What The HWA Has Meant To Me: JG Faherty

(Editor’s note.)
While editing Legends of the Mountain State, I rejected a story from a fella named JG Faherty. I immediately received a thank you from him, along with another submission. I rejected that one, too. It didn’t take long to receive a submission from the same young man when I started accepting submissions for Legends of the Mountain State 2. I rejected that story as well.

Then, a year later, I read a manuscript from Greg for Legends of the Mountain State 3 and couldn’t believe how wonderful it was. In an email, I told him I wanted to buy the tale. And with all the tact I could muster, I revealed how this story was far better than anything I had seen from him and wondered if he would mind shedding some light on how he improved so much so fast. He explained he’d joined the HWA mentorship program and his mentor had worked quite a bit with him. There is no doubt in my mind the program made an enormous difference in this man’s writing. By the way, in addition to buying his story for Legends of the Mountain State 3, I also bought stories from him for Legends of the Mountain State 4, Appalachian Winter Hauntings, and the forthcoming Redneck Zombies from Outer Space I edited with Jonathan Maberry. The proof is in the pudding. – Michael Knost

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about what the Horror Writers Association has meant to me. People ask me all the time, and I’ve even written about it in my own column in the HWA’s newsletter. But I’m happy to do it again, because I think it’s important. Prospective members, and members who are on the fence about rejoining, aren’t always aware of the benefits the HWA – or any writers organization – can provide. Here are some of the things I feel are important, based on examples in my own life.

Improving the quality of your writing

When I joined the HWA, I’d only had one short story accepted at professional rates. I’d gotten a lot of rejections, some of them with encouraging comments, but after two years of trying to sell short stories and a novel, I’d hit a major wall. Of course, being a newbie writer at the time, I had zero training. Oh, sure, I’d majored in English for two years in college, and I’d written lots of non-fiction for work and as a freelance writer, but when it came to fiction, I had no idea what I was doing. And I didn’t know a single writer. But at my very first Bram Stoker weekend after joining the HWA a month earlier, I met dozens of writers, ranging from newbies like me to people I’d admired for years. And I learned about the HWA’s mentorship program, which I quickly joined. I had the good luck to be paired with Deb LeBlanc, who really helped me eliminate a lot of common problems in my writing that I didn’t even know I had. She worked with me for a year, and all five of those projects ended up selling – four short stories and a novel.

Networking

Yes, you can meet authors and editors at conventions without being an HWA member. However, being in the organization takes it to another level. It helps open conversations, and even a few doors (literally – members often have private parties that only other members know about). I’ve definitely met more people in the industry through my HWA contacts/friends/associates than I have through people outside the organization. But more than that, it expands your networking capabilities beyond conventions. The Forum, where people talk about the craft of writing and new members get welcomed with open arms, is a perfect example. And the Facebook page, where authors not only promote new work, but talk about upcoming projects that are open for submissions and answer questions that people post. The Bram Stoker Awards banquet is also a great place to network. Primarily attended by members, the banquet and cocktail parties are great places to meet other members and various editors. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that more ideas have been given the green-light, and more manuscripts requested at the bar than at pitch sessions.

Informal and Formal Mentoring

This isn’t a benefit you’ll see listed in the HWA’s informational packets, but it is very real. It stems from meeting people and building friendships. Early on, I had the good fortune to meet Thomas Monteleone, F. Paul Wilson, and Stephen Jones at my first Stoker weekend. We ended up in a deep conversation, which basically involved the three of them giving me pointers on the craft of writing, and, just as importantly, how to carry myself as a professional writer. That led to me signing up for the Borderlands Bootcamp for writers, the first two sessions ever offered, which, in turn, led to me selling more stories after I implemented everything I learned there. Over the years, I’ve turned to them – and other members, such as Tim Waggoner, David Morrell, Jason V. Brock, Joe Nassise, and others – for advice. I’ve also established a small critique group with some other members, and we are mutual beta readers. If it hadn’t been for the HWA, I’d know none of these people.

Promotions

The HWA offers a wide variety of ways for authors to promote themselves. There are the new releases sections of the newsletter and the website. There is the Facebook page. And now that schools and libraries are accessing the website, there is a new audience for the members. Plus, members who volunteer to man tables at conventions and book fairs are allowed to promote and sell their own works.

The value of giving back

One of the first lessons I learned as a member is that the organization can’t succeed without volunteers. Volunteers run the website, the various projects and committees, the newsletter, the conventions – everything. As a new member, I saw how hard convention volunteers worked to make the cons a success. My informal mentors told me stories about how each generation of writers owes a debt to the previous generation, and they resolve that debt by paying forward. Teaching the next generation what they need to know, whether in a class, at a panel, or in the bar. So as soon as I had my feet under me, I took that challenge. I invested my time into the organization, instead of just sitting back and wondering how it could help me. I volunteered at cons, I participated in programs, I started two columns for the newsletter that I’m still writing to this day, I’ve led committees, I’ve served on the Board. And with each new task I’ve taken on, I’ve benefited. How? New friends. New pointers about writing. New ideas. Knowledge of the publishing industry. The list goes on and on. And this isn’t some secret information that’s passed on behind closed doors. It’s simply the result of meeting more people, listening to what they have to say, asking questions, and participating in what the organization has to offer.

I could go on and on. There is so much more available through the organization – legal advice, contract advice, financial aid in times of emergency, pages on the forum dedicated to markets, the craft of writing, and other information, the Bram Stoker awards and the annual reading list…there’s simply too much to name. All it takes to find it is a search of the website.

In closing, let me say this. Joining the HWA doesn’t guarantee you a six-figure book deal. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll become a better writer, or sell more stories, or learn how to be a nicer person. All it does is offer the opportunity to better yourself. Think of it as a workshop filled with tools and how-to books. Tools can be marvelous things, but only if you pick them up and use them.

But, looking back on how much I’ve achieved after joining the HWA (5 novels, 7 novellas, more than 50 short stories sold), all I can say, it’s the best $69 a year I’ve ever spent.

JG Faherty is the Bram Stoker Award®- and Thriller Award-nominated author of four novels, seven novellas, and more than 50 short stories. He writes adult and YA horror/sci-fi/fantasy, and his works range from quiet, dark suspense to over-the-top comic gruesomeness. You can follow him at www.twitter.com/jgfaherty, www.facebook.com/jgfaherty, http://about.me/jgfaherty, and www.jgfaherty.com.

The HWA would like to hear how being a member of this great organization has helped your career in some way. Success stories could focus on (but not be limited to) experiences with the mentorship program, networking, education, legal, contract disputes, etc.—from big things to small things. Keep in mind, this is not an opportunity for blatant self-promotion. However, we will include the web URL you would like for us to post along with a 50-word bio.

Send your testimonial to Michael Knost at michaelknost@me.com.