PWSD Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the membership?
$47 for 12 months from the time you join. Each meeting you attend as a member is an additional $10. There are 10 paid meetings per year and 1 free year-end party.
I'm not sure yet if I want to join. Can I just come to a meeting without being a member?
Absolutely! In fact, we usually have numerous non-members among the 60-80 people at each meeting. The non-member meeting fee is $20, payable by check or exact cash at the door or online via PayPal through our payment page. (Please let us know you'll attend through the meeting page on this site.)
What is PWSD and who are its members?
Publishers and Writers of San Diego (PWSD) has been serving as a forum for education, networking, and motivation since 1994. Originally founded as The San Diego Publishers Alliance, our group comprises members from all areas of publishing and writing — authors, independent publishers, editors, book packagers, designers, consultants, promotional professionals, students, and more. Our membership includes numerous award-winning authors, writers, and publishing professionals.
In addition, PWSD is managed by a board currently consisting of: Karla Olson, and Jeniffer Thompson.
Because of our established presence and history, PWSD is recognized throughout the publishing community as a valuable organization whose members contribute greatly to the benefit of our profession.
One key unique aspect of PWSD is that it focuses on the business of publishing and writing. There are many groups that support the craft of writing — you can find some on our links page — so we feel it's important to support the business side of publishing and writing.
In addition, PWSD is an affiliate of three national publishing associations — IBPA (The Independent Book Publishers Association), SPAN (Small Publishers of North America), and SPAWN (Self-Publishers, Writers, and Artists Network). PWSD members are entitled to discount memberships to these organizations and encouraged to join at least one to complement the benefits received from PWSD.
All that said, the best way to get to know our group is to let us welcome you at a meeting.
Whether the particular speaker topic is of interest to you or not, you’ll have the chance to meet other publishing professionals before and after the formal program.
For info on our next meeting and to reserve your seat, go to our meeting page.
Do I have to be a member of PWSD in order to volunteer, contribute, get involved?
We welcome all people to get involved with PWSD! To step up to the plate, or for more information, contact Karla Olson at (760) 840-9552 or karla@publisherswriters.org
When and where are your meetings?
Our group meets the last Saturday of each month (except November and December, due to the holidays) in Encinitas (location & directions) and Carlsbad (location and directions) to network and learn from a guest expert on various publishing topics. The November and December meetings are combined into a free open-house social in the beginning of December. We also have occasional special events (seminars, workshops, etc.) during the year, which are held at various locations in San Diego County.
