We understand both the difficulties and the joys of being a writer — from the isolation, frustration, financial concerns, and the need for information and assistance to the elation that comes with each publication.
Benefits of Membership
By joining the Union, you can benefit from the Union’s many program and services:
- Opportunities to meet and network with other professional writers across Canada, including through the Union’s members-only Community Groups program, regional meetings, professional development sessions, social events, and the Annual General Meeting
- Assistance with publishing contracts and grievances
- Access to TWUC webinars
- Access to the Writers’ How-to Series, including the Directory of Canadian Publishers, the Contracts Self-Help Package, and professional development publications
- Be paid to mentor, or be mentored by, another writer through the Union’s Mentorship Microgrants
- Access to paid readings programs, which fund writers for public readings and school presentations
- Subscription to Write, the Union’s quarterly magazine on the craft and business of writing in Canada
- Regular updates on the work of the Union through our e-newsletters
- Eligibility to be a paid evaluator for our Manuscript Evaluation Service
- Access to exclusive resources provided by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
- A member profile page on TWUC’s website where you can promote yourself and your work
- Access to a group health benefits plan, for an additional fee, which includes a drug plan, hospital coverage, out-of-hospital benefits, vision care, hearing benefits, dental care, and specialists’ services. (To be eligible, members must be under 71 years of age, have a valid Provincial Health Card, and live in Canada at the time coverage becomes effective.)
Become a Member
Looking to rejoin the Union?
Former members do not need to re-apply. Click the button for instructions on rejoining the Union.
Eligibility for New Members
To qualify for membership, applicants must earn 6 points from the criteria outlined in our Membership Points System, with at least 3 points earned in Section 1: Publishing Criteria Points.
Members must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and/or self-identify as an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) person born or resident in Canada.
Notes about eligible books:
- To submit a single book for consideration (6 points), you must be the sole author of the book. There is separate criteria for co-authored books, which are eligible for 3 points.
- A "full-length" book must be at least 49 pages, except for poetry and picture books. Books shorter than 49 pages are considered chapbooks, which are eligible for 3 points.
- The book must be primarily composed of text, unless it is a children’s picture book. Textbooks, directories, manuals, books of lists, cookbooks, art books, and photography books are not eligible.
- Books published by educational publishers for school use (e.g., university textbooks or curriculum workbooks) are not eligible. Books published by academic presses for the trade market are eligible.
- If the book is more than 8 weeks away from its publication date, it is considered a contract offer, which is eligible for 4 points.
- A book is considered to be published by a commercial or academic press (i.e., traditionally published) if the author has signed a royalty-paying contract with the publisher, did not pay the publisher any costs towards the book’s production, and was not obligated to purchase a certain number of books as part of the author agreement. In all other cases, the book is considered self-published. All self-published books must be reviewed by the TWUC Membership Committee for professionalism and commercial intent.
Notes about self-published books:
For authors submitting a self-published book for consideration, a full digital copy of the book is required for review by the TWUC Membership Committee. Please be prepared to provide the following in your application: a complete digital copy of your book in PDF or EPUB format including front and back covers, marketing and sales information, ISBN, and details on any editor, publicist, or design services used.
Not yet eligible? The Union offers lots of information on getting published.
To qualify for membership, applicants must earn 6 points from the criteria outlined in our Membership Points System, with at least 3 points earned in Section 1: Publishing Criteria Points.
Members must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and/or self-identify as an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) person born or resident in Canada.
Notes about eligible books:
- To submit a single book for consideration (6 points), you must be the sole author of the book. There is separate criteria for co-authored books, which are eligible for 3 points.
- A "full-length" book must be at least 49 pages, except for poetry and picture books. Books shorter than 49 pages are considered chapbooks, which are eligible for 3 points.
- The book must be primarily composed of text, unless it is a children’s picture book. Textbooks, directories, manuals, books of lists, cookbooks, art books, and photography books are not eligible.
- Books published by educational publishers for school use (e.g., university textbooks or curriculum workbooks) are not eligible. Books published by academic presses for the trade market are eligible.
- If the book is more than 8 weeks away from its publication date, it is considered a contract offer, which is eligible for 4 points.
- A book is considered to be published by a commercial or academic press (i.e., traditionally published) if the author has signed a royalty-paying contract with the publisher, did not pay the publisher any costs towards the book’s production, and was not obligated to purchase a certain number of books as part of the author agreement. In all other cases, the book is considered self-published. All self-published books must be reviewed by the TWUC Membership Committee for professionalism and commercial intent.
Notes about self-published books:
For authors submitting a self-published book for consideration, a full digital copy of the book is required for review by the TWUC Membership Committee. Please be prepared to provide the following in your application: a complete digital copy of your book in PDF or EPUB format including front and back covers, marketing and sales information, ISBN, and details on any editor, publicist, or design services used.
Not yet eligible? The Union offers lots of information on getting published.
Application Process
Once you have created an account in the TWUC Member Portal, you will be directed to the application form.
Application status: You can track the progress of your application, return to a saved draft, or start a new application at portal.writersunion.ca/member/my-application-list (login required). Please do not start a new form if you already have one in progress.
Application fee: The Union only reviews submissions accompanied by an application fee ($100), which must be paid after submitting the form. If your application is accepted, the fee will be applied to your first year of membership. If your application is not accepted, your fee will be refunded in full.
Timing: Every application must pass before the Union’s Membership Committee for approval. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks, or up to 8 weeks for self-published books that must undergo a peer review process. A delayed response from TWUC does not in any way reflect the quality of your application.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email info@writersunion.ca.
Once you have created an account in the TWUC Member Portal, you will be directed to the application form.
Application status: You can track the progress of your application, return to a saved draft, or start a new application at portal.writersunion.ca/member/my-application-list (login required). Please do not start a new form if you already have one in progress.
Application fee: The Union only reviews submissions accompanied by an application fee ($100), which must be paid after submitting the form. If your application is accepted, the fee will be applied to your first year of membership. If your application is not accepted, your fee will be refunded in full.
Timing: Every application must pass before the Union’s Membership Committee for approval. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks, or up to 8 weeks for self-published books that must undergo a peer review process. A delayed response from TWUC does not in any way reflect the quality of your application.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email info@writersunion.ca.
Rejoining the Union?
Former members wishing to rejoin do not need to re-apply. You can find instructions on rejoining the Union here.
Former members wishing to rejoin do not need to re-apply. You can find instructions on rejoining the Union here.
Member Code of Conduct
As a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, you are agreeing to abide by the Union’s Member Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest.
As a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, you are agreeing to abide by the Union’s Member Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest.
Cost
Did you know that membership dues can be claimed as a tax-deductible business expense?
The Union also offers the following voluntary discounted membership rates:
