You now have two ways to apply for membership in the Writing Academy.

Apply By Mail

Fill out a simple application form and mail it, along with two sample writings and the application fee, to our New Member Coordinator. One of our staff of professional readers will send you a comprehensive critique of your writing samples. If you are accepted for membership, you will receive a recommendation about how to proceed with the courses.

Apply On Line

You may wish to print the application form as a reference. To apply electronically, send your two assessment writings by email to info@wams.org. Either cut and paste your sample writings into the body of the email or attach as a Word document. Include your contact information. (See sample email.)

You may pay your application fee by credit card or with your Paypal account.

What Your Application Fee Covers

The application fee covers the reading cost and also allows you to be enrolled in the Writing Academy for one year as a New Member, entitling you to receive all member mailings and to take the courses at the designated costs. If you are not accepted, you will still receive the critiques, and we will also send you a $30 refund. Read the information below to learn about levels of membership.

Give us a try! You become a New Member when you have submitted your application form (with sample writings and $50 reading fee) and you receive a letter of acceptance into the Writing Academy. As a New Member, you may take the Writing Basics Course for $150. You receive our newsletter and other member mailings, and you are eligible to enter our writing contests. The purpose of the New Member level is to give you a chance to try us for a year before you decide if you want to become an Active Member. We strongly encourage New Members to come to the seminar and meet us in person. We'd love to get to know you.

The cost? New Member first year dues are covered by the application fee.

As an Associate Member, you are eligible to take the writing courses for a fee ($150 for Writing Basics or $250 for any of the other courses). You receive the newsletter and other mailings, and you are eligible to enter our writing contests. Sometimes spouses of Active Members become Associates, just to show their support for the group.

Cost of Associate Membership: $50 per year.

As an Active Member of the Writing Academy, you are entitled to take one writing course per year for no additional charge and you have free tuition for our annual seminar. (You pay only room and board.) Active Members are eligible to hold an office (President, Treasurer, etc.), and they have voting privileges in Academy business meetings (held each year at the seminar). And, of course, you also receive the newsletter and other member mailings, and you may enter our writing contests.

The dues for Active Membership are $360 per year, payable in monthly installments if you prefer.

For just $10 per year, you can be a Reserve Member of the Writing Academy. As a Reserve Member, you receive the mailings but have no other membership benefits. Reserves are usually former Active Members who have had to drop out for a while but wish to stay in touch with what's happening in the Academy. Through the years, our group of writers has become a close-knit family, and we don't like to lose touch with anyone.

The Membership Year starts on September 1st. This is the most logical time for a change in membership level, but you may upgrade at any time by paying the appropriate fee. If you become a New Member in, let's say, October, 2004, or January, 2005, your term as a New Member runs until the next September 1st anniversary--September 1, 2006. At that time you may want to upgrade to Active Member or switch over to the Associate level. If you become a New Member after March 1st of a given year, your term as a New Member runs until September 1st of the following year. So if you join in April of 2004, your New Member status may apply until September 1st of 2005.