CWA Guidelines for Submitted Work for New Member Applicants
Membership in the Cat Writers’ Association is for creative professionals working in the communications industry whose work focuses on cats. This includes writers of all types, artists, photographers, broadcasters, and more. If you have been paid for your work about cats, you are eligible for Professional membership. If you have been published or produced but are not yet being paid for your work, you are eligible for Associate membership. Both are priced the same. Professional members may serve as officers, can vote in CWA elections, and may serve as judges in our annual communications contest.
All entries must be published within the last two years of submission and be original work. Three (3) work samples will be required with application submission (with the exception of the book category, in which one (1) complete book is required).
- Any work submitted for CWA membership consideration must be to a large extent about, or relevant to, cats (at least 2/3 of content). If submitting non-fiction samples, the piece may include other animals or topics, but most of the sample must pertain to cats (pet, feral, rescue, etc.) In fictional works, it is not essential that a cat be the main character, but felines must be integral to the plot and story, rather than incidental characters or walk-ons.
- Articles, poems, photographs, artwork, calendars, and other forms of media (printed or electronic) from edited print or online publications (magazines, newsletters, newspapers, etc.) are acceptable as work samples. If a submission is published as a ghost author or under a pseudonym, verification will be required from the editor of the source of publication. Proof of financial compensation should also be available and is required in cases where the candidate is seeking professional membership status.Special consideration may be given to writers, photographers, videographers, and more for nonprofit organizations who are not compensated for their work as long as the submitted pieces meet the objective standards for membership approval..
- To be eligible for consideration for professional membership, CWA will accept electronically published work samples from publications such as personal blogs, websites, podcasts, webinars, and videos if the following criteria are met:
i.The source has been established for one year or longer,
ii.Content has been published at least once a month for a period of at least six months prior to submission.
iii.Candidate must provide proof of income/compensation for at least one work sample where the applicant was compensated, whether through product or monetary remuneration.
4. Submissions that do not meet the above requirements may be considered for associate membership.
5. Books submitted as work samples shall be submitted as a pdf file or link to the actual document for review. The entire book should be submitted for consideration . A large majority (at least ⅔) of the content of non-fiction books should address cats. The piece may include other animals or topics, but most of the sample must pertain to cats (pet, feral, rescue, etc.). In fictional works, it is not essential that a cat be the main character, but felines must be integral to the plot and story, rather than incidental characters or walk-ons. Book submissions shall be evaluated based on the quality of the work. Candidate must provide proof of income/compensation for at least one work sample where the applicant was compensated, whether through product or monetary remuneration
6. The overall quality of all submitted works shall be considered as part of the evaluation process, in addition to the qualifications already defined. Considerations shall include but not be limited to grammar, spelling, punctuation, accuracy, and general presentation of the work.The work must display responsible and accurate communication about cats.
7. Any member of the CWA Membership Committee has the right to request additional writing or other work samples, or supporting documents, from any applicant.