The organisation that provides training, help, support and practical
experience to writers.
Writers Club International is part of New Atlantis, a non profit company
(company limited by guarantee). It has no connection with any religious or
political organisation and is run for the benefit of members. Reg in England
and Wales no 2610973
Introducing Writers Club International
Writers Club International is a non profit organisation run for the benefit
of its members, providing advice, help, support and a chance to gain real
experience and credits.
As a writer, you take an idea, proceed through plotting, developing characters,
researching facts, outlining, adding dialogue, and produce your masterpiece,
and then you enter the game, send it out wait for it to come back, send it
out again, and back it comes……. Writing a good book, article or
script is of course only the beginning, it is of little use if you cannot
persuade someone to publish or produce it. The other problem many writers
have is isolation, and the need to find like minded people to work with or
discuss projects with.
With scripts for screen plays, dramas or series, the process is similar,
and working with other clubs in New Atlantis a large number of members have
been able to get involved in scriptwriting and to see their scripts being
filmed.
Unfortunately today, it is difficult for an unknown author to get even read
by anyone who can make the decision to publish, except of course for freelance
magazine articles. They seem to all want known authors or scriptwriters,
stars from other fields, politicians, or other known names. Writing is not
unique in this, just look at who gets to act in pantomimes, while 95% of
actors are out of work. The problem is in getting your first book published,
and of course avoiding vanity publishers who will cost you a fortune and
leave you no further forward.
You need inside knowledge, to know what is required and by who, to get
experience, to get some of your work into print, or your script into production.
To be blunt you need the co-operation of others.
This is where the club comes in, the two people running it are both published
authors, with a long list of both non fiction and fiction books and booklets
between them, they have also until recently provided between them around
30 pages for every edition of one national magazine, written a correspondence
course and a large amount of other material, and been responsible for hundreds
of press articles appearing every year. They have written screen plays that
have been filmed for TV, and have many more projects in hand. They have already
helped other people to get published, and also have a lot of experience and
can advise you on self publishing. Even with the clubs help we cannot guarantee
that you will get published, but co-operating with others, and with help
from both other members of this club and other clubs in the group you have
a much greater chance.
Freelancing should be possible for most people, and success increased by
being in the know, having the help of others and when needed, being able
to work on joint projects with a photographer from the Photography and Digital
Imaging Club, and gaining experience and confidence undertaking some articles
for the New Atlantis Times, the journal of all the clubs that make up New
Atlantis.
On the script writing side, we can also help you to gain experience and get
you involved in a TV drama series and other projects. The New Atlantis clubs
are members of a consortium that is producing a 26 episode TV series called
Special People, using a mass participation method, and a 4 x one hour drama
provisionally titled After Nine. A children's series is also planned. On
the club front the next area for development is the production of a number
of short films and there is the opportunity to both come up with ideas and
to work on turning them into scripts.
Writers Club International is proactive, we do not moan about problems, we
overcome them, sometimes on our own but often by becoming involved in joint
projects with other clubs or organisations. We rarely see problems, but see
instead opportunities for members and for the club to make a difference.
The club starts, once you have registered, by sending you a detailed
form to complete which tells us a lot about you, the type of work you are
looking for and some of your ideas on life.
We also send you information on the many other clubs that together with Writers
Club International, form New Atlantis, an organisation with one objective,
to improve the quality of life of its members. Once you are a full member
of Writers Club International you are automatically an affiliate member of
New Atlantis and can be an affiliate member of any of the other clubs that
interest you, all without any increase in subscription.
Club events are organised at various places throughout the year. Some events
run over a weekend or longer, while many are one day events. Based at
the clubs training centre and studio in Gloucester we have access to
all the groups equipment, such as movie and video cameras, computerised video
editing, radio microphones, sound equipment and of course expertise. Many
projects, events and workshops will be organised jointly between several
of the clubs, allowing us all to achieve so much more than we could on our
own, so you will get the opportunity to be involved in documentaries, training
material, promotional material, TV commercials, drama, animation, and much
more.
Writers gain a lot by being able to understand the technology behind TV and
film and being able to work with actors and directors. Likewise the knowledge
from a publishing company within the group on how books are produced and
who to approach and how is a major advantage.
Local club sessions can be run by members and are generally evening or half
day events put on near to where you live, and are training or information
sessions. Many of these are organised by members themselves and the costs
and promotion of the session is paid for by the club.
Those interested in a career in TV or film script writing, will recognise
the need to gain experience and to be able to demonstrate what you can do,
the need for a show reel, and to be included in credits.
Advice and information comes in a number of ways including the newsletter,
specialist booklets, and a confidential telephone advice service, with no
subject limit for full members.
