Scalzi and the SFWA Presidency

Upon noticing that the ballot for SFWA (Science Fiction Writers Association) featured only one candidate for president of the organization, John Scalzi has tossed his hat into the ring. One of the things that has arisen out of this discussion is SFWA presenting the discussion of the presidency in the public area of the SFF.Net groups, where anyone can follow along in the discussion.

I joined SFWA as an associate member when I first qualified (one pro sale) on the advice of Ann Crispin, and it's been mildly useful, at times. But it does seem somewhat hidebound, and its website reflects that, with its 1990s feel. As the discussion rages, I find myself with more and more questions as people refer to events that I've never heard before. What was the deal with Robert Sawyer? What's the full story behind this inappropriate loan people keep referring to?

I've applied to become a full member so I can vote for Scalzi. I'd like to see someone in the Presidency who has experience with electronic publishing and who has a good sense of today's market, and I'm not convinced the other candidate has that, although he has much, much experience with SFWA where Scalzi does not. Scalzi's opponents point to his lack of experience with SFWA specifically, but I'm not sure I see that as the drawback that they do - sometimes it's an outsider who can best see the problems everyone else has been ignoring for years.

At any rate, it's led to much interesting discussion and some funny campaign videos on YouTube, along with at least a few people signing (or re-signing) up. I can't help but think that anything which stirs up so much controv ersy and gets people thinking is a very good thing.