out more here.

Client Connections isn’t the only way becoming an ASJA member can increase your business. Meeting, getting to know, and volunteering with fellow ASJA members can lead to getting referrals from other members, subcontracting for busy colleagues, and seeing opportunities that others share online. Being part of a community of professional writers can also shift your mindset and how you approach your work, giving you the courage to ask for advice and then send that LOI or pitch. 

A Community of Colleagues

I live in a rural, creative town in Kentucky. When I decided to become a freelance writer, I reached out to a number of other writers I knew. But they wrote poetry, novels or memoirs – none were building the kind of freelance nonfiction business I sought.

Then I found ASJA. Its members have become my writing community. They have reviewed essays for me, forwarded calls for pitches that match my writing niches, and celebrated the publication of my first book. Seeing their successful businesses has inspired me – to stick to a consistent marketing plan, to raise my rates, and to send letters of introduction to organizations that at one time may have felt like they were out of my reach.

ASJA members connect with each other through an active members-only online forum on the ASJA website, on a members-only Facebook page, on a weekly coffee chat, at weekly co-working accountability sessions, and through virtual gatherings focused on parents, DEAI perspectives, and regional groups.

Professional Development

“If you’re on the fence about joining ASJA, study our website,” said Michelle Rafter, an ASJA board member and publications committee chair. “It’s just a gold mine of every aspect of working as an independent writer. Whether you’ve got an hour to spend a month or an hour a week, there’s all kinds of different opportunities to be involved that can fit your personality as well as your time commitment.”

Rafter has done it all in her freelance career, including journalism, content writing, and ghostwriting. She shares her hard-won wisdom in our free-to-members e-book, “Building an Independent Writing Business.” This 10,000 word primer covers how to:

• Create a business plan, market yourself, find clients, pitch, and create an online presence
• Set up your business, including calculating your hourly rate and project fees, negotiating contracts, using AI and productivity tools, and tracking business expenses
• Get the most out of the dozens of benefits and perks ASJA offers to help members thrive

ASJA’s educational offerings don’t end there. The group hosts monthly webinars on a variety of practical and cutting edge topics, including an exclusive explainer on “AI and the Writing Profession,” “Places to Pitch Now,” and “From Full-time to Freelance: Charting a New Path.” Our annual conference brings together media industry experts and entrepreneurial-minded writers for a time of inspiration and education. Members get substantial savings on conference registration.

Why Join Now

Join ASJA during the October and November membership drive and we’ll waive the usual $25 membership application fee. Not only that, by joining in the fall, the remaining months of 2026 will be added onto your 2027 membership at no additional charge. I look forward to welcoming you into my writing network!

Read about other benefits of joining ASJA here.

Review our membership eligibility here. 

And remember to sign up for the Virtual Open House here. 

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Kim Kobersmith is a freelance journalist, content writer, and author (as of July!) and a professional member of ASJA. Her work focuses on philanthropy, higher education, the environment, and place-based culture, usually from a rural or Appalachian perspective. Find her at KimKobersmith.com and see her profile in the ASJA member directory.