You also get a chance to volunteer to help out at club events or as part
of a range of projects. Volunteers although not paid do get all their expenses
paid and are sometimes put up by the club. Some volunteers are even lucky
enough to be selected to go on the fact finding visits to places we are
considering for club holidays, or come along on the holidays to undertake
some of the chores.
As well as all of this New Atlantis also has a close working relationship
with a model agency, an extra and actors agency and manages a number
of industry wide projects. The club also get other projects going and then
hands them over to others to run as their own business. We also have a very
close relationship with a publisher and have a number of publishing projects.
It should be understood that Writers Club International, by accepting someone
for membership cannot guarantee that you will get work as a writer or that
you will be able to sell any articles you write, we are a support organisation
to encourage, support and help you, not an employment agency.
Other clubs within New Atlantis.
As a full member of Writers Club International, you become an affiliate member
of New Atlantis, and can also become an affiliate member of any of the other
clubs within New Atlantis with no increase in your membership fees. These
clubs include all the areas that members will often be interested in such
as acting and performing, film and TV production, directing, technical and
support areas, lifestyles, photography, modelling, poetry, music and business
as well as several others. This you will appreciate opens up all types of
opportunities for the writer.
Don't delay join Writers Club International as a full member and if you decide
when you have the information on all the other clubs that one of these would
have been a better one for you we will transfer you to that club, without
any additional cost.
Writers Club International also has close ties with a publishing company,
model agency, TV production company and recording company is being planned.
Of course both Writers Club International and New Atlantis, is still growing
with so much more planned.
You will I hope agree that you would both enjoy and benefit from Writers
Club International membership, and it will prove an enjoyable investment
as well as a chance to make new friends.
Any questions call 01452-413702
8am to 6pm Monday thru Saturday
Membership cost.
The cost of membership is comparable with being a member of any other
professional writers group. However to make it possible for more people to
take part, the club has set its subscriptions on a monthly basis, to be paid
by standing order, on any bank or building society current account, and most
deposit accounts. If you are not sure if you can use the bank account that
you have then call your bank or building society. If this is not possible,
then we suggest that younger members ask a parent or other relative to pay
it for them and then pay them back.
Full Membership:
Full membership offers the best value and brings with it very many benefits,
most of which are free to full members including some weekend events and
many other projects, and much more. Full members also get the chance to have
a personal plan worked out for them with the club to plan the training,
experience and marketing of their skills. They can also arrange to call and
discuss any project they are planning or to ask to be put in touch with others
who may be able to help them. Full membership costs £30 to join and
£10 a month subscription.
Family Membership:
Family membership is attractive when several members of the family are involved.
This is full membership for each member of the family it cost £30 to
join and £10 for the first member a month and just an additional £3.50
a month for each additional member in the family. Remember with so many clubs
working together different members of the family can gain different
advantages.
Associate Membership:
Introduced for people who do not need to use many of the services, or do
not expect to attend many events, although most services events and projects
are available to associates they pay a charge for each. The full inclusive
membership is usually better value. Associate membership costs £30 to
join and £55 a year. If you want to join as an Associate modify the
form below and enclose the joining fee and first years subscription, a total
of £85.
Affiliate Membership:
Available free if you are a full member of any other New Atlantis Club, or
available on subscription, with a joining fee of £30 and a monthly
subscription of just £4.20 a month (The equivalent of a pound a week
over the year). The benefits are currently the same as associate membership,
and may perhaps be the ideal membership grade for someone who does not want
to become very involved in club activities and services but want sto take
part in the script writing for a short film.
Please print out and complete form below
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
OF WRITERS CLUB INTERNATIONAL.
I wish to become a
Full/Family/……………………………………………..member
of Writers Club International and I enclose my joining fee of £30 (cheque
made out to Writers Club International), Plus,
Monthly Payment is by standing order completed below
Annual Payment of £120
I will get a full copy of the rules, which I will read, and be bound by.
I may leave at any time, providing that I tell the club in writing by recorded
delivery.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
POSTCODE:
Telephone number:
Date of Birth:
Age:
Sex Male/Female
Family Membership YES/NO (add details for other members on a separate
piece of paper, and adjust subscription).
Standing Order:
Name of Bank:
Address:
Please pay to the order of Maximum Coverage Ltd. (Account Number:12044784).
NatWest Bank, Merthyr Tydfil (54-10-02) the sum of £10/
....................IMMEDIATELY, and £10/.....................MONTHLY
on the 1st of each MONTH thereafter, until further notice.
Account Name:
Account Number:
Signed:
Date:
TO BANK: Please quote the following membership reference number in full when
remitting:
