Organization: Horror Writers Association
Mission: THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION (HWA) is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it.HWA was formed in the late 1980s with the help of many of the fields greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Todaywith over 1400 members in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, United Kingdom and the United Statesit is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.
Activities: One of HWAs missions is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good Horror and Dark Fantasy literature. To that end, we offer the public areas of this web site, we sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, we publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, we facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and we maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Fantasy Convention. We also organize our own annual convention: StokerCon.HWA is also dedicated to recognizing and promoting diversity in the horror genre, and practices a strict anti-harassment policy at all of its events.As part of our core mission, HWA sponsors the annual Bram Stoker Awards for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Bram Stoker Awards are presented for superior writing in eleven categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, young adult, and non-fiction. In addition, HWA presents an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to a living person who has made significant contributions to the writing of Horror and Dark Fantasy over the course of a lifetime.
HWA also works to expand appreciation of the genre and literature in general by promoting education. Weve donated memberships to writing workshops, and worked with universities to provide genre experts as guest lecturers. Were always looking for ways to expand our educational outreach.
THE HWA MENTOR PROGRAMWe feel strongly that one of the best ways we can contribute to the health of the horror genre is by helping to educate beginning writers in the ins-and-outs of both the craft and the business of writing. Yet writing courses are expensive, never last long enough, and rarely deal with the practicalities of establishing a career in writing. For that reason, weve created the HWA Mentor Program. Participating professional horror writers are paired with Affiliate and Supporting members who wish to learn a little or a lot about everything from the craft of writing to the pitfalls of contract negotiations.
NTEE category: Arts, Culture & Humanities